The way I see it as a German is that kindergarten is primarily for social skills. Also a bit of German language and motor skill development but mainly social. Academics is for school later ;)
Not only social. We also learned for example the names of a lot of animals from all over the world. We learned the 4 seasons of the year. We learned sports related things and so much more but all in a playful mood.
My mother worked in a kindergarten way back in the 70s and 80s. She said that she had learned to write plans to foster abilities in each kid and when she started in a new town, the educators there believed only in "free playing". So they took hold of their coffee mugs and let the children play while my mother began each day with a plan in mind of what to foster in which kid and how to go about that (let them do certain games, draw certain things, count things, sing certain nursery rhymes etc.).
I loved going to kindergarden 🤩 best time you could have - soooo many toys, sooo many kids and games to play. Loved the "Stuhlkreis" when every child has to bring its own chair, next to each other until it's a circle. When we sat we either heard an interesting story of a book or could tell our own stories. The best day in year was when you had birthday. It was always a big party and the birthday kid was the Star and had one wish. Mine for example was going to an icecream cafe and we all got icecream. Best day! ...
I vaguely remember, that there was an elder group and a younger group in Kindergarten. I personally felt sometimes a bit bored in Kindergarten, because it was not challenging enough to my mind. So the adults sent me to school the first possible year (and did not keep me in Kindergarten one more year). Some children *love* to learn (the alphabet, names of animals, making cookies, ...) so a Kindergarten should support their curiosity - but not force it on other children, who are not (yet) interested.
It was the best time of my childhood. I went there until 1963 and the staff were nuns. These ladies gave us so much love and understanding back then. 3 month before school started i had to leave. It broke my little heart.😁 I tried several times to enter the kindergarden. It was 3 minutes away from home.
@@Brathly82 I am pretty sure that this saying exists throughout Northern and Central Europe, where the weather can be bad, but seldom life-threatening.
This always annoyed me: "There's no such thing as bad weather there's only bad clothes". As if a grey wet day turns into glorious sunshine if you get your brolly and raincoat out.
there was a study about reading skills, comparing 11 years olds. One group started reading at the age of 5 and the other at the age of 7. There was no advantage of learning earlier, there was no difference between the two groups. So unless a child is showing an interest in letters (or numbers or anything else) there is no need to teach them academics at the age of 3 or 4. Being outside (in almost any kind of weather) is good for their overall developement and strengthens their immune system.
... so "let the children play" and don`t steal them their childhood. The child's brain does not differentiate between playing and learning. For children, playing means learning.
Yes! I have also read about these studies. It goes to show how important it is for children to be playing and doing things that are developmentally appropriate for them. And sitting down for long periods of time listening to a lesson or writing on worksheets is NOT developmentally appropriate! So glad that Germans understand that.
Did they just meassure reading skills? Because I think reading opens the World. If a Kid Shows an interest in vulcanos and is able to read about it might give an advantge compared to non Readers that depend on someone to read and talk about it. But I agree you do Not need to teach unless there is an interest. But I do Not know one child that showed no interest in reading writing or math before starting school. They were talked out of it. We found that a child showing no interest in academics or Part of academics often have underlaying issues. My son has quite severe phonological Problems combined with outstanding math skills and IQ, he wasnt able to learn read because if that. It Was difficult leading to avoiding. Adhd, phonological Problems, dyslexia... all those kids I know showed one sign in Kindergarten: they werent interested in academics. So yes, teaching and forcing at a young age is Not necessary. But it is necessary to create an academic friendly environment. Not only to help Kids learn but to learn about the Kids. Kids Show themselfs in their work.
@@samu6874 they might show themselves or they don't. Give them the chance to do so, but don't push them and don't evaluate them to early. Some kids are just a little late with everything, doesn't mean they have some kind of issue.
@@samu6874 For the development of brain, the abstraction skills are fully developed from the age of 6 years old. Before, children have got difficulties with that. So if a child shows some interests, it can of course learn some letters or numbers, but it can learn them more quickly by the age of 6. And it’s a waste of time before, because the children can learn so much more important skills: independance, curiosity for learning, social skills, how to make friends, motoric skills for the body and for the fingers, language skills, later they have got less problems like ADHD, like over weight and they can concentrate better in school and are more healthy. But there is also some learning schedule in the Kindergarten and some fix program, they read a lot of books and work a lot with the language abilities of the children. They have to watch the development of each child. There is also extra program, like early music education in some Kindergarten. Some teacher in „Grundschule“ told, that it’s not good to learn to read and mathematics before school, because then the children are bored in school. It’s better to focus on general abilities like the language abilities, of abilities like motoric skills, like independence. And to motivate the curiosity of learning. But from the age of 5-6 they call that Preschool. They learn some more abstracted skills as a preparation for school. And they control the abilities, if the children can go to school like this or if they need some extra support.
Germany is the country of pedagogy (in the tradition of the enlighment). We consider social skills just as important as academic knowledge. Play and letting children be children is extremely important for child development and therefore for society and democracy. Humboldt was crucial for this view, also Rousseau and Kant. But also the civil movement of the 1968er that had a strong influence and impact on german society.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife for me as a German it’s so normal. I did a voluntary social year in a kindergarten when I was 16. In Kindergarten kids learn how to use scissors and it doesn’t matter which color the lady’s hair in the picture is. If it’s green you could maybe say to the child: oh wow! That’s a great hairstyle and a wonderful hair color. Do you know somebody with green hair? Most people have brown, blond, ginger or black hair. But your lady has green hair. And the child has the information in this conversation how not dyed hair looks like but it’s absolutely okay to choose green because it’s a creative freedom. The child chooses green maybe because it’s the favorite color. It’s your job to prepare the kids for school and show them social acting. We have very good and special games and activities in our kindergarten. While playing these games the kids are also learning without pressure and recognizing it. We had always a topic for weeks. There are special songs, books and paper for the topic which was prepared by the team. So the kids also learn a lot of things while they are playing and that’s the best way to learn. Learning without recognizing and pressure.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife afaik it's the same in The Netherlands. the focus on formal learning to me seems counterproductive to be frank. If you let younger children learn through play they learn that learning new things is fun and the idea is that they will retain that attitude when they get older. And they still learn. I've read some studies that seem to support this, I believe they were cited in a unicef report on children's happiness, where children were asked if they enjoyed school and learning and the majority said they did. If the teaching becomes formal very quickly a lot of children will not follow along, and very very young children are physically not able to do certain things yet, like writing, because they simply are not developed enough yet. It's one of the things 4/5 year olds learn in the Dutch version of kindergarten, holding a pencil, little tasks like 'embroidery' with a large blunt needle on paper with holes, or punching out paper shapes with a needle, al to prepare them for writing. :)
So interesting to hear your take! I think the whole pre-determined snack time vs. free snack time thing is a BIG DEBATE in German kindergarten teaching circles and you find kindergartens in Germany that focus on the childrend deciding themselves when they are hungry or not and those that focus on a shared meal as a communal experience. Most kindergartens have ideas (and lengthy "concepts" on how and what they teach, so it is not just play. It's just more of a focus on learning through play. I read this really interesting piece on how formal learning is really grounded in these basic experiences. Like understanding numbers is really based in understanding lengths and amounts and non-formal play like climbing or playing in a sandpit can be very helpful because you have all these experiences of "how far can I reach?" "Is this step further than I can reach or not?" "How much sand fits into this container? Is it more or less than in the other container?". Apparently this really helps with understanding the concept of numbers later on and if your brain had all these experiences, it finds it easier to grasp what the symils represent. Whereas teaching kids the symbols and words for numbers without those basics doesn't really teach them much when they are too young to grasp the concept behind this. I think that's true in general with teaching kids academic stuff too early. I had this cousin who taught her 2-year old the alphabet song and was really proud of her for knowing her letters. But I just wonder if it's really helpful. Two-year-olds will learn the words to any song without really understanding the meaning...
@@runnerfive4479 I only went to kindergarten for a month - and that was a long, long time ago (nearly 50 years, it was 1974). But I remember we all sat down then together and Hagebuttentee (rosehip "tea") was handed out with our Frühstück (it was the second breakfast for most kids). There were times of free play (which I do not remember too strongly) and times when the Erzieher (pedagogues) would tell/read stories. I do not remember much of it, as it was that long ago, I just remember I went there at 5, for a month, before I went on to primary school, also at 5 (I turned 6 6 weeks later). And I could already read and lay words with ready letters. I could not handle a pen well. It turned out later, that I was shortsighted, that is why my drawing over lines probably was inevitable. I could only go to Kindergarten from 8 or 9 am to noon. Still it gave my grandma respite from childcare.
German Waldkindergarten is like: "Now as you are 5 and old enough: Here is your lighter, a matchbox, a saw, a multi-tool-pocket-knife and now go into the forest and have fun!" and the kids do have fun and some amazing experience for life. I like that kind of education and teaching! :-) I am pretty sure that this is very different in the US?!
Ja! My youngest daughter just had her FÖJ in a Waldkindergarten (afternoons to the age of 14) between MITTLERE REIFE and now GYMNASIUM. The little ones learned, what they can pick in the woods and what is poison and prepared it afterwords on the fire! She herself has been going to a Montessori Kindergarten. I think that FSJ/FÖJ is a great possibility for the Kids to 'schnupper' into the ' real life', before deciding where the 'career' should go. I wish you a lots of fun by all those new impressions!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Ive seen an interview with a german journalist stationed in the US, she and her husband had the cops and child protection service called on them because they where letting their kids walk to school on their own... There is a lot of fear mongering taking place in american society about kidnapping and all this other crap that isn´t an actual threat but gets good ratings on tv or klicks on the internet. Also i found this online: "According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. 87% of their life is inside buildings, then another 6% of their life in automobiles. That's only 7% of your entire life outdoors."
@@journalisten_boy9141 I was shocked when I saw the report where the German reporter was interviewed that she had problems with the police because of it. Just like her children, who then said, 'We only play in the garden or go to school, what's wrong with that?' And then an American children psychologist was asked that said children of that age are too young, they can't do that yet, you have to wait until they are x years old and then they can and I just thought, no, If you don't show it to them and don't let the children do it themselves, then they can't do it at age x either because they haven't learned it. It was a video about american helicopter parents.. horrible that such behavior is even demanded by the general public.
My daughter went to a German Kita in the US before we moved to Germany. I remember the Kita leader specifically telling the parents NOT to try teaching their kids how to read before 1st Grade. The whole point of the exercise is both teaching self-reliance and - perhaps more importantly - teaching socialization skills. The kids learn to interact with each other. They learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. They learn how to manage themselves within a group. This means that the kids are actually emotionally and socially ready to focus on academics once school finally kicks in.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yes! But I think that's all they are attend to learn: reading, counting etc comes with school. Would we want our kids to be bored when it comes to the first degrade? Because they know already? Let kids be kids: Playing!!!!!😊
If the kids want to learn reading, they will. I was taught reading at the age of four by several older kids in the house. My parents did not teach me, they just got a big blackboard for me.
Kids will learn. They will learn more when they have a stimulating environment. Having them sit down and listen to an adult teaching is only so stimulating to a very young person that obviously has so much more to discover.
Yes, and this is something that is not part of American culture anymore. For the most part, they’ve forgotten that young kids learn through play and just by living life. They don’t need formal lessons when they’re young! They need to freely run, play, explore, create.
Now in fall/autumn and in winter, you and Ella will experience so many wonderful new customs in Kindergarten, and I'm sure you will love it, e.g. Sankt Martin and the Laternenzug, Sankt Nikolaus, Adventskalender und Adventskranz, all those cool things :-)
@@karstenbursak8083 so do I. Went from Cologne to Central Catholic in Grand Island, Nebraska. It was EASY. I became a straight A student as soon as I had adjusted.
Free education, free healthcare and various insurances for everyone is what we pay taxes for. These are socialistic values, but socialism is often missunderstood in the U.S. and mixed up with communism.
Yes this is very true. Many completely confuse socialism with a social democracy. They don’t understand that people that live in social democracies are still free and independent.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Exactly my thought; a social democracy which emphasized the wellbeing of all citizens is what most democracies in NW Europe have chosen and guarantees a lot of benefits to the majority of residents and citizens including affordable health care, education, housing - and even public spaces and infrastructure. I’m not trying to say that everything is perfect and easy, but overall the quality of life is better. Also a lot of schools and kindergardens are run by the churches - and are free to parishioners. The churches own many hospitals and other social institutions , some schools, nursing homes , and they makes those more affordable although everyone in germany has health insurance through their employers. The schools for example are not biased to a religious education but follow all the same curriculums as all schools. From what I remember all elementary schools were either protestant or catholic , but what it’s like now, I don’t know.
In the US Kindergarten through 12th grade is free unless you go to private school. US citizens only pay for University or trade school (maybe). I had a $150 school for loan for car repairs that didn't accrue interest until I graduated University. I paid the $150 off the day before I graduated. The only reason my schooling was virtually free was because I did my research and got scholarships, grants, and a work study program that paid for my 6 years of University. I applied for 400 different scholarships. I won 25 scholarships. Scholarships and grants you don't have to pay back. Work study programs have different rules. The one I worked for is University was free, but I had to work for them for 5 years. I was planning to work for them when I graduated University so working for them for 5 years wasn't a big deal. People are lazy when it comes to looking for ways to make University or trade school almost free. They want the government hand the free schooling to them. I got a scholarship for being Chinese. I'm not Chinese whatsoever. No one who was Chinese applied for the scholarship, so I got it.
Forgot to say Preschool (for kids ages 4-5) is 100% free in a couple states (3 or 4🙄). I didn't have this program in Florida when I was a kid, but my kids will have this privilege.
Don‘t be fooled about german parents not being of the helicopter type. I just spoke to a Grundschul-teacher, who reported that far too many parents put loads of pressure on their kids in order to make them „achievers“. Always great to see your perspective on our society tho…love the videos! Whenever you re in the Frankfurt region, you are most welcome to ask for a guided tour 👍🏿👍🏽👍🏾👍
I’m an American in Wiesbaden… I need to make a visit to Frankfurt! We’ve been here 9 months and I still haven’t headed that way :) always looking for day trips and something to do 😅😅
Dude from Hamburg here, my aunt had started my cousin on english lessons before she could properly speak german, that plus violin and ballet lessons at a very early age. some parents will always be like this
nelson v h that's true. In the cities helicopter moms take their kids everywhere in their big SUV s and depending on their social status manage their extracurricular activities so that the poor kids hardly have time to play. In the countryside it's a little different though.
We've lived here for 4 years with our 3 girls. Raising children in Europe has been a dream in many ways. Allowing them the freedom to be children and play or giving them a few Euros and sending them in to town, by themselves has been pretty cool. Even letting my oldest take the train to school, by herself... it's just not something that would happen in the states, unless we were living in a major city. After fall break, all three of my girls will be taking the train and joining the throngs of children walking to school from the train station. On Wednesdays after school, I will let them go get McDonald's with their friends before coming home on the train.
Love it! These are some of the reasons we wanted to move here - so our children could have more self reliance and independence. It’s great to hear you’re having that experience as well.
As a german your comment sounds so strange to me…how old are children in the States when they are allowed to do something on their own? But I have to admit, that things changed here too. When I was a child we usually went to primary school on our own and hardly anyone was picked up by a parent. Today I see lots of parents in front of the school.
Just an example: my parents have a petrol station and convenience store Just down the street from their house...maybe 50 -60 meters . When we visited this summer, I told my 14 yr old she could go there by herself and buy a soda. My mother was horrified. She's appalled I let my 10,12, and 14 yr old stay at home or walk around our village by themselves. She tells me all the time that I can't do that in America. But, I did this summer and my kids survived. Mom is like those over protective helicopter parent types. They are like " Karens" of the parenting world...just waiting for you to slip up ,so they csn judge you...🤣😄😅😆🤔🙄😔😔😔
Hi folks, good morning. If i understood a friend of mine (kindergarden teacher), they try to teach the kids to develope social skills and adjust to a structured daily life. Basic skills in enjoying music and the use of rythmical patterns (Karl Orff). I live close to a Kindergarten and my heart is full of joy when they sing fullhearted with their tiny but strong voices. I am a musician myself and this is a priceless gift for my ears and soul. Me - singing more like a raven, often envy their abilities of voicing and hitting higher notes. They learn to differ the letters by playing with them and often the kids learn reading or writing, at least in the basics. They give them hints to develope a own character and praise them if they ace their self determined tasks. Have a nice sunday and enjoy the colorful autumn.
We strongly believe that the kids' "job" in the first five, six years is being a kid. And play, play, play. There is so much they are learning through playing, that's enough. Although there are tendencies here now to make even these early years "useful" and "productive", unfortunately. I think, kids who didn't have enough time to just play, learning how to interact with others, social skills like sharing, waiting, listening to others... running, climbing, jumping, balancing asf. might be more in danger of getting problems later in life, any kind of crisis, psychological problems like burnout, anxiety maybe. Let them just play for the first few years. They will have to learn and work for many decades after that.
I mostly agree but for one thing: languages. At that age, the human brain is still wired to soak up new languages like a sponge. The older you get, the more difficult it becomes (learning Spanish in my 30s took like forever ...). So I do think that languages (say English and the language of a neighbouring country) are an area that should be tought systematically in Kindergarten - through fun and games, songs and little movies, not with grammar books, of course. Bring in native speakers on an exchange basis. If you have a strong immigrant community in an area, you can also teach some basics of that language to the German kids.
Exactly! I didn't even spend my last year before school in kindergarden, and I was just left to my own devices at home. As I grew up on a farm, I had time to play with the cats, balance on stones, climb fences, watch Dad doing farm stuff, watch Mom doing household stuff, learned a lot about farming, nature and the world ... and lo and behold, what happened in winter? I taught myself how to read and write and was ahead of class in first grade. Sometimes it's even better to leave a child alone.
@@positroll7870 I'm a German mom living in Munich (my ex husband is American) and my two girls were in 2 different Kindergartens (one in a bilingual and the other in a German Kindergarten) even in the German Kindergarten we had the possibility to put the kids into an English class once a week. It was voluntary for those who wanted and the teachers were native speakers. And I've heard that from many kindergartens. Maybe it's more difficult in rural areas but in the bigger cities I think it's definitely a possibility for those who want to 🤗
As German who moved to Florida at age 23 and then lived there for 11 years, becoming a certified teacher and actually working at American schools, I LOVE your video(s)! Have only seen this one so far, will watch the others now, too. Very cool to see Americans experiencing what life is like in Germany.
Children have two similar emotional needs. On the one hand, solidarity and security, on the other, freedom and autonomy. If these needs can be met, you will have happily children. The main thing is not to violate these basic needs. You always do this when you make your children objects of your own wishes, goals or arrangements.
A few weeks back I did an art project with the kids. The idea came because one child was talking about how she made a "Hexentreppe" with her grandma. I told her that I know how to make a worm out of a "Hexentreppe" and the idea was born to make fall related fruits or veggies with a little holes inside for a worm to stick through. My grown up mind went to apples and pears but now we got (besides these two) carrots, grapes, a cucumber and broccolis. Also the worms turned out to be very colorful. Some even have two different colors or got only one eye. Thats because they are worms from different planets ;) I also let the kids draw their own shapes. The cucumber was supposed to be an pear but the child didn´t quite figure out how to get the right shape. She decided it looked more like a cucumber and wouldn´t give it another try. Needless to say she was very happy with the result in the end. I got endless stories like that to share. Like that one year we worked on candles as christmas presents for the parents. One child chose black for a shooting star. When I asked why, it came out that the mom really loved the color. I talked to the mom after christmas and explained why she had a black shooting star. It totally made sense to her when she learned the reason behind.
The difference is that attandance at School is mandatory whereas Kindergarden is not (though very much recommended to give them good all the right skills to start school).
I remember when I was at University I read an essay that really impressed me: the case study was a series of experimental top-rate kindergarden in a specific region of Italy (where I am from). Cutting to the final results, it said that, as Sara says, 3 and 4yo CAN learn a lot. BUT it is a "waste" to teach them the traditional reading, writing, sums, etc. at THAT young an age. This because there is no significant advantage in learning it a couple of years earlier. AND (which is the part that stunned me the most) at that age the brain as at its most agile and developing phase. This should be the time when kids are given the chance to explore all of those interests and disciplines that are sort of at the margins of the traditional schooling system: art, music, dance, cooking, whatever. it doesn't matter. This is the time when actual talents and inclinations start to come out, if you train them to concentrate only on writing (for example) you are stifling all that other "universe" of a child's development. Unfortunately, notwithstanding that study, the tendency in Italy is very much similar to the US and kids start to make "school-like activities" in Kindergarden. My 2yo is going to Krippe here in Germany, and I am super-satisfied of the German approach, up until now. This year he has been offered music lessons already, and I love it!
Ich bin selbst Erzieherin in München. Es ist schön, dass ihr zeigt welche Unterschiede es gibt. Auch für mich war es sehr lehrreich, da ich nun amerikanische Familien besser verstehe, wenn sie neu zu uns in den Kindergarten kommen. Vielen Dank. Ich arbeite selbst gerne mit Montessori Materialien, obwohl ich einer städtischen Kita arbeite 😊
I can still remember the times when I was in Kindergarten. The Kindergärtnerin/nursery school teacher was reading to us. She reads "Die kleine Hexe" from Ottfried Preußler. I still love this Book.
I think the german kindergarten concept is mainly to develop social and methodical competences that are necessary for everyday life in a society and aside of academical or professional skills. So the groups of mixed ages go exactly into that scheme where seniors assist and care for juniors. A concept I think they also have for example in (some) US prep schools for decades.
As someone who has always lived in Germany and been to Kindergarten Here, i am really surprised on how different it can be in other countries. And now im quite happy with our System here...
And they insist that the kids wear shoes when climbing on climbing apparatus - hard-soled shoes that provide no grip at all, resulting in lots of falls. In South Africa, it was exacty the opposite - they aren't allowed on the climbing apparatus with shoes on, because little bare feet are less slippery, and the kids can grip with their toes.....
Great video, here in Luxemburg we call Kindergarten “Spillschoul” Play School. It is mandatory and starts in September the year they get 4 years until the year they become 6. For the rest it is near the german system, learning by playing. Our son started this year ans is loving it. Btw here they offer a free year education bevore Spillschoul especially for all those kids that don’t speak Luxemburgish at home and with around 50% foreigners thats needed.
As always, enjoyed this video a lot with my Sunday coffee :-) My nieces both go to a Waldkindergarten here in Stuttgart region and they absolutely love it. They tell me so much about the nature and know a lot more about types of trees than I probably ever will 😀 They also clean the Wald usually if there is trash and have recently told me that cigarette buds are posion (which is very true) :)
I am almost 50, but i still recall, my Kindergarten had 6 groups. My group was the "candle" group. We had guinea pigs, we had to take care for and every wednesday we had pancakes. Don't ask me, why i still recall that 🤣
I have a daycare here in BC Canada, I spend lots of time promoting independence in my toddlers. Encouraging parents to let the kids do for themselves. Love you Vlogs. Thank you!
Totally agree with art! I am an art teacher and love the differences although the theme is the same for everyone. We call it Art and Technics*, where* we teach to handle scissors, needles, glue sticks... When I worked in Nebraska in kindergarten I offered gardening to the kids. They loved it and my principal laughed a lot about "the crazy German" but accepted it all - great guy!
Many kindergarten offer gardening today. To learn that carrots and peas do not come from the supermarket, but need to be grown. I heard about kindergarten groups that visited a farm with cows, pigs, poultry etc. Big success.
Hi Guys! Lovely video as always and thank you so much for the shout out! Kindergarten is such a special time and I am so thrilled that your little one is enjoying it. Cheers from the Black Forest!
This. I totally agree with you on art - teaching techniques is fine, but don’t predefine the outcome! And yes, “Morgenkreis” is very common throughout Germany; afaik even Waldkindergärten have them, in their own manner. In our kindergarten, the child of the day did the calendar, chose a song and made a “weather forecast”, but candles were only lit on birthdays, or in December (Adventskalender). Every child loved striking the matches, why the candles sometimes were blown out by surprising gusts of wind. :D I’m not sure about Bavaria (education is reegulated by the Bundesländer, not the federal government), but in Niedersachsen, the last year of kindergarten before school (“Vorschuljahr”) is generally free. Kids in that year usually get an hour or two of “preschool experience”, like practicing to handle a pencil or pen, first letters and simple math. In our kindergarten, we had lots of Montessori material, accessible for all kids at all times, but for the preschoolers, they were part of prepping them for school. :) One question: those crotcheted pumpkins are adorable - did you make them yourselves? Best wishes from up north!
In Austria Brotzeit is called Jause. They chose themselves when they have their snack ! Yes, kids also learn to light a match early. At our kindergarten pre-covid, they even prepared a group snack (cut up veggies, cut bread, etc). But due to covid they’re not allowed to share food anymore.
You are doing such a great job. I am so glad that helicopter parenting wasn't a thing when I was a kid. Please keep the automatic subtitles up. Brotzeit turning into broadside and Regenhose into Reagan hose was so funny!
Having children must be so great. It can be exhausting sure but the joy of seeing them play and feeling like a kid yourself again is priceless especially when the kids grow up in different cultures and have a wide variety of experiences. I'm only 20 years old but someday I definitely wanna have kids myself
Culture Shocks are delightful bon bons when embracing a new culture. In my case, rediscovering my original culture blessed me with this bon bon: In 1995, after living in Canada for 30 years, I returned to Germany on a one year professional assignment. I shipped my 1994 Miata sportscar across the ocean to Bremerhaven to be my fun wheels while in Europe. When I arrived at the harbour’s autoport to pick up my beloved car, I had to clear customs. Not an issue as I am a native and fluent German speaker. “Does your car have any extra equipment installed?” the inspector asked in a northern German accent. After a moment of thought I said: “Ja, das Auto ist mt zwei extra Luftüten ausgerüstet.” A somewhat stunned inspector then replied rather sternly: “Luftüten” heißt “AIR BAGS” auf Deutsch. After that I needed a cheeseburger and I ate it exactly the same way as Sarah ate hers.
So this is pre-kindergarden? My experience was mid 1950s in New Hampshire. I don't recall learning my numbers and letters. We drew on huge sheets of paper that circled the walls. And finger painted flower vases from mom's washed spaghetti sauce jars. There was chocolate and plain milk in mini cartons. We were read to, followed by naps on the floor. Lots of playtime and creative time. I never wanted to leave!
Thank you for this great video! I am a German who lives in the Philippines and we have a 10 month old son. Here is no such thing as kindergarten (at least nothing that deserves that name) and seeing your video made me realise that Germany definitely has a lot of advantages. I hope you will enjoy Germany - It will take some time to dive deeper into the culture, but it's a great country :)
Kindergarten cost / copay depends on the state and even municipality in Germany. In some states it’s free, in others not; in some cities it’s much more expensive than in others
I‘m so excited to see you experience the Einschulung which is the very first day of school in Germany! It‘s such a big deal (and wonderful day) here :)
My friend's kid started elementary school two months before his sixth birthday. Which is abnormally early in Austria. But he was getting bored in kindergarten, and it seemed like the right thing to do. But he had all the time in the world before that to play and discover. And especially if it's international kids, it's a way of learning the local language since it's not spoken at home.
I just visited the Kindergarden when my Grandma wasn't availabe to take care. And i am glad that it was a play based enviroment and not another stressfull school like enviroment.
I just want to thank you for showing us the pretty face of Americans, being this open minded, happy go lucky, active and adventurous people the American Culture once was known for all over the world❣️ These days you truly are wonderful ambassadors and represent the best sides of many people like you, who are really suffering in the US today. I do not have kids and my lifestyle is very different from yours BUT I really need to watch your vlog, because you make me appreciate again what I felt the American spirit could be in its best sence. Thank you for that🙏💙. My parents where little kids when the US army freed the german Kohlenpott at the end of world war two and they always speak about those friendly always laughing soldiers who loved the children and would throw chocolates and chewing gums from their military vehicles into the crowds of children who were following them wherever they showed up. They joked with them and made this disturbed and frightened children of the war smile and trust again. My father always speaks about one big black soldier, who was so kind and funny and obviously had a very big heart for the exhausted, frightened to death German children. He was the first black man he saw in his life and his friendliness and compassion for the kids of the enemy made an unforgettable impression on that child’s heart. He is 87 now and being freed by the US Army still is a very vivid memory in his mind... To him this soldiers were heroes, because they made this boy believe in humanity again. I never want to forget that! Excuse me for getting this serious - I am a German after all 😉 - but I needed to share this❣️
Oh wow, these stories from the war are amazing! I’m so glad you shared them with us. Yes the true, genuine American spirit is the happy, friendly, and adventurous personality you describe. Somewhere along the way arrogance and fear of immigrants creeped in and it’s just really sad. So now you know that there are still open-minded Americans and we aren’t all the same. ❤️
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife The Fear of Immigrants might come from you having too many Germans over there *just kidding, and I may joke about Germans, as I am a German.
As someone who used to run a Kita in Germany, having a child here in the US and finding childcare aka kindergarten that actually allows kids to play and interact and have fun was so frustrating.it never really happenend.
This is so awesome! We homeschool and I 100% agree with everything you said! Kids learn so much better when there's creativity involved. There's a European program called Number Blocks and Aplha blocks. After watching number blocks for a couple of months I overheard my 3 year old saying, "3 & 3 & 3 is 9." He did the same with the number 4. 4,4,4,4=16. Then my husband purchased them a set of number blocks. (Them as in my three youngest boys ages 10, 6, 3) They make and create their own blocks way bigger than what they've seen in the program and they know how to get to that number because they made it themselves. Yes, Kevin, engineering for sure! Hopefully if all goes well we'll visit Switzerland in about a year and a half and perhaps we can cross over to meet up!
I have experienced both the German and English Kindergarten system. My experience was (and probably still is) that the German, non - academic approach still has the English high academic approach for breakfast (academically). Not in all cases of course, but since the kids may explore their creativity and interests on their own speed, not being forced to learn, they have the upper hand, when it comes to critical thinking, reasoning and freedom of choice. The latter, is something rarely available, enforced or even endorsed in any culture, whereas the "Kindergartenzeit" is 90% curriculum based. Also the mixed groups are giving the kids a bonus both ways, because though it is not up to them, to teach their peers and some even may choose not to actively do that, children (and adults to some extend) may still learn from each other, here, it is the freedom to choice not to do something.
I like that Ella can eat when she wants, at least once a day. So she can learn to listen to her body and recognize when she is hungry and not just eat when someone else tells her she must be hungry.
The kindergartens I know here in Munich (I'm a German with an American ex husband and 2 daughters) do have fixed meal times though. Some start with a mutual breakfast others keep breakfast flexible but they all have lunch and snack together 🤗 the German / Bavarian system does not regulate that as far as I know. The Kindergarten can organize the meal situation as they please or need to. Glad you like it so much here!! 🤗
Love that you're big on Montessori! When I learned about her in educational science in 11th grade back then, realizing how HUUUGE her impact on that was and how sooo many things I and others had in kindergarten etc that I just took as a given (born 92) originated precisely in her philosophies, I just wanted to travel back in time and give that women a hug for all the good things she did haha. Awesome that she's such an essential pillar of child education here, and in many other countries too of course
Since some of your videos I already watched I'm starting to envy your kids for their childhood they can spend with you. I'd like to have had such parents for me too, cause I fully agree with your thoughts on childhood. And so let me assure you it's a real pleasure for me to watch your children grow, as I don't have own ones. So please keep posting your videos !
Also kindergarden teachers, especially the ones in a government financed kindergarden, can sign up for eduacational courses for free (payed by the employer) to get up to date on the recent concepts on pedagogical concepts. and also there is government based funding like hireing for example an artist (with a pedagogical background usually) to do some projects with the kids. for example paining a wall with all kids faces. but this kind of stuff depends on the teachers commitment to go the extra mile because they usually have takle a lot of bureaucratic hurdles to get the funding.
Well, they need four years of education. Plus they need at least 6 months of working in a family with some kids, like a nanny or an au pair. Don't forget the fact that German basic school education is 11 years. Abitur requires 12 - 13 years to go to university and study. USA basic school ends with 8th grade. Germany invented dual system which is a combination of school and training on the job. People who want to become Erzieher need to go through some pedagogical tests before starting the 4 years of apprenticeship. Ability to do the job requires some personality and character.
I loved my short time in Germany where I taught English in a high school. I like the German kindergarten concept. Seems like in America kids are expected to learn more and more, younger and younger. It’s so beautiful there!
Love your videos and enthusiasm. There are lots of things I loved about growing up in Germany, its great especially for young children. Beware of getting lulled into complacency, rigor tends to speed up dramatically around 2nd and towards 4th grade as students are tracked into different academic levels.
Great video! My daughter is in second grade here in Germany and it's so relaxed and laid back plus it's extremely affordable. She has baking and gardening classes plus they offer loads of other Hort activities! The school day is so much shorter, ending around 12:30pm, and they play for hours at Hort! It's so wonderful to see her enjoying being a kid. They also have swimming as a subject which I think is so cool. Plus the food at school is delish!!!!
There is no need to force academics on a child. If they go through the develompmental stages and have the time and experiences they need academic learning and interest follow. But I agree... sometimes the Balance and the flexibility are lacking. Children showing very early academic interests are often hold back, some just need more intellectual Stimulation.
In the Kindergarten where my two boys went, the kids could go out every time they want. and the Erzieher let them do their thing. One time I came to pick my elder son up the Erzieher catcht me at the door and told me, they had to put him in the shower. I thought "Oh my, was there an "accident" with his diapers (yes he still wore diapers at the age of three) but it was something totally different. He played in a huge puddle of mud and at the end he was dirty from top to bottom. The only thing I said about it was: "Did he had fun?" 😁 Of course he did. So I think it is important not to freak out over children playing in the dirt and having a great time. Thanks for your great videos 👍
I still remember that one time in the middle of a reeaaaalllyyy hot summer when i wanted to pick my daughter up from Krippe. They played with water and my daughter had a wet t-shirt and wet trousers from it. The nurturer apologized for it. I looked at her, couldn't really believe it and said that there's no need to apologize. It's so hot and water dries, my daughter obviously had fun. She was sooooo thankful for my reaction, cos some other parents weren't as relaxed as i was and she wasn't sure which kind of reaction she'd get from me. To this day i still don't understand what's exactly the problem with water in the middle of summer 😅
found this channel by coincidence and i really like your insights on our german culture.... you also seem like lovely parents! BTW the tradition that we go outside in all kinds of weathers also stems from the saying: "Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung." Doesn't get more German than that hahaha!
So good to see and hear that your kids seem to have a great time of childhood here in Germany! The childhood is the only time in the life of a human being when the kids can be kids, right? So, let them be kids, and let them do whatever they wanna do. Let them enjoy this time of their lives. This time will never return.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I'm glad my bad German school English was good enough to make you understand what I wanted to explain! All the best for you and your children - enjoy your stay in Germany!
In Belgium Kindergarden is from 2,5 upto 6 years old. There are 3 school years in kindergarden and max 20 pupils in one class. Playing is still i portant in those years. As from the 1st year of primary school, you will start to learn for real.
I'm a kindergarten teacher in Germany or as we call it a "Erzieherin" and I'm more than happy that you appreciate German Kindergarten that much! Sometimes I'm not too keen on going outside as well, especially while the weather is not that nice, but I know that's that what's best for the kids to be balanced. What is our focus when it comes to being prepared for school is to give the kids self-esteem to talk in front of others, it's to help them being independent, to speek up for themselves and to express their feelings and needs. Reading and writing will be easily learned afterwards.
Yes! I’m a slacker mom on the educational front. My oldest is 25 and last year he thanked me for not pushing him into activities or to be a social butterfly. My 2 were homeschooled (my subs) but my stepdaughter still feels she needs to be indoctrinated into the government system. Guess who has social anxiety and insecurities? I didn’t skip the nutrition, deep history, philosophy, music, foresting and boating.
My wife was a kindergarten teacher in the U.S. She taught the alphabet and reading for the able kids. She took them to farms to get pumpkins or to feed animals; organized train rides, and invited guests in to talk to the children. One guest was an African man who made drums. She made them aware of different cultures. She wrote a children's workbook which she titled A Very Important Person's Workbook which parents helped them to complete. She wrote songs for the kids to sing. It was her second experience teaching after she raised our three kids.
I guess we should've shared more of the positives! Haha. But for us, it wasn't such a positive experience. We didn't even share that I didn't even send our first two kids to preschool. We did send our third one, and he hated it. He wanted to be free and play, he didn't want to sit still and listen to learning songs and lessons. And he is very, very smart, so I found that quite interesting. Even very smart young children still want and need to play!
I kind of thought kindergartens were the same in most places, (apart from in France, where it's placed in the elementary school building). So I got a bit surprised learning about the American system. Especially since I know it's pretty costly for the families. I also realize I have to look into montesorri for older pupils, since I have only read about it for children, but had planned to send the youngest one to a Montessori junior high school
In Ontario we have play-based Kindergarten, too, with kids 3-5 or 6 as well. It's something that was introduced about 5 years ago. This was an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Loved to hear about your experiences like every sunday. I'm glad you found a kindergarten that gives the children freedom to explore and guidance at the same time. To this day your kindergarten experience in Germany can differ a lot from region to region and even in one area or city, depending on the concept, the funding and in the end on the educators, who are working there. But I'm glad you and Ella seem to be happy. I'm 30 and during my own kindergarten time a lot of things were predetermined like chosing when to have a snack or what to draw etc. On another note: are you already familiar with "Adventskalender"? With the upcoming winter and christmas time, you should definitely check them out, they are traditional here for kids (and grownups ;) ) and there are a lot of possibilities to craft them yourself or together with your children.
I like your positiv Energie, i am working in a Kindergarten too. Sry my Englisch writing. Wir sind jeden Tag draußen, haben auch für jedes Wetter Kleidung und es macht Spaß gerade bei Regenwetter. Das Freispiel ist wichtig, voneinander lernen , kreativ sein, Rollenspiele und so weiter. Tolle Deko habt ihr. Danke für eure fröhlichen Videos
Here in RLP the Kindergarten price is fixed and dependent on the number of siblings, from the 3rd kid on, it is free. In NRW the price depends on the parent's income. Nice videos, I like them a lot.
That is how it used to be. Kindergarten is absolutly free if your child is two or older. You only need to pay for lunch. I am not sure how the pricing for a "Krippe" works though...
As someone who works in a kindergarten in germany, i have to say that there are some places where the children are separated by age. For example the kindergarten i‘m working at, has 3 groups for all children under 3 years and the other groups are for children over 3 years. But of course it‘s different in every kindergarten :)
I am an American living in Munich teaching in a bilingual Kindergarten, so I found this video especially interesting. What I love about it here as opposed to the States is, like you said, they don’t cram academics in until 1st grade. The reason for that is because the focus for Kindergarten age is mainly social emotional development. Allowing the children to figure out who they are and what their role in society is. We focus a lot on emotions, helping the children understand and process their own emotions, as well as understanding other’s emotions, thus developing empathy and acceptance. We also work a lot on conflict solution. How to handle a situation when you disagree with a friend and trying to find common ground and compromise on their own instead of having rules on sharing, etc. So really developing their independence in handling social situations in a healthy way. I think having the time to develop these skills properly is so much more important than being able to read by the age of 4. I am much more fulfilled as a teacher teaching these skills to the future generation. Also, you talked about the teachers having a basic knowledge of guitar. I asked my colleague about this and she said in Germany, if you study any form of childhood education, part of the course is learning how to play guitar. I think that’s awesome! And FYI…Preschool in Germany is an optional thing like in the States, but it comes between Kindergarten and 1st Grade as opposed to before Kindergarten in the USA. It is a prep year before they start school (which like you said only from 1st Grade is it considered „school“).
It is so cool to hear another American’s experience on this - especially one who is currently working in a Kindergarten classroom! Thank you for sharing your perspective.
A very nice video about German kindergarten :D I like it! The free drawing and crafting thing in Germany saddly doesn't apply to all kindergarten... in my kindergarten time (more than 20 years ago) I had to remake a heart for mother's day because my kindergarten teacher thought it was ugly, ripped it in front of me apart and I had to do it again (I was about 4 years old at that time and I can still remember it... to this day I hate crafting and am very nervous if I have to do it at work^^'). The sad part: it is still like this in this kindergarten...
In Germany you usually do a 2 week Schulpratikum / school Intershop, where students gets to a firm / Company/ Bank/ goverment /...to learn about worklife. Usually in class/grade 9. Even your oldest has a few years left. So if the time comes closer ask your friends, if they know a good one. Dependance on the interests of the child.
Good morning guys ☕🥐 You are so right with your point that kid's should be allowed to be kid's as long as possible, the serious parts starts early enough. In playing based way, for me opinion kid's learn a lot more, especially of being part of a group and working out things together which gives them also a lot more confidence for the future. It's a very socialising part of life and learning that in young ages is very important. The types of Kindergarten depending on the area that you are living, in the bigger cities like Munich or Berlin you can also find classes based on the ages of the kid's and on countryside it can change to more mixed classes depending on the families that live in the region.
Well, my 4 year old would love to learn that preschool stuff. And i also like all those available printables and worksheets. In America i guess you can easily make your own private learning class for some toddlers from your neighbourhood? Here in Austria everybody is saying, don't get them to learn too much right now because when they start primary school they can be bored or confused by different learning methods of the teachers (every teacher does different).
Great video as always! Thank you :) It's really fascinating and enlightening to get another perspective on all the things we never really think that much about, because we're so used to them or because we simply take them for granted ... it's like discovering them for the first time all over again =D
In Germany Kindergarten teaches skills as holding pens, cutting with scissors, play, build with wooden blocks, to count or paint, draw and all that so they have a good start at school. How much you pay for Kindergarten depends on the city you live in and how much the city can afford to foster the Kindergartens. Parents pay the rest and most citys offer a discount for the 2nd, 3rd kid.
I cringe every time I walk past the daycare center here in NY and see the massiv TV screen they have. When I first heard it’s for music classes I was majorly confused, obviously the teachers must know how to play guitar! 😅
Yeah let’s hope they aren’t playing TV shows or movies for the kids! Studies show kids shouldn’t be looking at screens before the age of 2, but in reality, that’s so hard.
Yes, and did you notice? As soon as she learned that holding the match close to the flame and holding the match vertically caused discomfort she immediately adjusted her grip and angle without making a fuss about it being hot.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife she is! In German we would say "Sie ist ein (kleiner) Sonnenschein". (Just in case you wanted to know and maybe didn't know already 😊)
Thank you, that was really interesting. I’m from Germany but living in the UK, where I guess it’s a bit similar to the US. Jack goes to forrest school twice a week, which we now have to pay privately as he is of school age (5 years). He will go there till next year in the summer. Maybe we continue to homeschool afterwards, maybe he goes to school. But i think your video made me realise in more detail, why I’m so persistent in delaying jacks academic learning (my mum is a retired kindergarten nurse too 😄). Yes, these are values I believe in (Sweden is even more amazing with their school system). Kids should be kids. They should learn to be independent thinkers, learn how to enjoy life and become later in life what brings them joy not money. Life skills is becoming more and more important. And with so many people changing careers because they figured money didn’t make them happy. We should (like in swedish schools) find out, what makes us happy, and follow that path, instead of putting too much pressure on kids. Oh, well. Started rambling 😄❤️ anyway, much love!
Thanks for the feedback. I never thought about this way on our education system. The childhood as a protected time without the usual pressure of the society....and even till 7. That the Grundschule in Germany for U.S. citiesen even also are "prodected zone".
You can also visit the very first Kindergarten invented by Friedrich Fröbel (28. Juni 1840) in Bad Blankenburg (thuringia). It still is a Kindergarten. I did not know, that there is a "National Kindergarten Day" in the USA at Froebel's birthday (21. April) to honour his educational achievements and the creation of the first kindergarten.
And it actually contains a garden, as Fröbel had noticed that workers’ children in the city did not know where food came from, if I recall that correctly. :)
Being from East Germany, I tended to see preschool (Kindergarten) as primarily a way to enable mothers to work full- time, so....mostly for childcare. Women were needed in the workforce. We didn't learn ABCs or anything school -related until 1st grade. The start of first grade in East Germany was marked as a BIG deal, with Zuckertüte etc. That was the start of school. Our kindergartens were separated by age groups. Kleine Gruppe (age 3), mittlere Gruppe (age 4) and grosse Gruppe (age 5/6).
Seeing your intro if you haven’t already talked to neighbours/other parents re Halloween it might be a good idea to do so. I don’t know how much it’s already creeped into your local village, but Halloween used to not be a thing at all in Germany and there’s definitely not a widespread recognition of trick or treating. I think sometimes parents organise something among themselves for the kids visiting each other houses but again, unsure how widespread that is. Just a heads up so you can prepare your kids and avoid a potential big disappointment. I only know Martinssingen in November around St Martin’s Day as being similar of kids going door to door with their lanterns, singing a song and getting treats in return but I grew up in a Protestant area, might be different in Bavaria. Best to check with your local parents as well. 🙂
Halloween has become very much a thing here in Germany - at least in the city I live in. Last year we didn't have any trick or treaters due to Covid but I expect this year the doorbell will be ringing non stop again on October 31. What's not to like about a day where you get to dress up in scary costumes, walk around at night, meet all the neighbors and get loads of candy? But it might be different in a Bavarian village so it probably is a good idea to ask before buying the local supermarket out of sweets. And eleven days later their kids can experience their first St Martin's Day which my son always liked even more.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife just the people which wanted to live to the old religion celebrate Halloween/its called Samhain and they belive that in that night the living and the dead spirits come the closest together. For that they shut the doors that no evil spirit can come into the house and for the friendly ghosts they put candles in the window so that they can find the food which is put for them there already! Maybe now you know where this with the pumpkins and all the ghost thing came from its an old celtic religion celebrity. It was when christian religion came here, they overplay all the celtic celebrity days with other celebrities,Just Halloween and Aller Seelen is familiar,ask yourself what has a rabbit to do with eastern? Why do the catholic people celebrate 3 days Christmas /we still know Jesus was born later 🕎✝🕉🛐🔯☮
@@ennykraft Seems to depend on the region. Where I am from in Germany you could have thought that a few years ago Halloween was the next big thing wit trick or treat children going around and so on, now that has completely died away again, so it seems it comes in droves
The the fee for attending Kindergarden depends on where you live in Germany. Each local authority district sets their own prizes. For instance the richer cities (e.g. Stuttgart) don't charge anything whereas here in Bremen where I live we had to pay. Some cities or federal states have free attendance for the year before school. So it can vary a lot. Just like school in general because education in germany is "Ländersache".
I loved German kindergarten! It's also a very similar system to the one I grew up in in Italy, no formal learning until first grade there too. We just moved away unfortunately, and my 6yo started first grade in the UK. She is catching up so well, showing that when they are older and ready to learn they will more easily. So sad my youngest won't be able to have the same experience. I really hope we can move back to Germany after the 3 years here, but I'm not sure it will be doable :'( IMO btw the balance is learning through play, kids learn so much that way, and learning by doing without having to sit down and write, or memorize flash cards and being tested on spelling. Also, my kids where in a private trilingual kita, and for a 1yo and 5yo full time (I used to work there), I used to pay as much as I pay here for sending just my now 2yo 3 times a week 9:30-3:30... Last but not least, they call it Brotdose in Hessen :D
Those Walddorf Schulen might sound great. When I was in 10th grade on the Gymnasium, we had a whole migration of pupils going to "State schools" because they feared not to make the Abitur. But as we say in Germany:" At least they can dance their name"
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife well actually the Waldorf students do really well academically. They have done research and the outcome was that steiner students did very well later on. Also my children are in university now. One in medicine school another is in music and the third wants to be a pilot or an architect.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife they have been all their lives untill 12th grade. My eldest daughter went for a year to a montessori school but didn’t like it over there. We went a year abroad to the USA (like you did) and the children went also to a Waldorf school there and learnt English. My other daughter went in 10th grade to a Waldorf school in France to learn French and had a wonderful time living with a french family. My niece came to the Waldorf in 4th grade from a jewish day school and loved her new school. She stayed untill 12th grade and is now in university doing very well, becoming a coroner. My eldest daughter is top of her university class (medicine) and second daughter went to a talent class conservatory three days after school and weekends. So Waldorf is not for the faint of heart 😉 best result is that they all loved school. Still in touch with some of their teachers. That to me is special.
17:38 That's the interesting thing about Germany! We learn independence, creativity and self-confidence from an early age. And at the same time, we are probably very well known for our rules and order.
Well, only if you are independent and self-confident, you are able to acknowledge when rules do make sense (and when not) and you follow them because they do make sense, and not just because any authority says so ...
@@christianbottger493 And maybe on the other hand, if you are forced to obey strict rules as a kid and can't do what you want, maybe it sometimes leads to a life-long desire to break the rules and do your own thing.
Thank you for the interesting video. I have a friend in the US (Atlanta) and his daughter goes to kindergarten. I was very shocked when he told me all the parents have a special app in order to get real time information about their children, e.g. if Ella would not eat her potatoes for lunch, you got informed right away. The parents also get at least one photo per day taken by the kindergarten teacher. And when his daughter bite another child, my friend got a formal letter by the kindergarten - his daughter was two! It sounds aweful that children are kind of watched by their parents in everything they do. My friend here in Germany has a 20 months old daughter and they have an appointment with the teacher every 6 months to talk about the child's development. I think that is much better. And also, what you said: The children should get the opportunity to learn how to make their own decisions. I cannot wait to see your videos about schools! 😃
So much is very different between USA and Europe, in food,culture,even traditions and many other things that its sometimes strange to think that we compared to the rest of the world still is viewed,together,as the western culture and hemisphere.
Yes good point! They are quite different. I guess it’s like saying the Chinese, Indians and Russians are all in the Asian category when they have quite different cultural differences.
You are such a nice couple. I´m from Austria, meantime a retired scientist woman over 60 years old. 1978 I had been teaching kids from 6 to 16 years old swimming in a holiday camp in Florida for many weeks. The comparison in education was shocking for me. My 16 years old helpers there from college had the same education level as our pupils/students of the age of 13 to 14. As a studied mathematician and psychologist, I helped them to practice their work for college. But I can say I met so nice people and parents, sometimes with roots in Europe, that I have a kind of homesickness until today. So sorry, I can´t recognize the US today.
I must say, there are a lot of times where the children are making projects with a specific teaching experience as they grow older in Kindergarten. In Austria your child will be tester in the last kindergarten year, if she has all the kognitive and motoric skills needed for Grundschule. So there will be exercises for using pencils, using scissors as well as such things as getting rules and behavior connected. If there is a huge gap in the skills, your child will go to Vorschule to get the skills to the right level, bevor they start Grundschule.
It's the same in Germany. Before elementary school there is a small test to see if you are ready for school. However, this is not necessarily done by the educators from the kindergarten / preschool, but takes place independently. Back then I personally wasn't in "Vorschule", I went from kindergarten to school directly because I was just ready. I can remember the test and even then thought it was "pillpalle-einfach". It wasn't particularly academic either, drawing a tree, walking in a straight line, answering a few questions like favorite color, favorite animal, etc. But my brother "failed" the first time, which is not bad, then you just start school a year later. So it happens that some children are only 5 in the first grade, others already 7. Who cares!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife i am a private teacher for 20 years. Waldorfschule and Montessorie schools are the worst thing you could do. Ever. By far. It sounds nice in theory but thats it. It doesnt work with kids above 10 years. The risk that you fck up your kids is way above 50% in Monte Schools.
It's great that you enjoy German Kindergarden ☺ For me it was a shock too when my Daughter switched from a nanny with just 5 kids recently to a group with 25 children 🙈 that's what you Calle self-reliance is mostly a necessity from my experience 😅
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife At the moment they two teachers for each group and I miss the time whereI could talk about my Dauthers day in more detail. We were blessed with our Tagesmutter ☺
I love how YT is trying to undertitle your speaking. Whenever you use a German word YT starts guessing on how to spell it. And gets a different answer just about every time.
My kids went to a Montessori school in Bavaria. The cost depended on your income - that´s why it was affordable even for low income earners. Btw: even at school, different grades were mixed into one class, so that older kids could help the younger ones (repeating learning matters along the way). They also went to a Montessori Kindergarten (except for one day per week when they went to a forest kindergarden (they loved both).
Okay great to hear about how it is in Bavaria. We really like how it's a mixed group - the older girls were excited that Ella joined their class and really helped to make her feel more comfortable.
The way I see it as a German is that kindergarten is primarily for social skills. Also a bit of German language and motor skill development but mainly social. Academics is for school later ;)
Not only social. We also learned for example the names of a lot of animals from all over the world. We learned the 4 seasons of the year. We learned sports related things and so much more but all in a playful mood.
My mother worked in a kindergarten way back in the 70s and 80s. She said that she had learned to write plans to foster abilities in each kid and when she started in a new town, the educators there believed only in "free playing". So they took hold of their coffee mugs and let the children play while my mother began each day with a plan in mind of what to foster in which kid and how to go about that (let them do certain games, draw certain things, count things, sing certain nursery rhymes etc.).
I loved going to kindergarden 🤩 best time you could have - soooo many toys, sooo many kids and games to play. Loved the "Stuhlkreis" when every child has to bring its own chair, next to each other until it's a circle. When we sat we either heard an interesting story of a book or could tell our own stories. The best day in year was when you had birthday. It was always a big party and the birthday kid was the Star and had one wish. Mine for example was going to an icecream cafe and we all got icecream. Best day! ...
I vaguely remember, that there was an elder group and a younger group in Kindergarten.
I personally felt sometimes a bit bored in Kindergarten, because it was not challenging enough to my mind. So the adults sent me to school the first possible year (and did not keep me in Kindergarten one more year).
Some children *love* to learn (the alphabet, names of animals, making cookies, ...) so a Kindergarten should support their curiosity - but not force it on other children, who are not (yet) interested.
It was the best time of my childhood. I went there until 1963 and the staff were nuns.
These ladies gave us so much love and understanding back then.
3 month before school started i had to leave. It broke my little heart.😁
I tried several times to enter the kindergarden. It was 3 minutes away from home.
19:30 The German saying is: There is no bad weather. There is just the wrong clothes for the weather.
Always my words too :)
Just like in Norway 😊
I thought that was a Swedish saying....
@@Brathly82 I am pretty sure that this saying exists throughout Northern and Central Europe, where the weather can be bad, but seldom life-threatening.
This always annoyed me: "There's no such thing as bad weather there's only bad clothes". As if a grey wet day turns into glorious sunshine if you get your brolly and raincoat out.
there was a study about reading skills, comparing 11 years olds. One group started reading at the age of 5 and the other at the age of 7. There was no advantage of learning earlier, there was no difference between the two groups.
So unless a child is showing an interest in letters (or numbers or anything else) there is no need to teach them academics at the age of 3 or 4.
Being outside (in almost any kind of weather) is good for their overall developement and strengthens their immune system.
... so "let the children play" and don`t steal them their childhood. The child's brain does not differentiate between playing and learning. For children, playing means learning.
Yes! I have also read about these studies. It goes to show how important it is for children to be playing and doing things that are developmentally appropriate for them. And sitting down for long periods of time listening to a lesson or writing on worksheets is NOT developmentally appropriate! So glad that Germans understand that.
Did they just meassure reading skills? Because I think reading opens the World. If a Kid Shows an interest in vulcanos and is able to read about it might give an advantge compared to non Readers that depend on someone to read and talk about it.
But I agree you do Not need to teach unless there is an interest. But I do Not know one child that showed no interest in reading writing or math before starting school. They were talked out of it.
We found that a child showing no interest in academics or Part of academics often have underlaying issues. My son has quite severe phonological Problems combined with outstanding math skills and IQ, he wasnt able to learn read because if that. It Was difficult leading to avoiding. Adhd, phonological Problems, dyslexia... all those kids I know showed one sign in Kindergarten: they werent interested in academics.
So yes, teaching and forcing at a young age is Not necessary. But it is necessary to create an academic friendly environment. Not only to help Kids learn but to learn about the Kids. Kids Show themselfs in their work.
@@samu6874 they might show themselves or they don't. Give them the chance to do so, but don't push them and don't evaluate them to early. Some kids are just a little late with everything, doesn't mean they have some kind of issue.
@@samu6874
For the development of brain, the abstraction skills are fully developed from the age of 6 years old. Before, children have got difficulties with that. So if a child shows some interests, it can of course learn some letters or numbers, but it can learn them more quickly by the age of 6. And it’s a waste of time before, because the children can learn so much more important skills: independance, curiosity for learning, social skills, how to make friends, motoric skills for the body and for the fingers, language skills, later they have got less problems like ADHD, like over weight and they can concentrate better in school and are more healthy. But there is also some learning schedule in the Kindergarten and some fix program, they read a lot of books and work a lot with the language abilities of the children. They have to watch the development of each child. There is also extra program, like early music education in some Kindergarten. Some teacher in „Grundschule“ told, that it’s not good to learn to read and mathematics before school, because then the children are bored in school. It’s better to focus on general abilities like the language abilities, of abilities like motoric skills, like independence. And to motivate the curiosity of learning. But from the age of 5-6 they call that Preschool. They learn some more abstracted skills as a preparation for school. And they control the abilities, if the children can go to school like this or if they need some extra support.
Germany is the country of pedagogy (in the tradition of the enlighment). We consider social skills just as important as academic knowledge. Play and letting children be children is extremely important for child development and therefore for society and democracy.
Humboldt was crucial for this view, also Rousseau and Kant. But also the civil movement of the 1968er that had a strong influence and impact on german society.
Oh okay, cool! Good to know where the origins come from.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife for me as a German it’s so normal. I did a voluntary social year in a kindergarten when I was 16. In Kindergarten kids learn how to use scissors and it doesn’t matter which color the lady’s hair in the picture is. If it’s green you could maybe say to the child: oh wow! That’s a great hairstyle and a wonderful hair color. Do you know somebody with green hair? Most people have brown, blond, ginger or black hair. But your lady has green hair. And the child has the information in this conversation how not dyed hair looks like but it’s absolutely okay to choose green because it’s a creative freedom. The child chooses green maybe because it’s the favorite color. It’s your job to prepare the kids for school and show them social acting. We have very good and special games and activities in our kindergarten. While playing these games the kids are also learning without pressure and recognizing it. We had always a topic for weeks. There are special songs, books and paper for the topic which was prepared by the team. So the kids also learn a lot of things while they are playing and that’s the best way to learn. Learning without recognizing and pressure.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife afaik it's the same in The Netherlands. the focus on formal learning to me seems counterproductive to be frank.
If you let younger children learn through play they learn that learning new things is fun and the idea is that they will retain that attitude when they get older. And they still learn.
I've read some studies that seem to support this, I believe they were cited in a unicef report on children's happiness, where children were asked if they enjoyed school and learning and the majority said they did.
If the teaching becomes formal very quickly a lot of children will not follow along, and very very young children are physically not able to do certain things yet, like writing, because they simply are not developed enough yet. It's one of the things 4/5 year olds learn in the Dutch version of kindergarten, holding a pencil, little tasks like 'embroidery' with a large blunt needle on paper with holes, or punching out paper shapes with a needle, al to prepare them for writing. :)
So interesting to hear your take! I think the whole pre-determined snack time vs. free snack time thing is a BIG DEBATE in German kindergarten teaching circles and you find kindergartens in Germany that focus on the childrend deciding themselves when they are hungry or not and those that focus on a shared meal as a communal experience. Most kindergartens have ideas (and lengthy "concepts" on how and what they teach, so it is not just play. It's just more of a focus on learning through play. I read this really interesting piece on how formal learning is really grounded in these basic experiences. Like understanding numbers is really based in understanding lengths and amounts and non-formal play like climbing or playing in a sandpit can be very helpful because you have all these experiences of "how far can I reach?" "Is this step further than I can reach or not?" "How much sand fits into this container? Is it more or less than in the other container?". Apparently this really helps with understanding the concept of numbers later on and if your brain had all these experiences, it finds it easier to grasp what the symils represent. Whereas teaching kids the symbols and words for numbers without those basics doesn't really teach them much when they are too young to grasp the concept behind this.
I think that's true in general with teaching kids academic stuff too early. I had this cousin who taught her 2-year old the alphabet song and was really proud of her for knowing her letters. But I just wonder if it's really helpful. Two-year-olds will learn the words to any song without really understanding the meaning...
@@runnerfive4479 I only went to kindergarten for a month - and that was a long, long time ago (nearly 50 years, it was 1974). But I remember we all sat down then together and Hagebuttentee (rosehip "tea") was handed out with our Frühstück (it was the second breakfast for most kids). There were times of free play (which I do not remember too strongly) and times when the Erzieher (pedagogues) would tell/read stories. I do not remember much of it, as it was that long ago, I just remember I went there at 5, for a month, before I went on to primary school, also at 5 (I turned 6 6 weeks later). And I could already read and lay words with ready letters. I could not handle a pen well. It turned out later, that I was shortsighted, that is why my drawing over lines probably was inevitable. I could only go to Kindergarten from 8 or 9 am to noon. Still it gave my grandma respite from childcare.
German Waldkindergarten is like: "Now as you are 5 and old enough: Here is your lighter, a matchbox, a saw, a multi-tool-pocket-knife and now go into the forest and have fun!" and the kids do have fun and some amazing experience for life. I like that kind of education and teaching! :-) I am pretty sure that this is very different in the US?!
Yeah this would never happen in the US! I love that German kids can do this!
Ja! My youngest daughter just had her FÖJ in a Waldkindergarten (afternoons to the age of 14) between MITTLERE REIFE and now GYMNASIUM. The little ones learned, what they can pick in the woods and what is poison and prepared it afterwords on the fire! She herself has been going to a Montessori Kindergarten. I think that FSJ/FÖJ is a great possibility for the Kids to 'schnupper' into the ' real life', before deciding where the 'career' should go. I wish you a lots of fun by all those new impressions!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Ive seen an interview with a german journalist stationed in the US, she and her husband had the cops and child protection service called on them because they where letting their kids walk to school on their own... There is a lot of fear mongering taking place in american society about kidnapping and all this other crap that isn´t an actual threat but gets good ratings on tv or klicks on the internet. Also i found this online: "According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. 87% of their life is inside buildings, then another 6% of their life in automobiles. That's only 7% of your entire life outdoors."
@@journalisten_boy9141 I was shocked when I saw the report where the German reporter was interviewed that she had problems with the police because of it. Just like her children, who then said, 'We only play in the garden or go to school, what's wrong with that?'
And then an American children psychologist was asked that said children of that age are too young, they can't do that yet, you have to wait until they are x years old and then they can and I just thought, no, If you don't show it to them and don't let the children do it themselves, then they can't do it at age x either because they haven't learned it. It was a video about american helicopter parents.. horrible that such behavior is even demanded by the general public.
@@Crysticia if i woud be that Reporter i WOUD INSTA geth BACK TO MY OWN CONTRY and SCREW THE US
My daughter went to a German Kita in the US before we moved to Germany. I remember the Kita leader specifically telling the parents NOT to try teaching their kids how to read before 1st Grade. The whole point of the exercise is both teaching self-reliance and - perhaps more importantly - teaching socialization skills. The kids learn to interact with each other. They learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. They learn how to manage themselves within a group. This means that the kids are actually emotionally and socially ready to focus on academics once school finally kicks in.
Really! Wow, such a different concept than how it’s done in the USA.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yes! But I think that's all they are attend to learn: reading, counting etc comes with school. Would we want our kids to be bored when it comes to the first degrade? Because they know already? Let kids be kids: Playing!!!!!😊
If the kids want to learn reading, they will. I was taught reading at the age of four by several older kids in the house. My parents did not teach me, they just got a big blackboard for me.
Kids will learn. They will learn more when they have a stimulating environment. Having them sit down and listen to an adult teaching is only so stimulating to a very young person that obviously has so much more to discover.
Yes, and this is something that is not part of American culture anymore. For the most part, they’ve forgotten that young kids learn through play and just by living life. They don’t need formal lessons when they’re young! They need to freely run, play, explore, create.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I agree. I think its Finnland that takes this concept to the extreme :-)
Now in fall/autumn and in winter, you and Ella will experience so many wonderful new customs in Kindergarten, and I'm sure you will love it, e.g. Sankt Martin and the Laternenzug, Sankt Nikolaus, Adventskalender und Adventskranz, all those cool things :-)
I’m so excited - we are looking forward to all of those things!
Best time in Kindergarten. Apart from that enjoy Helloween becoming more popular here as well.
You made me miss Germany now... Those are such nice traditions. Love the colors of fall and then the smells of the christmas markets...
I sure all miss that in California. no traditions here
Don't worry about academic skills. German students are bored in american highschool tests, while american students struggle a lot here.
Yea there ya go!
as a former exchange student, I can confirm that ...
@@karstenbursak8083 so do I. Went from Cologne to Central Catholic in Grand Island, Nebraska. It was EASY. I became a straight A student as soon as I had adjusted.
@@mapau9750 That's so fascinating! Good to hear from exchange students like you.
@@mapau9750 the magic of straight multiple choice tests ;-) ... where you can get an A "by accident"
Free education, free healthcare and various insurances for everyone is what we pay taxes for. These are socialistic values, but socialism is often missunderstood in the U.S. and mixed up with communism.
Yes this is very true. Many completely confuse socialism with a social democracy. They don’t understand that people that live in social democracies are still free and independent.
"social values", not "socialistic values" ;)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Exactly my thought; a social
democracy which emphasized the wellbeing of all citizens is what most democracies in NW Europe have chosen and guarantees a lot of benefits to the majority of residents and citizens including affordable health care, education, housing - and even public spaces and infrastructure. I’m not trying to say that everything is perfect and easy, but overall the quality of life is better. Also a lot of schools and kindergardens are run by the churches - and are free to parishioners. The churches own many hospitals and other social institutions , some schools, nursing homes , and they makes those more affordable although everyone in germany has health insurance through their employers. The schools for example are not biased to a religious education but follow all the same curriculums as all schools. From what I remember all elementary schools were either protestant or catholic , but what it’s like now, I don’t know.
In the US Kindergarten through 12th grade is free unless you go to private school. US citizens only pay for University or trade school (maybe). I had a $150 school for loan for car repairs that didn't accrue interest until I graduated University. I paid the $150 off the day before I graduated. The only reason my schooling was virtually free was because I did my research and got scholarships, grants, and a work study program that paid for my 6 years of University. I applied for 400 different scholarships. I won 25 scholarships. Scholarships and grants you don't have to pay back. Work study programs have different rules. The one I worked for is University was free, but I had to work for them for 5 years. I was planning to work for them when I graduated University so working for them for 5 years wasn't a big deal. People are lazy when it comes to looking for ways to make University or trade school almost free. They want the government hand the free schooling to them. I got a scholarship for being Chinese. I'm not Chinese whatsoever. No one who was Chinese applied for the scholarship, so I got it.
Forgot to say Preschool (for kids ages 4-5) is 100% free in a couple states (3 or 4🙄). I didn't have this program in Florida when I was a kid, but my kids will have this privilege.
Don‘t be fooled about german parents not being of the helicopter type. I just spoke to a Grundschul-teacher, who reported that far too many parents put loads of pressure on their kids in order to make them „achievers“. Always great to see your perspective on our society tho…love the videos! Whenever you re in the Frankfurt region, you are most welcome to ask for a guided tour 👍🏿👍🏽👍🏾👍
I’m an American in Wiesbaden… I need to make a visit to Frankfurt! We’ve been here 9 months and I still haven’t headed that way :) always looking for day trips and something to do 😅😅
Dude from Hamburg here,
my aunt had started my cousin on english lessons before she could properly speak german, that plus violin and ballet lessons at a very early age. some parents will always be like this
@@Ashley92090 feel free to ask for suggestions….
Nur die SGE! Go Eagles 🦅
nelson v h that's true. In the cities helicopter moms take their kids everywhere in their big SUV s and depending on their social status manage their extracurricular activities so that the poor kids hardly have time to play. In the countryside it's a little different though.
We've lived here for 4 years with our 3 girls. Raising children in Europe has been a dream in many ways. Allowing them the freedom to be children and play or giving them a few Euros and sending them in to town, by themselves has been pretty cool. Even letting my oldest take the train to school, by herself... it's just not something that would happen in the states, unless we were living in a major city. After fall break, all three of my girls will be taking the train and joining the throngs of children walking to school from the train station. On Wednesdays after school, I will let them go get McDonald's with their friends before coming home on the train.
Love it! These are some of the reasons we wanted to move here - so our children could have more self reliance and independence. It’s great to hear you’re having that experience as well.
I wish my son was as independent as yours😄
As a german your comment sounds so strange to me…how old are children in the States when they are allowed to do something on their own?
But I have to admit, that things changed here too. When I was a child we usually went to primary school on our own and hardly anyone was picked up by a parent. Today I see lots of parents in front of the school.
Usually the kids don't want to have their parents around. This is not cool.
Just an example: my parents have a petrol station and convenience store Just down the street from their house...maybe 50 -60 meters . When we visited this summer, I told my 14 yr old she could go there by herself and buy a soda. My mother was horrified. She's appalled I let my 10,12, and 14 yr old stay at home or walk around our village by themselves. She tells me all the time that I can't do that in America. But, I did this summer and my kids survived. Mom is like those over protective helicopter parent types. They are like " Karens" of the parenting world...just waiting for you to slip up ,so they csn judge you...🤣😄😅😆🤔🙄😔😔😔
Hi folks, good morning. If i understood a friend of mine (kindergarden teacher), they try to teach the kids to develope social skills and adjust to a structured daily life. Basic skills in enjoying music and the use of rythmical patterns (Karl Orff). I live close to a Kindergarten and my heart is full of joy when they sing fullhearted with their tiny but strong voices. I am a musician myself and this is a priceless gift for my ears and soul. Me - singing more like a raven, often envy their abilities of voicing and hitting higher notes. They learn to differ the letters by playing with them and often the kids learn reading or writing, at least in the basics. They give them hints to develope a own character and praise them if they ace their self determined tasks. Have a nice sunday and enjoy the colorful autumn.
Awe I love it! Music is such a great way to teach something for any age.
We strongly believe that the kids' "job" in the first five, six years is being a kid. And play, play, play. There is so much they are learning through playing, that's enough. Although there are tendencies here now to make even these early years "useful" and "productive", unfortunately. I think, kids who didn't have enough time to just play, learning how to interact with others, social skills like sharing, waiting, listening to others... running, climbing, jumping, balancing asf. might be more in danger of getting problems later in life, any kind of crisis, psychological problems like burnout, anxiety maybe. Let them just play for the first few years. They will have to learn and work for many decades after that.
Yes!!! Totally agree with you! They learn so much through play. And they need it - for emotional, physical and mental development.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife We are on the same... err... boat? or what? on this. Anyway, we are on the same whatever on this 😂
I mostly agree but for one thing: languages.
At that age, the human brain is still wired to soak up new languages like a sponge. The older you get, the more difficult it becomes (learning Spanish in my 30s took like forever ...).
So I do think that languages (say English and the language of a neighbouring country) are an area that should be tought systematically in Kindergarten - through fun and games, songs and little movies, not with grammar books, of course. Bring in native speakers on an exchange basis.
If you have a strong immigrant community in an area, you can also teach some basics of that language to the German kids.
Exactly! I didn't even spend my last year before school in kindergarden, and I was just left to my own devices at home. As I grew up on a farm, I had time to play with the cats, balance on stones, climb fences, watch Dad doing farm stuff, watch Mom doing household stuff, learned a lot about farming, nature and the world ... and lo and behold, what happened in winter? I taught myself how to read and write and was ahead of class in first grade. Sometimes it's even better to leave a child alone.
@@positroll7870 I'm a German mom living in Munich (my ex husband is American) and my two girls were in 2 different Kindergartens (one in a bilingual and the other in a German Kindergarten) even in the German Kindergarten we had the possibility to put the kids into an English class once a week. It was voluntary for those who wanted and the teachers were native speakers. And I've heard that from many kindergartens. Maybe it's more difficult in rural areas but in the bigger cities I think it's definitely a possibility for those who want to 🤗
As German who moved to Florida at age 23 and then lived there for 11 years, becoming a certified teacher and actually working at American schools, I LOVE your video(s)! Have only seen this one so far, will watch the others now, too. Very cool to see Americans experiencing what life is like in Germany.
Ah so cool! We’ve swapped places. So glad you’re enjoying our videos. ❤️
Children have two similar emotional needs. On the one hand, solidarity and security, on the other, freedom and autonomy. If these needs can be met, you will have happily children.
The main thing is not to violate these basic needs. You always do this when you make your children objects of your own wishes, goals or arrangements.
Yeah, totally agree!
A few weeks back I did an art project with the kids. The idea came because one child was talking about how she made a "Hexentreppe" with her grandma. I told her that I know how to make a worm out of a "Hexentreppe" and the idea was born to make fall related fruits or veggies with a little holes inside for a worm to stick through. My grown up mind went to apples and pears but now we got (besides these two) carrots, grapes, a cucumber and broccolis. Also the worms turned out to be very colorful. Some even have two different colors or got only one eye. Thats because they are worms from different planets ;)
I also let the kids draw their own shapes. The cucumber was supposed to be an pear but the child didn´t quite figure out how to get the right shape. She decided it looked more like a cucumber and wouldn´t give it another try. Needless to say she was very happy with the result in the end. I got endless stories like that to share. Like that one year we worked on candles as christmas presents for the parents. One child chose black for a shooting star. When I asked why, it came out that the mom really loved the color. I talked to the mom after christmas and explained why she had a black shooting star. It totally made sense to her when she learned the reason behind.
The difference is that attandance at School is mandatory whereas Kindergarden is not (though very much recommended to give them good all the right skills to start school).
I remember when I was at University I read an essay that really impressed me: the case study was a series of experimental top-rate kindergarden in a specific region of Italy (where I am from). Cutting to the final results, it said that, as Sara says, 3 and 4yo CAN learn a lot. BUT it is a "waste" to teach them the traditional reading, writing, sums, etc. at THAT young an age. This because there is no significant advantage in learning it a couple of years earlier. AND (which is the part that stunned me the most) at that age the brain as at its most agile and developing phase. This should be the time when kids are given the chance to explore all of those interests and disciplines that are sort of at the margins of the traditional schooling system: art, music, dance, cooking, whatever. it doesn't matter. This is the time when actual talents and inclinations start to come out, if you train them to concentrate only on writing (for example) you are stifling all that other "universe" of a child's development. Unfortunately, notwithstanding that study, the tendency in Italy is very much similar to the US and kids start to make "school-like activities" in Kindergarden. My 2yo is going to Krippe here in Germany, and I am super-satisfied of the German approach, up until now. This year he has been offered music lessons already, and I love it!
I love this! So glad you shared it. It’s exactly how I feel as I’ve watched my kids grow and develop.
the italian approach is called reggio? it‘s a super cool concept wich won some prices and you can also find it in germany in some kitas!
@@teeresa2883 You got it right!!! 😊
Ich bin selbst Erzieherin in München. Es ist schön, dass ihr zeigt welche Unterschiede es gibt. Auch für mich war es sehr lehrreich, da ich nun amerikanische Familien besser verstehe, wenn sie neu zu uns in den Kindergarten kommen. Vielen Dank. Ich arbeite selbst gerne mit Montessori Materialien, obwohl ich einer städtischen Kita arbeite 😊
I was already 9 minutes into the video when I realized that the sign in your shirt was no Brezel! "Oh, that‘s a very subtle Brez… oh. Peace sign." 😂
🤣🤣🤣🥨🥨🥨
Yes, I haven't seen that for decades. Does it have a new meaning?
@@JakobFischer60 not that I know of! It still means "peace" to me.
I can still remember the times when I was in Kindergarten. The Kindergärtnerin/nursery school teacher was reading to us.
She reads "Die kleine Hexe" from Ottfried Preußler. I still love this Book.
I think the german kindergarten concept is mainly to develop social and methodical competences that are necessary for everyday life in a society and aside of academical or professional skills. So the groups of mixed ages go exactly into that scheme where seniors assist and care for juniors. A concept I think they also have for example in (some) US prep schools for decades.
It’s such a great concept!
As someone who has always lived in Germany and been to Kindergarten Here, i am really surprised on how different it can be in other countries. And now im quite happy with our System here...
And they insist that the kids wear shoes when climbing on climbing apparatus - hard-soled shoes that provide no grip at all, resulting in lots of falls. In South Africa, it was exacty the opposite - they aren't allowed on the climbing apparatus with shoes on, because little bare feet are less slippery, and the kids can grip with their toes.....
My mom taught me how to think for myself and gave me self reliance skills, but was available to help when needed
Exactly what each person needs!
Great video, here in Luxemburg we call Kindergarten “Spillschoul” Play School. It is mandatory and starts in September the year they get 4 years until the year they become 6. For the rest it is near the german system, learning by playing. Our son started this year ans is loving it. Btw here they offer a free year education bevore Spillschoul especially for all those kids that don’t speak Luxemburgish at home and with around 50% foreigners thats needed.
Ah so cool to know how it is in Luxembourg! We used to live in Metz, France, so we visited Luxembourg often!
In my childhood at the Moselle in Germany near Zell it was called "Konnavawoarschull" (Kinderverwahrschule)
😉
As always, enjoyed this video a lot with my Sunday coffee :-) My nieces both go to a Waldkindergarten here in Stuttgart region and they absolutely love it. They tell me so much about the nature and know a lot more about types of trees than I probably ever will 😀 They also clean the Wald usually if there is trash and have recently told me that cigarette buds are posion (which is very true) :)
Awe I love it! I wish our boys could’ve been in a Walkindergarten. I know they all would’ve looooved it!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife the t
Yo
I am almost 50, but i still recall, my Kindergarten had 6 groups. My group was the "candle" group. We had guinea pigs, we had to take care for and every wednesday we had pancakes. Don't ask me, why i still recall that 🤣
because it was important to you back then
What cute memories! In Ella’s kindergarten, they are all animals. Ella’s in the Bärengruppe.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife i was in the Bärengruppe too ❤️ (best group of course!)
Same age here... I recall a lot of memories from Kindergarten despite going to school at 5 years old
I was in the maybug group 😄
I have a daycare here in BC Canada, I spend lots of time promoting independence in my toddlers. Encouraging parents to let the kids do for themselves. Love you Vlogs. Thank you!
Oh I love to hear that. Hi in Canada!
Totally agree with art! I am an art teacher and love the differences although the theme is the same for everyone. We call it Art and Technics*, where* we teach to handle scissors, needles, glue sticks... When I worked in Nebraska in kindergarten I offered gardening to the kids. They loved it and my principal laughed a lot about "the crazy German" but accepted it all - great guy!
Awe I love that you offered gardening to the kids!
Many kindergarten offer gardening today. To learn that carrots and peas do not come from the supermarket, but need to be grown. I heard about kindergarten groups that visited a farm with cows, pigs, poultry etc. Big success.
Again a very nice video. I'm more and more sure that you fit very, very well in the German culture ;-) Thanks a lot to let us take part!
Thanks so much, Tina! ❤️
Germans are obsessed with having the right equipment for every occasion. And it starts right in the Kindergarten 😉
Can’t argue with that 😉🙃
Funktiosjacke
Hi Guys! Lovely video as always and thank you so much for the shout out! Kindergarten is such a special time and I am so thrilled that your little one is enjoying it. Cheers from the Black Forest!
Heyyyy! Thank you! I see that video is doing very well! Congrats! It’s a very good video.
This.
I totally agree with you on art - teaching techniques is fine, but don’t predefine the outcome!
And yes, “Morgenkreis” is very common throughout Germany; afaik even Waldkindergärten have them, in their own manner.
In our kindergarten, the child of the day did the calendar, chose a song and made a “weather forecast”, but candles were only lit on birthdays, or in December (Adventskalender). Every child loved striking the matches, why the candles sometimes were blown out by surprising gusts of wind. :D
I’m not sure about Bavaria (education is reegulated by the Bundesländer, not the federal government), but in Niedersachsen, the last year of kindergarten before school (“Vorschuljahr”) is generally free. Kids in that year usually get an hour or two of “preschool experience”, like practicing to handle a pencil or pen, first letters and simple math. In our kindergarten, we had lots of Montessori material, accessible for all kids at all times, but for the preschoolers, they were part of prepping them for school. :)
One question: those crotcheted pumpkins are adorable - did you make them yourselves?
Best wishes from up north!
Yes I did crochet all of the pumpkins myself! 🎃 I have free crochet patterns on my blog and it’s how I started my blog 11 years ago!
In Austria Brotzeit is called Jause. They chose themselves when they have their snack ! Yes, kids also learn to light a match early. At our kindergarten pre-covid, they even prepared a group snack (cut up veggies, cut bread, etc). But due to covid they’re not allowed to share food anymore.
Ah very cool! Austria and Germany have many similarities.
You are doing such a great job. I am so glad that helicopter parenting wasn't a thing when I was a kid.
Please keep the automatic subtitles up. Brotzeit turning into broadside and Regenhose into Reagan hose was so funny!
Ahahahaha! Those are funny subtitles.
Having children must be so great. It can be exhausting sure but the joy of seeing them play and feeling like a kid yourself again is priceless especially when the kids grow up in different cultures and have a wide variety of experiences. I'm only 20 years old but someday I definitely wanna have kids myself
Culture Shocks are delightful bon bons when embracing a new culture. In my case, rediscovering my original culture blessed me with this bon bon:
In 1995, after living in Canada for 30 years, I returned to Germany on a one year professional assignment. I shipped my 1994 Miata sportscar across the ocean to Bremerhaven to be my fun wheels while in Europe. When I arrived at the harbour’s autoport to pick up my beloved car, I had to clear customs. Not an issue as I am a native and fluent German speaker.
“Does your car have any extra equipment installed?” the inspector asked in a northern German accent. After a moment of thought I said: “Ja, das Auto ist mt zwei extra Luftüten ausgerüstet.” A somewhat stunned inspector then replied rather sternly: “Luftüten” heißt “AIR BAGS” auf Deutsch.
After that I needed a cheeseburger and I ate it exactly the same way as Sarah ate hers.
🍔🍔🍔
So this is pre-kindergarden? My experience was mid 1950s in New Hampshire. I don't recall learning my numbers and letters. We drew on huge sheets of paper that circled the walls. And finger painted flower vases from mom's washed spaghetti sauce jars. There was chocolate and plain milk in mini cartons. We were read to, followed by naps on the floor. Lots of playtime and creative time. I never wanted to leave!
Thank you for this great video!
I am a German who lives in the Philippines and we have a 10 month old son.
Here is no such thing as kindergarten (at least nothing that deserves that name) and seeing your video made me realise that Germany definitely has a lot of advantages.
I hope you will enjoy Germany - It will take some time to dive deeper into the culture, but it's a great country :)
Wow so cool you live in the Philippines! I imagine you just also be having cultural shocks and major adjustments. Thank you for the kind words!
Like your canal. You give a lots of true and detailed advices. That´s the real daily life in Germany.
Thumps up!
Dankeschön! 😍
Kindergarten cost / copay depends on the state and even municipality in Germany. In some states it’s free, in others not; in some cities it’s much more expensive than in others
I‘m so excited to see you experience the Einschulung which is the very first day of school in Germany! It‘s such a big deal (and wonderful day) here :)
We are very excited about that, also! We saw some of our friends do it this year - with the Schultute, and gifts, and parties! It was so fun.
My friend's kid started elementary school two months before his sixth birthday. Which is abnormally early in Austria. But he was getting bored in kindergarten, and it seemed like the right thing to do. But he had all the time in the world before that to play and discover. And especially if it's international kids, it's a way of learning the local language since it's not spoken at home.
Yes! Exactly. I’m really happy that kindergarten is play-based so Ella can focus on learning German and making some friends.
I just visited the Kindergarden when my Grandma wasn't availabe to take care. And i am glad that it was a play based enviroment and not another stressfull school like enviroment.
Kindergarten is more for social interaction and facinating for the world.
Kindergarten ist mehr für soziale Interaktion und Faszination für die Welt.
Love it!
These life skills are so much underestimated.
I just want to thank you for showing us the pretty face of Americans, being this open minded, happy go lucky, active and adventurous people the American Culture once was known for all over the world❣️
These days you truly are wonderful ambassadors and represent the best sides of many people like you, who are really suffering in the US today.
I do not have kids and my lifestyle is very different from yours BUT I really need to watch your vlog, because you make me appreciate again what I felt the American spirit could be in its best sence. Thank you for that🙏💙.
My parents where little kids when the US army freed the german Kohlenpott at the end of world war two and they always speak about those friendly always laughing soldiers who loved the children and would throw chocolates and chewing gums from their military vehicles into the crowds of children who were following them wherever they showed up. They joked with them and made this disturbed and frightened children of the war smile and trust again. My father always speaks about one big black soldier, who was so kind and funny and obviously had a very big heart for the exhausted, frightened to death German children. He was the first black man he saw in his life and his friendliness and compassion for the kids of the enemy made an unforgettable impression on that child’s heart. He is 87 now and being freed by the US Army still is a very vivid memory in his mind... To him this soldiers were heroes, because they made this boy believe in humanity again.
I never want to forget that!
Excuse me for getting this serious - I am a German after all 😉 - but I needed to share this❣️
Oh wow, these stories from the war are amazing! I’m so glad you shared them with us. Yes the true, genuine American spirit is the happy, friendly, and adventurous personality you describe. Somewhere along the way arrogance and fear of immigrants creeped in and it’s just really sad. So now you know that there are still open-minded Americans and we aren’t all the same. ❤️
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife The Fear of Immigrants might come from you having too many Germans over there *just kidding, and I may joke about Germans, as I am a German.
As someone who used to run a Kita in Germany, having a child here in the US and finding childcare aka kindergarten that actually allows kids to play and interact and have fun was so frustrating.it never really happenend.
That’s so sad 😰.
This is so awesome!
We homeschool and I 100% agree with everything you said!
Kids learn so much better when there's creativity involved.
There's a European program called Number Blocks and Aplha blocks.
After watching number blocks for a couple of months I overheard my 3 year old saying, "3 & 3 & 3 is 9."
He did the same with the number 4.
4,4,4,4=16.
Then my husband purchased them a set of number blocks.
(Them as in my three youngest boys ages 10, 6, 3)
They make and create their own blocks way bigger than what they've seen in the program and they know how to get to that number because they made it themselves.
Yes, Kevin, engineering for sure!
Hopefully if all goes well we'll visit Switzerland in about a year and a half and perhaps we can cross over to meet up!
I have experienced both the German and English Kindergarten system. My experience was (and probably still is) that the German, non - academic approach still has the English high academic approach for breakfast (academically). Not in all cases of course, but since the kids may explore their creativity and interests on their own speed, not being forced to learn, they have the upper hand, when it comes to critical thinking, reasoning and freedom of choice. The latter, is something rarely available, enforced or even endorsed in any culture, whereas the "Kindergartenzeit" is 90% curriculum based. Also the mixed groups are giving the kids a bonus both ways, because though it is not up to them, to teach their peers and some even may choose not to actively do that, children (and adults to some extend) may still learn from each other, here, it is the freedom to choice not to do something.
@Nicky L technically it is called EYFS "early years foundation stage"
I'm such a fan of your natural and light video style .. the #awkward moments 😂 keep it up! I enjoy watching your videos 😊😊
Thank you ❤️
I like that Ella can eat when she wants, at least once a day. So she can learn to listen to her body and recognize when she is hungry and not just eat when someone else tells her she must be hungry.
Yes! That’s right. And she does that for lunch at home, too. And if she’s not hungry for dinner we don’t force her to eat.
The kindergartens I know here in Munich (I'm a German with an American ex husband and 2 daughters) do have fixed meal times though. Some start with a mutual breakfast others keep breakfast flexible but they all have lunch and snack together 🤗 the German / Bavarian system does not regulate that as far as I know. The Kindergarten can organize the meal situation as they please or need to. Glad you like it so much here!! 🤗
Love that you're big on Montessori! When I learned about her in educational science in 11th grade back then, realizing how HUUUGE her impact on that was and how sooo many things I and others had in kindergarten etc that I just took as a given (born 92) originated precisely in her philosophies, I just wanted to travel back in time and give that women a hug for all the good things she did haha. Awesome that she's such an essential pillar of child education here, and in many other countries too of course
Since some of your videos I already watched I'm starting to envy your kids for their childhood they can spend with you. I'd like to have had such parents for me too, cause I fully agree with your thoughts on childhood. And so let me assure you it's a real pleasure for me to watch your children grow, as I don't have own ones. So please keep posting your videos !
Awe thank you so much!
In Germany the Kindergarten teachers normally have no academic background, their education is much more based on pedagogy.
Yeah, this is true 👍.
Also kindergarden teachers, especially the ones in a government financed kindergarden, can sign up for eduacational courses for free (payed by the employer) to get up to date on the recent concepts on pedagogical concepts. and also there is government based funding like hireing for example an artist (with a pedagogical background usually) to do some projects with the kids. for example paining a wall with all kids faces. but this kind of stuff depends on the teachers commitment to go the extra mile because they usually have takle a lot of bureaucratic hurdles to get the funding.
And if they have an academic background often times they studied pedagogy, not teaching.😅
Well, they need four years of education. Plus they need at least 6 months of working in a family with some kids, like a nanny or an au pair.
Don't forget the fact that German basic school education is 11 years. Abitur requires 12 - 13 years to go to university and study.
USA basic school ends with 8th grade.
Germany invented dual system which is a combination of school and training on the job.
People who want to become Erzieher need to go through some pedagogical tests before starting the 4 years of apprenticeship.
Ability to do the job requires some personality and character.
That’s not true. You study in a university nowadays and pedagogy is academic. It’s not falling from the sky. 😉
I loved my short time in Germany where I taught English in a high school. I like the German kindergarten concept. Seems like in America kids are expected to learn more and more, younger and younger.
It’s so beautiful there!
It’s such a beautiful country!
Love your videos and enthusiasm. There are lots of things I loved about growing up in Germany, its great especially for young children. Beware of getting lulled into complacency, rigor tends to speed up dramatically around 2nd and towards 4th grade as students are tracked into different academic levels.
Yeah that’s true! 4th klasse is INTENSE!
Great video! My daughter is in second grade here in Germany and it's so relaxed and laid back plus it's extremely affordable. She has baking and gardening classes plus they offer loads of other Hort activities! The school day is so much shorter, ending around 12:30pm, and they play for hours at Hort! It's so wonderful to see her enjoying being a kid. They also have swimming as a subject which I think is so cool. Plus the food at school is delish!!!!
Ah so cool! Glad your daughter is also having a good experience. Yes we love that the day ends so much earlier!
There is no need to force academics on a child. If they go through the develompmental stages and have the time and experiences they need academic learning and interest follow.
But I agree... sometimes the Balance and the flexibility are lacking. Children showing very early academic interests are often hold back, some just need more intellectual Stimulation.
In the Kindergarten where my two boys went, the kids could go out every time they want. and the Erzieher let them do their thing. One time I came to pick my elder son up the Erzieher catcht me at the door and told me, they had to put him in the shower. I thought "Oh my, was there an "accident" with his diapers (yes he still wore diapers at the age of three) but it was something totally different. He played in a huge puddle of mud and at the end he was dirty from top to bottom. The only thing I said about it was: "Did he had fun?" 😁 Of course he did. So I think it is important not to freak out over children playing in the dirt and having a great time. Thanks for your great videos 👍
Love this story! 😀 Got so dirty he had to take a shower at school. Now that’s fun!!
lol, yeah that sounds like kindergarten :D So people, that's one of the reason while every kindergarten here has a shower :D
I still remember that one time in the middle of a reeaaaalllyyy hot summer when i wanted to pick my daughter up from Krippe. They played with water and my daughter had a wet t-shirt and wet trousers from it. The nurturer apologized for it. I looked at her, couldn't really believe it and said that there's no need to apologize. It's so hot and water dries, my daughter obviously had fun. She was sooooo thankful for my reaction, cos some other parents weren't as relaxed as i was and she wasn't sure which kind of reaction she'd get from me. To this day i still don't understand what's exactly the problem with water in the middle of summer 😅
found this channel by coincidence and i really like your insights on our german culture.... you also seem like lovely parents!
BTW the tradition that we go outside in all kinds of weathers also stems from the saying: "Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung." Doesn't get more German than that hahaha!
Thank you! Yes we love that good German phrase! 😍
So good to see and hear that your kids seem to have a great time of childhood here in Germany! The childhood is the only time in the life of a human being when the kids can be kids, right? So, let them be kids, and let them do whatever they wanna do. Let them enjoy this time of their lives. This time will never return.
Couldn’t agree more!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I'm glad my bad German school English was good enough to make you understand what I wanted to explain! All the best for you and your children - enjoy your stay in Germany!
In Belgium Kindergarden is from 2,5 upto 6 years old. There are 3 school years in kindergarden and max 20 pupils in one class. Playing is still i portant in those years. As from the 1st year of primary school, you will start to learn for real.
I'm a kindergarten teacher in Germany or as we call it a "Erzieherin" and I'm more than happy that you appreciate German Kindergarten that much!
Sometimes I'm not too keen on going outside as well, especially while the weather is not that nice, but I know that's that what's best for the kids to be balanced.
What is our focus when it comes to being prepared for school is to give the kids self-esteem to talk in front of others, it's to help them being independent, to speek up for themselves and to express their feelings and needs.
Reading and writing will be easily learned afterwards.
Wonderful to hear from a Kindergarten Erzieherin!
woah sehr cool! wenn ich kein Kindlein mehr bin, möchte ich eine Erzieherin sein auch!
Reading the comment-section is as much fun as watching the video. Really good!
I totally agree: LET KIDS BE KIDS !!!
Is there any need for more words ? NO.
Because kids SHALL BE (and grow up as) kids.
Yes! 👏🏼👏🏼
Yes! I’m a slacker mom on the educational front. My oldest is 25 and last year he thanked me for not pushing him into activities or to be a social butterfly. My 2 were homeschooled (my subs) but my stepdaughter still feels she needs to be indoctrinated into the government system. Guess who has social anxiety and insecurities? I didn’t skip the nutrition, deep history, philosophy, music, foresting and boating.
My wife was a kindergarten teacher in the U.S. She taught the alphabet and reading for the able kids. She took them to farms to get pumpkins or to feed animals; organized train rides, and invited guests in to talk to the children. One guest was an African man who made drums. She made them aware of different cultures. She wrote a children's workbook which she titled A Very Important Person's Workbook which parents helped them to complete. She wrote songs for the kids to sing. It was her second experience teaching after she raised our three kids.
I learned so much about American preschool from this video. Thank you!
I guess we should've shared more of the positives! Haha. But for us, it wasn't such a positive experience. We didn't even share that I didn't even send our first two kids to preschool. We did send our third one, and he hated it. He wanted to be free and play, he didn't want to sit still and listen to learning songs and lessons. And he is very, very smart, so I found that quite interesting. Even very smart young children still want and need to play!
I kind of thought kindergartens were the same in most places, (apart from in France, where it's placed in the elementary school building). So I got a bit surprised learning about the American system. Especially since I know it's pretty costly for the families. I also realize I have to look into montesorri for older pupils, since I have only read about it for children, but had planned to send the youngest one to a Montessori junior high school
In Ontario we have play-based Kindergarten, too, with kids 3-5 or 6 as well. It's something that was introduced about 5 years ago. This was an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Oh cool! That’s so great that Ontario is doing this! I hope the concept will spread throughout North America.
Loved to hear about your experiences like every sunday. I'm glad you found a kindergarten that gives the children freedom to explore and guidance at the same time. To this day your kindergarten experience in Germany can differ a lot from region to region and even in one area or city, depending on the concept, the funding and in the end on the educators, who are working there. But I'm glad you and Ella seem to be happy. I'm 30 and during my own kindergarten time a lot of things were predetermined like chosing when to have a snack or what to draw etc. On another note: are you already familiar with "Adventskalender"? With the upcoming winter and christmas time, you should definitely check them out, they are traditional here for kids (and grownups ;) ) and there are a lot of possibilities to craft them yourself or together with your children.
Oh cool! Yes we will definitely be getting an advent calendar, thanks for the reminder. Good to know the kindergartens do differ by region and city.
Yes! Advent calendars. In had forgotten how popular they are here. Thanks for reminding us!
I like your positiv Energie, i am working in a Kindergarten too. Sry my Englisch writing.
Wir sind jeden Tag draußen, haben auch für jedes Wetter Kleidung und es macht Spaß gerade bei Regenwetter.
Das Freispiel ist wichtig, voneinander lernen , kreativ sein, Rollenspiele und so weiter.
Tolle Deko habt ihr.
Danke für eure fröhlichen Videos
Here in RLP the Kindergarten price is fixed and dependent on the number of siblings, from the 3rd kid on, it is free. In NRW the price depends on the parent's income.
Nice videos, I like them a lot.
Okay good to know. Sounds very fair and logical!
That is how it used to be.
Kindergarten is absolutly free if your child is two or older. You only need to pay for lunch. I am not sure how the pricing for a "Krippe" works though...
In NRW it depends on the parents income and the number of older siblings.
I thought RLP is free.
As someone who works in a kindergarten in germany, i have to say that there are some places where the children are separated by age. For example the kindergarten i‘m working at, has 3 groups for all children under 3 years and the other groups are for children over 3 years. But of course it‘s different in every kindergarten :)
great content and great editing as well with the Mozart music even and everything, thanks and keep up the good work
Thank you! ❤️
I am an American living in Munich teaching in a bilingual Kindergarten, so I found this video especially interesting. What I love about it here as opposed to the States is, like you said, they don’t cram academics in until 1st grade. The reason for that is because the focus for Kindergarten age is mainly social emotional development. Allowing the children to figure out who they are and what their role in society is. We focus a lot on emotions, helping the children understand and process their own emotions, as well as understanding other’s emotions, thus developing empathy and acceptance. We also work a lot on conflict solution. How to handle a situation when you disagree with a friend and trying to find common ground and compromise on their own instead of having rules on sharing, etc. So really developing their independence in handling social situations in a healthy way. I think having the time to develop these skills properly is so much more important than being able to read by the age of 4. I am much more fulfilled as a teacher teaching these skills to the future generation.
Also, you talked about the teachers having a basic knowledge of guitar. I asked my colleague about this and she said in Germany, if you study any form of childhood education, part of the course is learning how to play guitar. I think that’s awesome!
And FYI…Preschool in Germany is an optional thing like in the States, but it comes between Kindergarten and 1st Grade as opposed to before Kindergarten in the USA. It is a prep year before they start school (which like you said only from 1st Grade is it considered „school“).
It is so cool to hear another American’s experience on this - especially one who is currently working in a Kindergarten classroom! Thank you for sharing your perspective.
A very nice video about German kindergarten :D I like it!
The free drawing and crafting thing in Germany saddly doesn't apply to all kindergarten... in my kindergarten time (more than 20 years ago) I had to remake a heart for mother's day because my kindergarten teacher thought it was ugly, ripped it in front of me apart and I had to do it again (I was about 4 years old at that time and I can still remember it... to this day I hate crafting and am very nervous if I have to do it at work^^'). The sad part: it is still like this in this kindergarten...
In Germany you usually do a 2 week Schulpratikum / school Intershop, where students gets to a firm / Company/ Bank/ goverment /...to learn about worklife. Usually in class/grade 9. Even your oldest has a few years left. So if the time comes closer ask your friends, if they know a good one. Dependance on the interests of the child.
Good morning guys ☕🥐
You are so right with your point that kid's should be allowed to be kid's as long as possible, the serious parts starts early enough. In playing based way, for me opinion kid's learn a lot more, especially of being part of a group and working out things together which gives them also a lot more confidence for the future.
It's a very socialising part of life and learning that in young ages is very important.
The types of Kindergarten depending on the area that you are living, in the bigger cities like Munich or Berlin you can also find classes based on the ages of the kid's and on countryside it can change to more mixed classes depending on the families that live in the region.
Well, my 4 year old would love to learn that preschool stuff. And i also like all those available printables and worksheets.
In America i guess you can easily make your own private learning class for some toddlers from your neighbourhood?
Here in Austria everybody is saying, don't get them to learn too much right now because when they start primary school they can be bored or confused by different learning methods of the teachers (every teacher does different).
Great video as always! Thank you :) It's really fascinating and enlightening to get another perspective on all the things we never really think that much about, because we're so used to them or because we simply take them for granted ... it's like discovering them for the first time all over again =D
I’m sure that is really fascinating!
In Germany Kindergarten teaches skills as holding pens, cutting with scissors, play, build with wooden blocks, to count or paint, draw and all that so they have a good start at school.
How much you pay for Kindergarten depends on the city you live in and how much the city can afford to foster the Kindergartens. Parents pay the rest and most citys offer a discount for the 2nd, 3rd kid.
I cringe every time I walk past the daycare center here in NY and see the massiv TV screen they have. When I first heard it’s for music classes I was majorly confused, obviously the teachers must know how to play guitar! 😅
Yeah let’s hope they aren’t playing TV shows or movies for the kids! Studies show kids shouldn’t be looking at screens before the age of 2, but in reality, that’s so hard.
What?? Play guitar why would they have that skill?
@@shelleyharris4176 In germany or austria you have to play an instrument (mostly guitar and flute or piano) in order to be a kindergarten "teacher".
Kind of off topic.. but Ella is adorable! Her getting all excited when lighting the match with only one try 😄
Yes, and did you notice? As soon as she learned that holding the match close to the flame and holding the match vertically caused discomfort she immediately adjusted her grip and angle without making a fuss about it being hot.
@@TukikoTroy she is a smart little girl
@@TukikoTroy that's a great point! Which is exactly why we should let children try new things, but with adult supervision. Just like Germans teach!
Awe thank you. We just love her! As we say in English, she is a ray of sunshine.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife she is!
In German we would say "Sie ist ein (kleiner) Sonnenschein".
(Just in case you wanted to know and maybe didn't know already 😊)
Thank you, that was really interesting. I’m from Germany but living in the UK, where I guess it’s a bit similar to the US. Jack goes to forrest school twice a week, which we now have to pay privately as he is of school age (5 years). He will go there till next year in the summer. Maybe we continue to homeschool afterwards, maybe he goes to school. But i think your video made me realise in more detail, why I’m so persistent in delaying jacks academic learning (my mum is a retired kindergarten nurse too 😄). Yes, these are values I believe in (Sweden is even more amazing with their school system). Kids should be kids. They should learn to be independent thinkers, learn how to enjoy life and become later in life what brings them joy not money. Life skills is becoming more and more important. And with so many people changing careers because they figured money didn’t make them happy. We should (like in swedish schools) find out, what makes us happy, and follow that path, instead of putting too much pressure on kids.
Oh, well. Started rambling 😄❤️ anyway, much love!
Loved reading your experience as a German mom in the UK. Their culture is very similar to American culture for sure.
Thanks for the feedback. I never thought about this way on our education system. The childhood as a protected time without the usual pressure of the society....and even till 7. That the Grundschule in Germany for U.S. citiesen even also are "prodected zone".
You can also visit the very first Kindergarten invented by Friedrich Fröbel (28. Juni 1840) in Bad Blankenburg (thuringia). It still is a Kindergarten. I did not know, that there is a "National Kindergarten Day" in the USA at Froebel's birthday (21. April) to honour his educational achievements and the creation of the first kindergarten.
What a cool fact! Thanks for sharing.
And it actually contains a garden, as Fröbel had noticed that workers’ children in the city did not know where food came from, if I recall that correctly. :)
In the Netherlands we have made Fröbel into a verb: fröbelen. It means free crafting.😁
@@pippilangkous5089 that is super cool
Being from East Germany, I tended to see preschool (Kindergarten) as primarily a way to enable mothers to work full- time, so....mostly for childcare. Women were needed in the workforce. We didn't learn ABCs or anything school -related until 1st grade. The start of first grade in East Germany was marked as a BIG deal, with Zuckertüte etc. That was the start of school. Our kindergartens were separated by age groups. Kleine Gruppe (age 3), mittlere Gruppe (age 4) and grosse Gruppe (age 5/6).
Seeing your intro if you haven’t already talked to neighbours/other parents re Halloween it might be a good idea to do so. I don’t know how much it’s already creeped into your local village, but Halloween used to not be a thing at all in Germany and there’s definitely not a widespread recognition of trick or treating. I think sometimes parents organise something among themselves for the kids visiting each other houses but again, unsure how widespread that is. Just a heads up so you can prepare your kids and avoid a potential big disappointment. I only know Martinssingen in November around St Martin’s Day as being similar of kids going door to door with their lanterns, singing a song and getting treats in return but I grew up in a Protestant area, might be different in Bavaria. Best to check with your local parents as well. 🙂
Yes! We will be asking our neighbors and have been talking to our kids about how Halloween really isn't celebrated here.
We have an American family in the area, and when their kids were small they organized a big Halloween party for all the neighborhood kids.
Halloween has become very much a thing here in Germany - at least in the city I live in. Last year we didn't have any trick or treaters due to Covid but I expect this year the doorbell will be ringing non stop again on October 31. What's not to like about a day where you get to dress up in scary costumes, walk around at night, meet all the neighbors and get loads of candy? But it might be different in a Bavarian village so it probably is a good idea to ask before buying the local supermarket out of sweets.
And eleven days later their kids can experience their first St Martin's Day which my son always liked even more.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife just the people which wanted to live to the old religion celebrate Halloween/its called Samhain and they belive that in that night the living and the dead spirits come the closest together. For that they shut the doors that no evil spirit can come into the house and for the friendly ghosts they put candles in the window so that they can find the food which is put for them there already! Maybe now you know where this with the pumpkins and all the ghost thing came from its an old celtic religion celebrity. It was when christian religion came here, they overplay all the celtic celebrity days with other celebrities,Just Halloween and Aller Seelen is familiar,ask yourself what has a rabbit to do with eastern? Why do the catholic people celebrate 3 days Christmas /we still know Jesus was born later 🕎✝🕉🛐🔯☮
@@ennykraft Seems to depend on the region. Where I am from in Germany you could have thought that a few years ago Halloween was the next big thing wit trick or treat children going around and so on, now that has completely died away again, so it seems it comes in droves
The the fee for attending Kindergarden depends on where you live in Germany. Each local authority district sets their own prizes. For instance the richer cities (e.g. Stuttgart) don't charge anything whereas here in Bremen where I live we had to pay. Some cities or federal states have free attendance for the year before school. So it can vary a lot. Just like school in general because education in germany is "Ländersache".
I loved German kindergarten! It's also a very similar system to the one I grew up in in Italy, no formal learning until first grade there too. We just moved away unfortunately, and my 6yo started first grade in the UK. She is catching up so well, showing that when they are older and ready to learn they will more easily. So sad my youngest won't be able to have the same experience. I really hope we can move back to Germany after the 3 years here, but I'm not sure it will be doable :'( IMO btw the balance is learning through play, kids learn so much that way, and learning by doing without having to sit down and write, or memorize flash cards and being tested on spelling. Also, my kids where in a private trilingual kita, and for a 1yo and 5yo full time (I used to work there), I used to pay as much as I pay here for sending just my now 2yo 3 times a week 9:30-3:30... Last but not least, they call it Brotdose in Hessen :D
Those Walddorf Schulen might sound great. When I was in 10th grade on the Gymnasium, we had a whole migration of pupils going to "State schools" because they feared not to make the Abitur. But as we say in Germany:" At least they can dance their name"
🤣🤣🤣 yeah I think Waldorf and Montessori is better for the younger grades but doesn’t work so well after ages 10 or so.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife well actually the Waldorf students do really well academically. They have done research and the outcome was that steiner students did very well later on. Also my children are in university now. One in medicine school another is in music and the third wants to be a pilot or an architect.
@@1965Chava very cool! How long did your kids stay in a Waldorf school?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife they have been all their lives untill 12th grade. My eldest daughter went for a year to a montessori school but didn’t like it over there. We went a year abroad to the USA (like you did) and the children went also to a Waldorf school there and learnt English. My other daughter went in 10th grade to a Waldorf school in France to learn French and had a wonderful time living with a french family. My niece came to the Waldorf in 4th grade from a jewish day school and loved her new school. She stayed untill 12th grade and is now in university doing very well, becoming a coroner. My eldest daughter is top of her university class (medicine) and second daughter went to a talent class conservatory three days after school and weekends. So Waldorf is not for the faint of heart 😉 best result is that they all loved school. Still in touch with some of their teachers. That to me is special.
17:38 That's the interesting thing about Germany! We learn independence, creativity and self-confidence from an early age.
And at the same time, we are probably very well known for our rules and order.
Yes isn’t that so interesting! Creative and independent, yet like their order and rules.
Well, only if you are independent and self-confident, you are able to acknowledge when rules do make sense (and when not) and you follow them because they do make sense, and not just because any authority says so ...
@@christianbottger493 Ok, so kann man es natürlich auch erklären... ;-)
@@christianbottger493 And maybe on the other hand, if you are forced to obey strict rules as a kid and can't do what you want, maybe it sometimes leads to a life-long desire to break the rules and do your own thing.
Thank you for the interesting video. I have a friend in the US (Atlanta) and his daughter goes to kindergarten. I was very shocked when he told me all the parents have a special app in order to get real time information about their children, e.g. if Ella would not eat her potatoes for lunch, you got informed right away. The parents also get at least one photo per day taken by the kindergarten teacher. And when his daughter bite another child, my friend got a formal letter by the kindergarten - his daughter was two! It sounds aweful that children are kind of watched by their parents in everything they do. My friend here in Germany has a 20 months old daughter and they have an appointment with the teacher every 6 months to talk about the child's development. I think that is much better. And also, what you said: The children should get the opportunity to learn how to make their own decisions. I cannot wait to see your videos about schools! 😃
Yes this has been our experience with American preschools and kindergartens, too! It’s not good. But when we lived there, I just thought it normal.
So much is very different between USA and Europe, in food,culture,even traditions and many other things that its sometimes strange to think that we compared to the rest of the world still is viewed,together,as the western culture and hemisphere.
Yes good point! They are quite different. I guess it’s like saying the Chinese, Indians and Russians are all in the Asian category when they have quite different cultural differences.
You are such a nice couple. I´m from Austria, meantime a retired scientist woman over 60 years old. 1978 I had been teaching kids from 6 to 16 years old swimming in a holiday camp in Florida for many weeks. The comparison in education was shocking for me. My 16 years old helpers there from college had the same education level as our pupils/students of the age of 13 to 14. As a studied mathematician and psychologist, I helped them to practice their work for college. But I can say I met so nice people and parents, sometimes with roots in Europe, that I have a kind of homesickness until today. So sorry, I can´t recognize the US today.
I must say, there are a lot of times where the children are making projects with a specific teaching experience as they grow older in Kindergarten. In Austria your child will be tester in the last kindergarten year, if she has all the kognitive and motoric skills needed for Grundschule. So there will be exercises for using pencils, using scissors as well as such things as getting rules and behavior connected. If there is a huge gap in the skills, your child will go to Vorschule to get the skills to the right level, bevor they start Grundschule.
I'm glad you added this - we forgot to talk about Vorschule. Ella will do Vorschule next year.
It's the same in Germany. Before elementary school there is a small test to see if you are ready for school. However, this is not necessarily done by the educators from the kindergarten / preschool, but takes place independently. Back then I personally wasn't in "Vorschule", I went from kindergarten to school directly because I was just ready. I can remember the test and even then thought it was "pillpalle-einfach". It wasn't particularly academic either, drawing a tree, walking in a straight line, answering a few questions like favorite color, favorite animal, etc. But my brother "failed" the first time, which is not bad, then you just start school a year later. So it happens that some children are only 5 in the first grade, others already 7. Who cares!
Same in Germany...a lot of the "games" which are played in Kindergarten are actually designed to teach coordiation, colours, basic counting aso.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife i am a private teacher for 20 years. Waldorfschule and Montessorie schools are the worst thing you could do. Ever. By far. It sounds nice in theory but thats it. It doesnt work with kids above 10 years. The risk that you fck up your kids is way above 50% in Monte Schools.
@@ilmephax Plenty of kids get fucked up in the normal school system too. No matter where you look, there are always shadows.
It's great that you enjoy German Kindergarden ☺ For me it was a shock too when my Daughter switched from a nanny with just 5 kids recently to a group with 25 children 🙈 that's what you Calle self-reliance is mostly a necessity from my experience 😅
Yeah that’s a good point! Though Ella’s class almost always has 3 teachers, with about 20 kids, if everyone’s there.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife At the moment they two teachers for each group and I miss the time whereI could talk about my Dauthers day in more detail. We were blessed with our Tagesmutter ☺
I love how YT is trying to undertitle your speaking. Whenever you use a German word YT starts guessing on how to spell it. And gets a different answer just about every time.
Oh hahaha! I need to go through the subtitles and fix them. Didn’t have enough time 🤣.
Especially the „cripple“ made me laugh😂
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Please don't fix them. I really like those automatic mistranslations, they can be so funny.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Don´t waste your time. The translation is so charming and funny.
My kids went to a Montessori school in Bavaria. The cost depended on your income - that´s why it was affordable even for low income earners. Btw: even at school, different grades were mixed into one class, so that older kids could help the younger ones (repeating learning matters along the way). They also went to a Montessori Kindergarten (except for one day per week when they went to a forest kindergarden (they loved both).
Okay great to hear about how it is in Bavaria. We really like how it's a mixed group - the older girls were excited that Ella joined their class and really helped to make her feel more comfortable.