Tongyi and Tianniu have been attending kindergarten in Germany for a year now. Both children have made significant progress, most notably in language expression, social skills, and the development of logical thinking! Unveiling German Kindergarten Education (Public Health Network) Once, I casually borrowed Tongyi's fork to help his sister pick up some food. The little boy sternly said, "Mom, you have to ask my permission before using my fork! Only if I say yes can you take it!" I felt a bit embarrassed. The little boy continued, "At kindergarten, we always have to ask first before doing anything!"
While washing Sweetie's face, I turned on the faucet, but the three-year-old immediately turned it down: "Teacher said when we wash our faces, we should use a little water. Otherwise, it's a waste!"
Rules ≠ Restrictions
German kindergartens have many rules. For instance, every child must always have rain gear on hand because outdoor time is non-negotiable—rain or shine! In winter, kids need gloves and hats, and teachers will remind parents. If a teacher doesn't see the parent picking up a child, they'll leave a note!
Pickup times are strictly enforced—a 5-minute delay incurs a €2 fine! Doors won't open a minute early either. Flexibility exists, but advance notice is required. Once, needing to take Sweetie to the dentist, I had to drop Brother off 20 minutes early. After informing the teacher the day before, she made a note, allowing us to arrive ahead of schedule.
German kindergartens prohibit teaching children to write letters or numbers and discourage early reading instruction! This preserves children's sense of novelty and anticipation for school. If kids learn to write haphazardly during kindergarten, it creates correction challenges later in elementary school. Moreover, it makes school seem boring, sapping children's enthusiasm for learning!
Therefore, in German kindergartens, children have only one task: play!Play every day, find ways to play!
Develop various skills through play
The siblings' kindergarten is directly affiliated with the church, featuring mixed-age classes with 20 children per class, ranging from 3 to 6 years old!Teachers provide structured lessons at specific times, but otherwise, children freely choose their play activities and playmates!
The classroom features distinct zones: an art corner, LEGO corner, castle area, doll zone, reading nook, water station, puzzle area, animal corner, construction zone... all meticulously organized. Each week has a different learning theme. For example, this week's theme is fire safety, so the stories told, drawings done, and crafts made all revolve around this topic!The weekly theme is posted on the classroom door for parents to see!Each week's craft projects are displayed in the hallway showcase. After the display period, teachers collect the pieces for the child, who will have a portfolio of their work when they leave kindergarten!
Learning to Lead Others
The final year is preschool. Beyond the weekly 2-hour preschool class, children take on more responsibilities—assisting teachers in managing peers, keeping the classroom tidy... duties rotate weekly.For example, if Tongyi is assigned to prepare water cups this week, during snack time he assists the teacher in distributing cups to each child, pouring apple juice or orange juice according to individual preferences. After snack time, he helps return cups to the sink, and the duty student assists the teacher in loading them into the dishwasher. Children are also assigned tasks like organizing books, cleaning the dining area, or tidying the toy corner. Through these chores, they develop their management skills.
Learning Social Skills
In German kindergartens, children learn most about interacting with others. The first lesson is: shake hands to greet someone, smiling and making eye contact. Every day when leaving class, children shake hands with the teacher to say goodbye. If done half-heartedly, the teacher will ask them to repeat it until done properly!Additionally, teachers require children to greet everyone they meet, whether acquaintances or strangers encountered in public spaces. Learning Cooperation The greatest benefit of mixed-age classrooms is that children learn from and assist one another. For instance, when new children join—some under three years old who may not speak well yet—teachers assign a preschooler to care for them throughout the day. This pairing is called "buddying up"!After a period, the pairings rotate!
Teachers frequently lead small groups in games, teaching children to take turns and cooperate. Older children especially must assist younger peers rather than playing alone. Older children feel proud when assigned a buddy—like Tongyi, who delighted in helping others. His younger sister Tianniu, however, felt disappointed when not paired with a baby, saying,I need to grow up more to take care of little kids!"
German kindergartens and schools adopt a pragmatic approach toward children, emphasizing individual preferences and personality traits rather than setting unrealistic expectations. They avoid rushing children into academic or career decisions. From our traditional educational perspective, German children might seem to lack grand ambitions, yet the education they receive benefits them for life.