With my study I wish to highlight the importance of encouraging and developing the children's written language in kindergarten. I have through a qualitative study investigated how preschool teachers perceive their role and mission, what skills they have to respond to children's needs for language stimulation and written language development. I have interviewed six preschool teachers in two different kindergartens. The purpose of the study is to see how the interviewees preschool teachers perceive their role in the work of the written language in kindergarten and how their perceptions can be interpreted on the basis of Michel Foucault's theory of power and control. Research shows that children before school starts to develop an interest in texts and symbols, and that the environment is very important for children to have sight of written texts and images already in preschool. The curriculum 98/2016 also highlights the importance of bringing children's interest into the linguistic world they have around them and to give an understanding of their communicative functions. The preschool teacher with his education, profession and clear responsibility of the curriculum has big role for children to develop in written language.

The study shows that preschool teachers are aware of their important role but lack the necessary approach. The interviewed preschool teachers say that they do not use any methods consciously working to stimulate and challenge the child in his written language development. They meet a child´s interest in writing only when the child shows an interest. Half of the preschool teachers expressed that they do not make any links to the preschool curriculum.

My study highlights the teachers' important role in children's written language stimulation and development in preschool for others interested in kindergarten and school.