Introduction/specifics

Our Nature Park Kindergarten provides places for a total of 70 children between the ages of 3 and 6. The children are cared for in three groups: the Sun Group, the Little Sun Group and the Rainbow Group.

Our Team

Our educational work is supported by eight experienced early childhood educators, as well as our dedicated inclusion support staff.

The kindergarten is managed by Sonja Indof.

Activities Throughout the Kindergarten Year

Throughout the kindergarten year, we offer a varied and diverse programme that supports the children’s development while ensuring that they have fun and enjoy learning and discovering new things.

Our programme includes:

• As a certified Nature Park Kindergarten, we offer exciting projects and activities based on the seasons and the natural environment.

• We incorporate special features and local attractions of our beautiful community, which is located within the Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park, into our educational activities.

• Projects such as “From Grain to Bread”, forest projects and many other nature-related activities.

• Regular forest days, as well as a forest week once a year.

• Physical education and sports sessions in the “Alte Halle” sports hall.

• Activities as part of the “Gesundes Boot” (“Healthy Boat”) programme, for which our kindergarten has received an award.

• Toy and cuddly toy days, when children are allowed to bring a favourite toy or cuddly toy from home.

• Portfolio work to document and reflect on each child’s individual development.

• Road safety training for preschool children in cooperation with the traffic police.

• The “Abenteuer Helfen” (“Helping Adventure”) course for our older children.

• Activities focusing on dental health and oral hygiene.

• Cooperation with Schlossgarten School.

• Cooperation with the Heldenreich Occupational Therapy Practice.

• The “Sprachfit” language development programme for preschool children.

• And much more!

Rooms

Our Premises and Educational Areas

Sonnenschein Kindergarten is located directly next to Schlossgarten School.

Our group rooms were originally classrooms. Two of the group rooms have been expanded with a second level and individually designed by the respective groups. The design of our rooms is based on the children’s needs, interests and current topics. Therefore, the arrangement of the rooms changes regularly and adapts to the children’s current interests and needs.

Entrance Area – Arriving and Information

Information Board

Right at the entrance, we provide information about important contacts, current activities and upcoming dates relating to the kindergarten. Parents and visitors are encouraged to check our information board regularly so that they are always up to date.

Parents’ Corner

Our parents’ corner provides a space where parents can meet for a short chat or sit down and read the latest information in peace.

Our current educational plans and information about the topics we are working on over a certain period of time are also displayed here. Our current annual schedule can also be found in this area.

Group Rooms with Different Play Areas

Our group rooms offer the children a wide range of opportunities. They can relax, withdraw, play independently or interact and be active with other children.

At the same time, the group room provides children with orientation and security. The clear arrangement helps them find their way around: every item has its own designated place within a larger structure.

Construction Area

The construction area is equipped with:

• wooden building blocks

• LEGO

• various construction materials

• vehicles

• additional materials for building and constructing

Here, children can develop their own ideas, create structures and strengthen their creativity and spatial thinking.

Art and Creative Area

Our creative area offers a wide range of materials, including:

• different types of pencils and crayons

• paper

• craft materials

• additional materials for creative activities

The children can put their own ideas into practice and experiment with different creative techniques.

Reading and Relaxation Area

The reading and relaxation area provides the children with a comfortable place to retreat.

It includes:

• children’s sofas and armchairs

• a large selection of books, which is adapted according to the season and current educational themes

• cushions and blankets

Here, children can look at books quietly, listen to stories or simply take some time to relax.

Pretend Play Area

Our pretend play area is designed as a small doll’s home. It includes:

• a children’s kitchen

• dolls

• accessories for caring for and looking after the dolls

• seating

The pretend play area gives children space for role play. They can recreate everyday situations, develop their own play ideas and gain social experience. At the same time, it provides a place where children can retreat during free play.

Discovery and Exploration Area

In our exploration area, children can independently investigate, observe and experiment with different materials.

The area includes, among other things:

• magnifying glasses

• timers

• various materials for exploring and discovering

Children can pursue their own questions and gain their first experiences with scientific phenomena and relationships.

Additional Play and Activity Opportunities

In addition, the children have access to a variety of materials and activities:

• a wide selection of board and table games

• puzzles

• musical instruments

• materials for developing fine motor skills, such as:

  • beads

  • buttons

  • pegboard activities

  • sorting and arranging materials

  • construction and connecting games

Kitchen

Our kitchen gives children the opportunity to actively participate in cooking and baking activities. The work areas are at the children’s eye level, allowing them to observe the adults and actively help with the preparation.

Depending on our current educational themes, projects and the season, we cook or bake together with the children.

Shared Snack Time

Once a week, both groups have the opportunity to meet in the foyer for a shared, flexible snack time. This takes place every Tuesday.

Healthy Breakfast

On the first Tuesday of every month, we offer the children a healthy breakfast, such as muesli or bread with cress. The selection varies according to the season.

Each group takes turns organizing the healthy breakfast.

Movement Area in the Foyer

A movement area is available to the children in the foyer. Here, they can use different materials and create their own movement courses.

The available equipment includes:

• various movement elements

• vehicles

• a children’s carousel

• a ball pit

• room dividers

• table football

This allows children to create their own movement activities, develop their motor skills and experience physical activity as a natural and enjoyable part of everyday life.

Additional Rooms

Our additional rooms are used by all groups and provide space for a variety of activities and educational opportunities.

They are used for:

• small-group activities, such as looking at picture books or activities for older children

• free play, for example listening to CDs

• early intervention and educational support

• parent meetings

• additional educational activities

Children’s Toilets

The children’s toilets are shared by children from both groups.

The former shower has been converted into a toilet. The shower head is still available so that, if necessary, a child can be washed there.

Additional Facilities

Our kindergarten also includes:

• an office for the kindergarten management and staff

• a locked cleaning cupboard that is not accessible to children

• a sanitary area with changing facilities

• a small additional room

• a large additional room with storage for educational materials

Our Large Garden

A special feature of our kindergarten is our large garden. Here, children have a wide range of opportunities to move, play, explore and experience nature.

The garden includes:

• various vehicles

• a climbing frame

• a playhouse

• a mud kitchen

• a sandbox

• a swing and a nest swing

• a slide

Our planted embankment also offers the children many opportunities to retreat, build their own dens and play undisturbed.

During the summer months, the children can also use a water play area.

Our garden therefore provides a wide range of opportunities for physical activity, creative play, experiencing nature and discovering the world together.

Outdoor Facilities

Our large garden offers the children many opportunities to play, explore and be active outdoors.

We have two climbing frames, a large sandbox, a water play area during the summer, two swings and a nest swing, a mud kitchen, a playhouse and a wide variety of ride-on vehicles.

There is also plenty of space for playing football, drawing with chalk and enjoying many other outdoor activities.

We also have three raised garden beds, where we grow seasonal vegetables, herbs and fruit throughout the year. The children can actively participate in planting, caring for and harvesting the plants and experience how food grows.

Daily Schedule

A Typical Day at Our Kindergarten

Our kindergarten opens at 7:00 a.m. Children should arrive at the kindergarten by 8:30 a.m. at the latest.

Welcoming the Children

Every child is personally welcomed when they arrive.

This greeting marks the child’s arrival at kindergarten and gives each child the feeling of being personally welcomed, accepted and noticed. It also provides an opportunity for the educators to ensure that the children are safely handed over and that their duty of supervision is clearly established.

Free Play

Free play is a very important part of the children’s day.

During free play, children are free to choose:

• what they would like to play with

• which materials they would like to use

• whom they would like to play with

• where they would like to play

• how long they would like to play

This freedom of choice promotes children’s independence. They learn to take responsibility for the materials they use, handle them carefully and put them away when they have finished playing.

Free play also provides important opportunities to develop social skills. Children gain experience interacting with others, learn to resolve conflicts and discover ways of finding solutions together.

The Role of the Educators During Free Play

Free play is not only important for the children; it is also an important part of our educational work.

During this time, educators observe the children carefully. This allows us to recognize where a child may be experiencing difficulties, where support is needed and which areas of development can be encouraged.

Free play also provides many opportunities for children to establish and develop social relationships.

During this time, an educator can focus more intensively on individual children and support areas such as:

• language development

• concentration and persistence

• dexterity and fine motor skills

• social skills

• individual interests and abilities

These individual interactions are often not possible to the same extent during activities with the whole group.

The educator can be a play partner, guide and supporter. At the same time, whenever possible, the educator also takes a step back, observes and gives the children space to develop their own ideas and solutions.

Free play therefore has a very important place in our daily routine and requires careful support and attention. It provides children with a wide range of opportunities to develop and practise different skills and abilities independently.

Free-Play Activities

In addition to freely chosen play, we offer various activities during free-play periods. These may include:

• painting windows

• arts and crafts

• creative activities

• working with different materials

• seasonal or theme-related activities

These activities are designed to encourage children to participate voluntarily and out of their own interest. They also encourage children to become curious about new and unfamiliar experiences.

We accompany the children through our attention and presence, by playing with them, supporting them and helping them when needed.

Tidying Up and Circle Time

After free play, we tidy up together. This teaches the children to take responsibility for their environment and the materials they have used.

Afterwards, we have a shared snack or meal.

Depending on the daily schedule, different activities follow. These may include:

• circle time

• group games

• listening to stories

• going outside into the garden

• participating in a planned activity or project

Circle Time

Circle time is an important part of building our community. Through shared games and activities, the children experience a sense of belonging and strengthen their relationships within the group.

Children’s conferences also take place during circle time.

Children’s conferences are discussion groups that give children and adults the opportunity to address different needs and requirements that arise from living and working together as a group.

For example, children

Basics

As an early childhood education and care centre, we fulfil our legal responsibility to educate, raise and care for children. Our aim is to support each child in developing into an independent and socially responsible individual.

In this context, autonomy, self-efficacy, secure relationships and a sense of belonging are equally important. Our kindergarten sees itself as a supportive and complementary partner to families. We complement and support the family environment rather than replacing it.

Our Approach as a Nature Park Kindergarten

As a Nature Park Kindergarten, we place great importance on giving children the opportunity to experience and explore nature directly and with all their senses.

Nature offers children countless opportunities to investigate independently, ask questions, discover connections and gain their own experiences.

An important part of our educational work is developing an awareness of nature, the environment and sustainability.

Children learn that nature is valuable and worth protecting. Through practical experiences, they discover how they themselves can take responsibility for their environment and contribute to its protection.

Playing and exercising in nature also provides many opportunities for children to experience their own bodies and develop their physical and motor skills.

Through climbing, balancing, running, jumping and moving across different surfaces, children develop and strengthen their gross motor skills, coordination, balance and body awareness.

They can test their own physical abilities, overcome challenges and gain confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Our Fundamental Approach as Educational Staff

Regardless of the educational method or approach used, we believe

Employee

Our kindergarten is managed by Sonja Indof.

Our team consists of eight qualified early childhood educators and an inclusion support worker. We are also supported by a trainee from St. Loreto.

Cooperations

Working together with external partners is an important part of our educational work. Through these partnerships, we can provide additional support for the children and strengthen our educational services.

Our cooperation partners include:

• Schloßgartenschule – cooperation and transition support between kindergarten and school

• Janusz-Korczak-Schule – early intervention and educational support services

• Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park – cooperation as part of our work as a Nature Park Kindergarten

• Anja Kommode – Heldenreich Occupational Therapy Practice – cooperation in the area of occupational therapy

• Kindergartens of the Municipality of Alfdorf – exchange and cooperation with other local early childhood education centres

• Gesundes Boot (“Healthy Boat”) – health promotion and nutrition programme

Teamwork with school

Our location is ideal for working closely with the school. We are situated directly next to Schloßgartenschule and are even connected to the school by a door, making it easy to maintain regular contact and cooperation.

We participate in the SprachFit programme – “Auf den Anfang kommt es an”, a language development programme of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The programme supports children with language development needs at an early stage, both before they start school and during primary school.

As part of our cooperation with the school, we are also supported by Schloßgartenschule. The school’s cooperation teacher regularly visits our facility and works closely with our team.

A successful transition to school includes regular visits from the cooperation teacher, visits to the school, and, where appropriate, invitations to participate in activities and events at the school, depending on the topic and occasion. These opportunities allow the children to become familiar with the school environment and help make the transition from kindergarten to school as smooth and positive as possible.

Teamwork with parents

Working with Parents

Close, open and trusting cooperation with parents is particularly important to us. We see parents as important partners in our educational work and value their involvement in the everyday life of our kindergarten.

The following activities are therefore a regular part of our annual programme:

• parent evenings

• educational partnerships and activities with parents

• joint baking and cooking activities

• parents helping with transportation on excursions

• children’s clothing and equipment sale

• individual development meetings

• joint activities and events

We greatly appreciate the support and active participation of our parents. Their involvement creates opportunities for exchange, strengthens our partnership and enriches the children’s kindergarten experience.

Celebrations Throughout the Year

Celebrations and traditions are an important part of our kindergarten year. Together, we celebrate special occasions and festivals throughout the seasons:

• lantern parade

• St. Nicholas celebration or Christmas celebration

• carnival celebrations within the groups

• Easter breakfast and Easter activities

• shared bring-and-share snack

• spring celebration or hands-on family event

• end-of-year excursion for our preschool children

• and many other wonderful ideas that enrich our kindergarten year

These shared celebrations create special moments for children, families and staff and strengthen our sense of community.

Projects

Every year, we choose an annual theme that accompanies us throughout the entire kindergarten year. Based on this theme, we develop individual projects that we explore with the children over several weeks.

This year, our annual theme is:

“Our Nature Park – Our Home”

This theme offers us many opportunities to explore different educational areas and becomes an integral part of our everyday activities. Through hands-on experiences, projects, discussions and activities, the children can discover and learn more about nature, their environment and the place they call home.

The theme allows us to connect different areas of learning in a meaningful and engaging way while encouraging the children’s curiosity, creativity and appreciation for their natural surroundings.