Understanding School in Germany

ALL parents can help their children
before they start school and while
they are going to school.
2.1
Your child’s first years after birth are the most important
for his or her development.
Scientific studies have shown that children learn most intensively during the
first few years after their birth which has an impact on the rest of their
lives. The better your child develops before attending school, the easier it
will be for your child to learn at school. Before attending school, most children
can recount events or stories, play with forms, count, draw, tinker,
play, run, climb, jump, and much more. This helps your child learn a number
of important things.
2.2
Day-care facility (Kindertagesstätte – KITA) can help
with your child’s development.
Your child is not obligated to attend day-care. It is up to you whether or not
you send your child to day-care. As of August 2013, all parents in Germany
have a right to send their children to day-care and a place in the nursery
must be given to a child that has attained 1 year of age if requested.
Attending day-care is very beneficial to the social development of your
child. If your child does not speak German at home, going to day-care is
especially important. At day-care your child will learn German quickly and
will have fewer problems with the German language by the time he or she
enrols in school.
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