A kindergarten is a facility for the care of children between the ages of three and six years. These can be public or private institutions. According to the Social Security Code, kindergartens in Germany have the duty to care for, educate and bring up children. Accordingly, the kindergarten is not only the first stage of the educational system, but also a support for families. In the kindergartens, whose responsibility is incumbent on the individual German states, there are various pedagogical specialists, such as educators, social pedagogues, child carers and social assistants.
Daily routine in a kindergarten
In every kindergarten the daily routine is different, this is not only due to the kindergarten owner, the management, but also to each individual pedagogue who leads a kindergarten group. Nevertheless, there are structures and/or rituals that can be found in almost every kindergarten. The ritualized procedures give the children security and are also important for the parents because they know exactly when to pick up and bring their child without disturbing them.
As a rule, the daily routine in the kindergarten consists of a well-balanced offer of movement, games, experiments, rest and relaxation. Often the rest periods and meal times are tied to specific times. As an example of a kindergarten day, the following time arrangement can be taken.
Between 7 and 9 a.m. the children are brought to the kindergarten by their parents. A morning circle could take place at 9 a.m., followed by undisturbed free play. During this time, the child is given opportunities for creative work, experiments, gymnastics, etc.
Around noon (12 o’clock) a pick-up phase could take place. Afterwards there is usually a lunch for the children who stay in the kindergarten over noon. This is often rounded off by a rest period during which the children can sleep before another period of free play follows in the afternoon.
The children are then picked up again around 4 pm. As already mentioned, the daily schedule of the individual kindergartens can vary greatly, which is why parents are best informed in advance about the exact daily schedule. The following time schedule can be taken as an example of a kindergarten day schedule.
Between 7 and 9 a.m. the children are brought to the kindergarten by their parents. A morning circle could take place at 9 a.m., followed by undisturbed free play. During this time, the child is given opportunities for creative work, experiments, gymnastics, etc.
Around noon (12 o’clock) a pick-up phase could take place. Afterwards there is usually a lunch for the children who stay in the kindergarten over noon. This is often rounded off by a rest period during which the children can sleep before another period of free play follows in the afternoon.
The children are then picked up again around 4 pm. As already mentioned, the daily schedule of the individual kindergartens can vary greatly, which is why parents are best informed in advance about the exact daily schedule. In a kindergarten, there are very different rules and possibilities regarding food.
Each kindergarten decides individually how to handle food. For example, it is possible that the children should have breakfast at home, that the children should bring their own breakfast or that the kindergarten offers a homemade breakfast together. If breakfast is shared, this is possible either in small or large groups.
A similar approach is taken to the question of lunch. If children have to bring their own lunch, parents should make sure that they eat a healthy meal, preferably without sweets or cake, as many daycare centers do not like this. Some daycare centers offer food that they can get from a catering service or cook for themselves.
Often the food corresponds to a weekly schedule. Furthermore, the range of drinks varies in each kindergarten. In some of them the parents have to provide their child with drinks, in others the kindergarten offers different drinks.
In the kindergarten, the children learn table manners and behavior at the table through eating together. Often the teachers introduce a common ritual, such as a saying or prayer before the meal, and thus give the children structure. Some kindergartens only offer communal meals, in others the child can decide individually when to eat the meal they have brought along.In the kindergarten backpack belong very different things, this depends very much on the visited kindergarten.
In addition to food, i.e. the lunch box and the water bottle, the children sometimes also need pyjamas if they stay in the kindergarten over lunchtime. For everyday sleeping, some children do not want to miss their personal favorite cuddly toy. In addition to the pajamas, you can also find a change of clothes in some backpacks, as well as rubber boots or mud pants.
In addition, on hot summer days, you can also pack a headgear, such as a cap’s hat, into the backpack. All in all, however, it is important to make sure that the backpack is not too heavy and is not filled with items that the child does not need. The rucksack should fit the child on the back, not be heavy and have a chest or belly buckle to distribute the weight.
Each kindergarten regulates the food differently from the children. In some kindergartens, the child is cooked or fed by the institution itself, while in others, the parents have to give their children food. This raises the question of what belongs in a kindergarten lunch box.
Nutritionists recommend a well-balanced break bread, which consists of wholemeal flour and has a hearty filling. In addition, the child should also be given some fruit or vegetables so that he or she gets enough fiber and vitamins. Foods that can easily be swallowed by small children, such as nuts, should be avoided.
Sweets such as cakes or jelly babies are not welcome in many kindergartens, but this must be clarified beforehand how the respective kindergarten handles this. Accordingly, soft drinks are often prohibited. Alternatively, you can provide the child with water or cold fruit tea, which is unsweetened.
