The Kindergarten Curriculum Standards of 1932 is the first of its kind compiled by the government and used throughout the country in modern China. Its influence is far-reaching. The philosophy of its compilation is manifested in the process of its drafting, deliberation, promulgation and implementation. The paper sums up the do's and don'ts in its compilation, including making decisions prudently and upholding the greater good; adhering to the law of children's physical and mental development; attaching importance to the professionalism and relative stability of the organizing and compiling team; taking national conditions into consideration and inheriting China's rich cultural and educational traditions; critically drawing lessons from foreign experiences; emphasizing both national unity and local flexibility; paying attention to the positive interaction between the government and the civil society; and straightening out the work at different stages of the compilation, such as the drafting, deliberation, promulgation and implementation. These experiences have great implications for the current revision of the national pre-school curriculum standards.