Introduction/specifics

The Kinderhaus is a family kindergarten in nature and in the house. The focus is on the child, its individuality, its well-being and its security in a familiar, loving environment. It is part of a community and should be purposefully supported in developing a sense of community.

The Kinderhaus Pusteblume is a parent-initiated kindergarten with one group, where children from the age of two until they start school are cared for by an educator, a childcare worker and a parent service.
The Kinderhaus is assigned to the "Netz- für- Kinder" model.

Three characteristics define all "Netz- für- Kinder" facilities:
- small group size of maximum 15 children
- a large age mix
- Parental participation in care and organisation

Our educational approach is based on Montessori education and nature education. We try to combine both approaches in our Kinderhaus. You can find more detailed information about this under Pedagogical Aspects -> Special Features (pädagogische Aspekte -> Besonderheiten). If you are looking for more detailed information about our Kinderhaus, you will find it on our homepage. There you will also find a concept of the Kinderhaus.

Food

In the morning, the children receive a freshly prepared breakfast with organic food (fruit, vegetables, bread, butter, cheese, jam) from the region.

Once a week there is a muesli day, on which muesli is served instead of bread.

The children can help with the preparation by a parent service, so the children learn early on to help with everyday things, and it saves the parents the preparation at home. 

Lunch is provided by the school kitchen, which is collected from the school kitchen by a parent service and brought to the Kinderhaus.

Teamwork with parents

The Kinderhaus Pusteblume e.V. association is the responsible body for the kindergarten. It is made up of the current parents. Membership is obligatory.

The organisation and administration of the Kinderhaus is carried out by all parents. The parents meet regularly once a month for a parents' evening. The head is also present and informs the parents about the current situation in the group. The parents' evening is the most important committee for decisions and the exchange of information.

To distribute the necessary tasks fairly, the parents organise themselves into working groups.

In addition to organisation and administration, the care of the child is an important element in the daily routine. The respective parent is available for the tasks in the kitchen at the assigned time.

The parents' work is remunerated with an expense allowance.

Specifics

Our educational approach is based on Montessori education and nature education. We try to combine both approaches in our children's house.

Montessori education:

The guiding principle of Montessori education "Help me to do it myself" by M. Montessori permeates the entire educational work.

This statement by M. Montessori clarifies the fundamental education for independence and for one's own individual personality. Mistakes made by the child are part of the development.

The essential principles of Montessori education consist of:
- Education is based on knowledge of the human being
- The human being develops according to his inner blueprint
- The child has an absorbent mind
- The child goes through sensitive periods
- The child as the master builder of the human being

Here are the most important basic principles of Montessori education:

- Respect for the child
- Sensory training and movement
- Muscle memory
- Polarisation of attention
- Free choice
- Prepared environment
- Material work

The material often seems to be the core of Montessori education. The material forms part of the prepared environment. Different areas of material are distinguished.
- Material for practising practical life
- Sensory material
- Mathematics material
- Language material
- Material for cosmic education

All materials contain error control within itself.

In the Kinderhaus, the focus of the pedagogical work is on free work with plenty of room for situational work. Additional projects and activities support the development of the children's basic skills.

Nature education:

The so called "Naturtage" ("nature days") (1 - 2 per week) have a long tradition and are highly appreciated by children and parents.

With nature education, the educators and parents want to counteract the current trend that children primarily play indoors. Nature education is a balance and supplement to the material work according to M. Montessori. Every week 1-2 nature days take place in the surrounding meadows and forests.
Every year in spring, our Waldwochen ("forest weeks") take place in the Schroßlach forest. For four weeks, the children are at home in the forest. During this time, the children benefit especially in the motor, social and scientific areas.

Based on various approaches to nature and forest education, we have chosen the following focal points in particular:
- the seasonal cycle of nature is experienced directly
- the silence can be experienced
- nature offers a variety of opportunities for movement
- psychomotor development takes place under ideal conditions
- The children's imagination can unfold
- the experience of the elements is one of the existential foundations of life
- all senses of the children are addressed
- movement in fresh air in all weather conditions promotes health and strengthens the immune system
- the social competence of the group and the individual is strengthened

Projects

Every year in spring, our forest weeks take place in the Schroßlach forest. For four weeks, the children are at home in the forest. The children benefit especially in the motor, social and scientific areas during this time.

Next spring we are planning a trip to the mountains with all the families and the staff, where we will visit a cheese dairy, bake our own bread and spend time in nature.

Overview

To be accepted into our kindergarten, it is important that you know that we are a parent initiative kindergarten and are therefore dependent on the cooperation of the parents.

The cooperation of the parents includes working in a working group (board, press and public relations, duty planner/ lists, purchase of food, house name/ hygiene officer, gifts/ donations, house and garden, parties and events, laundry service, internet/ website), the parent service (about 4 times a month) and if there should be other tasks within the group, also a participation in these.