Introduction/specifics

Our Focus Areas: Movement & the Senses

Movement is a central fundamental need for children under 3 years old. It is closely linked to:

• Physical development (motor skills, balance, coordination)
• Cognitive development (perception, learning through experience)
• Emotional development (self-confidence, joy)
• Social development (interaction, consideration for others)

We enable children to freely express their individual need for movement, to get to know their own bodies through movement, and to experience self-efficacy. We trust in each child’s abilities and give them the space and time to develop at their own pace without intervention. Our role is to observe, accompany, and support—only stepping in when a child asks for help or needs assistance. We deliberately avoid encouraging children to push beyond their own limits, thereby preserving their natural sense of risk awareness.

Our spaces are designed to promote movement, featuring climbing elements as well as open areas for crawling, running, and climbing. In our daily routines, children repeatedly have opportunities to stay active, such as during morning circle time or educational activities.

The senses also play a central role in a child’s development—through their senses, a child "grasps" and understands the world. By engaging all their senses, even the youngest children explore and discover their surroundings. To create a "sensory-rich" environment for the children, we ensure our group rooms are equipped with a variety of toys, everyday materials, and different fabrics or carpets-without overcrowding the space.

In our educational activities, we make sure to provide enough time and opportunity for sensory experiences. For example, during a baking activity, each child can touch, smell, or even taste the individual ingredients. Through targeted verbal prompts, we ask the children what they perceive and feel.

We recommend that all children go barefoot, and the different surfaces in the group room offer a "meaningful" sensory experience-after all, a soft carpet feels completely different from a sisal one.

Rooms

The Purzelbaum daycare center was opened in August 2013 and features three individually equipped group rooms, a movement and relaxation (Snoozle) room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, two sleep rooms with toddler-friendly bunk beds, spacious cloakrooms, and its own large outdoor play area designed specifically for young children.

Daily Schedule

Our Daily Routine

Our daily routine provides children with stability and security, as it follows a similar structure every day. Of course, the actual times may vary slightly from day to day-depending on the children's needs.

7:00 - 8:30 AM                  Drop-off time: The children arrive at our daycare.

8:45 AM                              We start the day cozily with our morning circle.

9:00 AM                              Shared breakfast

9:30 AM                              Time for care (diaper changes) and practicing brushing teeth

10:00 AM                            Free play and activity time

11:15 AM                            Shared lunch

11:45 AM                            Time for care (diaper changes, changing clothes, etc.)

12:00 – 2:00 PM               Nap time for children who sleep at daycare

Until 1:00 PM                    Pick-up time for morning-only children

Until 2:30 PM                    Time for care (diaper changes, getting dressed)

2:30 PM                              Shared snack

Until 5:00 PM                    Free play and activity time

Food

Meals and Nutrition

A healthy and balanced diet is of great importance to us.

Breakfast varies daily: one day, for example, we serve bread, the next day muesli, rolls, or crispbread. These are accompanied by cheese, spreads, as well as fresh vegetable sticks, tomatoes, fruit, etc.-also rotated daily. Sometimes, the children are even surprised with a special breakfast. We also ensure a "sugar-free morning"!

Lunch is provided by the company Apetito. The meals are varied, predominantly organic, and specifically tailored to the needs of young children. This means:

• No flavor enhancers
• Low sugar and salt content
• No artificial colors or sweeteners
• Mild seasoning using herbs

The frozen lunch is gently heated in a convection oven at our facility and supplemented with fresh ingredients.

For drinks, we offer the children water and unsweetened tea.

After nap time, a varied snack is served.

Of course, we take food intolerances or allergies into account and will find a way to ensure the safe care of your child.

Basics

Our Image of the Child

At the Purzelbaum daycare center, many little and big feet walk through each day together. To us, it is important to recognize every child—no matter how small their feet—as an independent personality and to meet them at eye level. This allows us to accompany each child on their unique developmental journey and explore the world together with them. Children are already capable of doing many things on their own, which is why we place great emphasis on giving them every opportunity to do so.