In the event of an accident, we will call the parents immediately. Please note that we are not allowed to drive your child to the doctor ourselves in the event of an accident. Depending on the situation, we will call you or an ambulance.

All group activities that take place in the daycare centre during the day are insured. Accidents must be reported immediately to the daycare centre management so that the accident can be reported to the accident insurance company and all claims can be settled.

If your child suffers from allergies or should develop them later, it is important that we receive all the necessary information to ensure a safe and healthy environment in our daycare center. Please note the following information:

Medical certificate: If your child suffers from allergies, we require a corresponding medical certificate describing the allergies and any necessary precautionary measures. This certificate must be submitted to us before the start of daycare. If allergies only occur later, please inform us immediately and submit a current medical certificate.

Discussion with the Kita: In addition to the medical certificate, it is important that you discuss all allergies and necessary measures with us in person. This enables us to ensure that our team has the necessary information and can take appropriate precautions. In the case of new allergies, we also ask you to make an appointment for a meeting so that we can make the necessary adjustments.

liste_allergene_spielraum_kitas.pdf

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The Berlin Education Program is a plan for the upbringing and education of children aged 0 to 6 years in Berlin. It describes which skills, knowledge and experiences children should gain during this time in order to prepare them well for their later life.

The program emphasizes the importance of play and exploration for child development. It also emphasizes the importance of social relationships, emotional development and cultural diversity.

The Berlin Education Program aims to ensure that all children in Berlin have the same opportunities for high-quality early childhood education and upbringing. It provides recommendations for parents and educators to support and encourage children in the best possible way.

The Berlin Education Program, also in French and English, can be downloaded here:

https://www.berlin.de/sen/bildung/schule/bildungswege/fruehkindliche-bildung/

The Berlin Education Program is non-negotiable as a conceptual basis. All educational professionals are expected to know and understand the current version of the Berlin Educational Program. It is available as a printed version in every facility and must be read by all educational professionals in the latest version without being asked. In the regular internal evaluation, we check to what extent the program has already been implemented and where there is a need for improvement. Criticism of the Berlin Education Program is of course permitted, as is the addition of self-chosen focal points.

The interpretation of the sometimes very general content takes place at pedagogical team meetings, on team days (Pädagogisches Team/Teamsitzung/Teamatung) and as part of the internal evaluation (Interne Evaluation).

Our morning circle takes place from 09:30 - 10:00. Please bring your children to the daycare center by 09:15 at the latest so that they can “arrive” well and also have a bite to eat.

Children arriving after 09:30 cannot take part in the morning circle. Your child can then only be handed back into the group at 10:00 am. Appointments arranged in advance are of course excluded from this rule.

In daycare, it can sometimes happen that children deliberately exclude or tease others. This is often described as “exclusion”, as the term “bullying” does not fully apply at this young age. Preschool children are still in the middle of their social development. They are learning how to interact with others, how to solve conflicts and how their behaviour affects those around them. Often, they are not yet fully aware of the impact of their actions. It is quite common for children to experiment with group behaviour at this stage, which may include inappropriate actions such as excluding someone from play or using hurtful words. This can be very distressing for the affected child and should always be taken seriously. As educators, we pay close attention and intervene early. We support children in developing empathy, talking about conflicts and finding solutions together so that every child feels safe and included. If you notice that your child is affected or is excluding others, please talk to us. Together, we can find positive ways to improve the situation. Why don’t we usually call it “bullying” in daycare? In early childhood education, we usually avoid the term “bullying” because children at this age are still developing socially and emotionally. Their behaviour is rarely intentionally malicious or systematically repeated in the way bullying typically is. • Unintentional behaviour: Children often act impulsively and without fully understanding the consequences of their actions. • Lack of intent: Bullying implies a deliberate intention to harm others. In daycare, behaviour is usually less targeted and more connected to developmental stages. • Social maturity: Young children are still learning basic social skills such as sharing, empathy and conflict resolution. • Short-term conflicts: Conflicts in daycare are often spontaneous and short-lived. Children may argue one day and happily play together again the next. The role of parents Parents play an important role in supporting children in these situations: Listen and take it seriously: If your child talks about difficulties at daycare, listen attentively without immediately judging. Ask gentle questions and show that their feelings matter. Recognise and name feelings: Help your child understand and express their emotions. Explain how others might feel when they are excluded or hurt. Encourage social skills: Support your child in developing social skills, for example through role-play or talking about conflict situations and alternative ways to respond. Work together with the daycare: Open and trusting communication with the educators is essential. If you notice difficulties, please talk to us early so we can work on solutions together. Be a role model: Children learn a lot by observing adults. Show respectful and understanding behaviour at home. Set clear boundaries: If your child excludes or hurts others, set clear boundaries. Explain why the behaviour is not okay and work together on positive alternatives. By offering emotional support, encouraging social skills and working closely with the daycare, you can help improve the situation and support your child in building healthy, positive relationships.

A childcare ratio should not be confused with a staffing ratio. The staffing ratio shows how many staff members there are per child in theory, regardless of how many hours the daycare center is open and whether these people are on vacation, sick, or have training. The staffing ratio indicates how many children are actually present with how many specialist staff. For example, the staffing ratio in an Ü3 group provides for approximately one specialist for around 11 children, but in reality this person sometimes takes a break, goes on vacation, is ill, or similar, so that there are more children for one adult. This would then be the actual childcare ratio.

Here is some additional, recommended reading: ausgabe10_kitanetzwerk_einleger.pdf

In the SpielRaum daycare centers, we value a good childcare ratio and strive to have two adults in a group at all times during main periods of the day. This is achieved by employing interns, trainees, additional housekeepers.

The childcare contract regulates the essential agreements between the parents and the daycare center. It includes the daily care times. These correspond to the scope of the approved voucher. As parents, you are obliged to adhere to the approved childcare hours and our operating hours. The childcare contract also stipulates the amount of fees and payment methods, regulations on the duty of supervision, as well as your rights, obligations, and regulations on notice periods and changes. The contract also contains information on data protection regulations and any additional services available, such as the diaper subscription.

The childcare contract serves to regulate all essential aspects of childcare and create clarity for both parties. It is an important document that forms the basis for successful and transparent cooperation between us as a daycare center and you as parents.

Children's consultation hours take place once a week at Perlentaucher and Havelsegler. 2 Children from the elementary section can talk to a member of the daycare centre staff about their wishes and complaints in everyday life at the daycare centre. Possible questions could be:

• How do you like it at the daycare centre? Do you feel comfortable? Is there anything you are missing?
• Would you like certain toys or materials?
• Would you like to do something with the daycare centre and if so, what? Do you have any specific excursion requests?
• Do you have any meal requests that we can pass on to our cook?
• Do you have any suggestions on how we can organise the daycare centre differently?

We want to give the children a stronger sense of having a voice in decisions made at daycare. The wishes and complaints are then discussed in our team meeting, and we look at whether, how, and to what extent solutions can be found. There are no mandatory consultation hours for the U3 children. The children are initially supported in developing a culture of dialogue in the group and learning about democratic decision-making processes.

In our daycare centers, children are encouraged to actively participate and help shape their everyday life. We regularly reflect on how responsibility and decision-making are shared between children and adults. Children are given opportunities to help shape their daily routine—for example by jointly setting rules, choosing activities, helping decide how rooms are designed, or what food is served. Our educators trust that children know what is important to them and encourage them to speak up and participate.

• Children have the right to reliable and trusting care.
• Children have the right to education and personal development.
• Children have the right to their own experiences and self-determination.
• Children have the right to be who they are.
• Children have the right to qualified educational professionals.
• Children have the right to participation and having a say.

All children have the right to participate, even though this is not always easy in everyday life. That’s why we carry out special projects in which even very young children can express their opinions and experience that they can make a difference. These projects support self-expression, exploration, and discovering personal interests. Putting children’s rights into practice: In our daycare centers, children’s rights are implemented through clear rules and a mindful, respectful attitude within the team. Educators ensure that children’s rights are always respected in everyday life by:

• Promoting non-violent communication and peaceful conflict resolution
• Encouraging children to express their opinions and take part in decisions
• Responding sensitively and attentively to each child’s individual needs

Children’s rights ensure protection, support, and participation. They help make the daycare a safe place where children feel valued, secure, and involved—supporting their personal and social development in the best possible way. Interested in learning more? You can read more here.

Each child is assigned a cloakroom space labeled with their name and picture. This is where jackets, shoes, rain gear, bags with spare clothes, slippers, sun hats, scarves, hats, and gloves are stored. All items must be labeled with your child’s name and adapted to the season. Please also regularly check clothing sizes, including spare clothes. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all personal items are present at pick-up time. Unfortunately, we cannot accept liability for items left in the cloakroom.

The closing times result from holidays, team days, as well as internal and external evaluations in order to check and improve the quality of our work. Bridging days between public holidays or weekends are also included in the closing times in order to ensure continuous planning and organization. These dates are announced in good time for the new daycare year (in August). New families receive the annual calendar from us with the settling-in documents.

We will inform you in good time at the beginning of the new childcare year, in August, about the closing days for the coming year. We are aware that these days may have an impact on your childcare situation, and we thank you in advance for your understanding and flexibility.

Be sure to dress your child in comfortable clothing and clothes that can get dirty.Please also make sure to bring weatherproof gear (wellies, muddy trousers, rain jacket and summer hat) that can remain in the daycare center.

It is a good idea to leave a change of clothes for your child on the cloakroom hook just in case. In order to avoid confusion or to be able to allocate items of clothing more easily in the event of loss, we ask you to label all of your child's items and clothing.

We keep spare clothes ready for emergencies, with which we can dress your children if necessary, should they not have a suitable change of clothes. We ask you to return the clothes washed.

Healthy and nutrious food plays an important role in the SpielRaum daycare centers. Here you can find out how the cookery days are organized in our SpielRaum daycare centers and what they bring to your children.

What does ‘cooking day in our daycare center’ mean? On cooking day, we cook lunch in the daycare center itself. The SpielRaum Perlentaucher prepares a snack together with the children, while the other SpielRaum daycare centers cook lunch together. The day before, we discuss with the children what they want to eat and decide what to cook. Together with the children, we google the ingredients and the recipe, draw up a shopping list, and buy the ingredients together. We make sure to buy organic products. On cooking day, the children start cooking straight after the morning circle. What should the food be like?

Lunch is vegetarian and consists of three courses with different components so that every child can find something that suits their taste (e.g., rice, vegetable mix, sauce, tofu fritters). We only use healthy organic food, with exceptions for home-grown or certain exotic ingredients used for educational reasons. Sugar and convenience foods are not allowed.

Food intolerances and allergies are of course taken into account.

What does cooking do for the children? Cooking is an important part of our educational program. It promotes motor skills, independence, and practical life skills. Children learn social skills, such as agreeing on a dish and working in a team. They experience self-efficacy and are often motivated to try the food they have prepared themselves. Cooking broadens their horizons and offers many learning opportunities, from nutritional education and language development to math skills such as counting, measuring and weighing. Shopping in the neighborhood also promotes awareness of healthy eating and getting to know local shops (orientation in social places). Who can take part in the cooking day? All children over 3 years of age. The complexity of the tasks and the responsibility increase with age.

We regularly work together with various institutions, including specialist advice centers, youth welfare offices, schools, speech, occupational therapists, and other daycare centers. These collaborations enable us to offer comprehensive support and holistic care for the children.

Every person who handles personal data in any form in the SpielRäumen declares their agreement with the facility's internal data protection concept by acknowledging and signing it. This regulates, for example Personal data will never be shared with third parties without the consent of the person concerned. Personal data will not be sent by email and will not be published on the internet.

Every year, the parent representatives create an email distribution list to which you can voluntarily subscribe.

Employees are not allowed to provide parents with information regarding the absence of other employees. As a rule, employees are absent due to vacation, training, or illness. Information on long-term illness, pregnancy, or death falls under data protection. We kindly ask for discretion.

Your children are asked to brush their teeth after lunch. The daycare center will provide the toothbrushes and toothpaste needed for this. You do not need to bring anything.

We offer regular development talks in order to optimally accompany the developmental progress of your child or children. These take place once a year and can also be held additionally if required. There are special arrangements for pre-school children to discuss their developmental needs before they start school.

Regular development meetings:

Once a year: We hold regular development meetings with you (at least once a year) to discuss your child's progress and clarify any issues or concerns.

If required: If particular (developmental) issues or questions arise that require additional discussion, we can hold a further meeting by arrangement. If necessary, such a meeting can also take place at our request.

Discussions for pre-school children: For parents of pre-school children, we offer a discussion at the beginning of the pre-school year to discuss the developmental status and preparation for school entry. A further meeting takes place before the child starts school in order to optimize the transition and share all relevant information with you.

Should you have a need for an unscheduled meeting, please contact us.

When you sign the childcare contract, you have the option of taking out a diaper subscription. In addition to diapers, this also includes wet wipes. We obtain both from „babylove nature“. There are additional costs for the diaper subscription:

• Diapers during the day - 15 Euro/month
• Sleep diapers - 7 Euro/month

If your child is in the process of becoming dry or only needs a sleep diaper, you can change or cancel the subscription at any time in writing. To do this, please contact us with your change request: kinderkonto@generationenraum.de

If your child falls ill, please inform the daycare center by telephone. If it is a contagious illness, it is necessary to inform the center. A notice will then indicate the illness so that other parents can quickly assess symptoms or illness in their child.

Please remember: a sick child does not belong at daycare. Please give your child the necessary time to get better. In the case of notifiable illnesses (see list in the appendix to the childcare contract), the child may only return to daycare after presenting a doctor's certificate.

If the staff notice a change in behavior, increased temperature, symptoms of a cold, or signs of diarrhea, vomiting, skin irritations, conjunctivitis, head lice, or similar, you as parents will be informed. As the legal guardian, you are then responsible for ensuring that your child is collected from the center as quickly as possible. As the parent, you need to reachable at all times. Please inform us immediately if your telephone number changes.

In the event of fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, your child may not return to daycare for at least 48 hours after the last symptoms. We adhere to the recommendation of the Robert Koch Institute to allow the child 48 hours to recover. Children who have been given antipyretic medication are not allowed to attend the daycare centre.

umgang_krankheiten_spielraumkitas.pdf

We would like to convey to all children and their families that it is normal to be “different” and to accept others in their differences. We therefore want to create an atmosphere in which the strengths and weaknesses of each individual are accepted and all children help each other according to their individual strengths. This involves a special and important learning experience for all children, in which consideration, tolerance, empathy, and freedom from prejudice are developed.

Our aim is to create accessibility for everyone. This also applies to gifted or particularly gifted children, who do not always find it easy to establish their place in the group. Special support becomes necessary in such cases. A daycare center for all children has advantages for all of us because this is where the next generation grows up, for whom we want the best education and understanding for each other.

You can find out more about hier

The duty of supervision in the Kita begins and ends according to the individual care times of your child. We are responsible for the supervision of your child as soon as it has been personally handed over to the educational staff in the group. On the way to the daycare center and back, the duty of supervision lies with you, the parents.

When parents are present at the daycare center, be it at parties, celebrations, or other events that take place together with you and your children, you are also responsible for your child's supervision.

We ask for your understanding and cooperation in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the best possible way.

Our educational approach – simply explained We see every child as curious and eager to learn. Our daycare is a place where children feel safe, cared for and encouraged to explore the world through play. Loving care We want your child to feel comfortable from the very beginning. With gentle settling-in periods, caring staff and child-friendly spaces, we create a safe environment where children can build trust and grow at their own pace. Working together with parents We work closely with parents to support children’s development. Children learn independence, decision-making and how to handle conflicts. Mistakes are part of learning, and we support children along the way. Learning through play and discovery Children learn at their own pace. We support development in language, movement and social interaction while keeping curiosity and joy at the centre of learning. Important values There is no pressure to eat, sleep or participate. Children decide for themselves. At the same time, shared rules help daily life run smoothly. Our work is based on the Berlin Education Programme (BBP) Bedeutung Berliner-Bildungsprogramm. Our team is always available for questions and exchange.

In our daycare center, we provide the children with materials that are suitable for their development and age. We use it in such a way that it encourages the children to be active in their learning and is safe. This means that the material does not pose any health risks and that accidents are avoided.

A trusting and cooperative educational partnership is essential.

At the SpielRaum daycare centers, we place great value on a strong partnership between parents and educators. Regular communication, shared goals, and openness are key to providing the best possible support for your child.

You are warmly invited to actively participate in daycare life (such as activity days, family cafés, etc.) and to contribute your ideas. Our collaboration is based on trust, mutual respect, and appreciation.

Excursions take place in our facility all year round. There are various excursions for all ages and developmental stages, which are situation-oriented. They are possible within and across groups. Furthermore, our excursions offer varied and diverse environmental experiences (e.g., shopping for the cooking day, excursions to the Grunewald forest, various playgrounds in the neighborhood, Fritz-Schloss-Park). There are also annual cooperative excursions (e.g. visits to nearby elementary school, traffic school, language course).

We are always open and grateful for your feedback, wishes and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact us, as this is the only way we can meet your expectations.

During the kindergarten year, we celebrate many festivals: the children celebrate dress-up parties, Easter, Eid (Sugar Feast) birthdays, preschool graduation celebrations, daycare sleepovers, preschool children's farewell party, the daycare overnight stay and more.

We meet regularly with families and children for family cafés and two activity days a year. We celebrate Easter, the Lantern Festival, the Festival of Lights, and Christmas in the facilities.

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The basic idea behind free play is that children are capable of developing independently. The environment provides enough stimuli, meaning that adult intervention is often not necessary or only minimally required.

Free play is especially important for children to explore their own needs, form early friendships, and experience and cope with frustration. Through this, they gain valuable and varied experiences that are essential for their overall development.

During free play, children act independently: they decide what to play, how to play, and what rules apply. They process personal experiences, practice social skills, take on different roles, resolve conflicts, and learn cooperation. Free play supports creativity and allows children to reenact and process experiences. The framework for free play consists of agreed group rules, which are developed together by children and educators and consistently supported by everyone.

The duty of supervision in the daycare center only begins when the children have been personally handed over to the staff. Please also inform people who only bring the child occasionally, such as grandparents, relatives, friends, or neighbours, about this regulation.

A short handover with an educator is often useful to exchange important information, e.g., about the night, health, special moods, or changes to pick-up times. The children should also have the opportunity to get changed independently and say goodbye to their parents.

Upon request, parents receive free access to the protected area of the daycare website. Here, photos from everyday pedagogical activities are regularly uploaded for you to view. A corresponding agreement is concluded when the childcare contract is signed.

You will also find important dates, closing days, information about our educational concepts, and details about the daycare teams on the SpielRaum daycare websites.

As inclusive daycare centers, we strive to meet the diverse developmental needs of all children entrusted to us and to enable inclusion for every child. We support children in developing together and experiencing everyday life as a community.

In order to provide the children with the best possible support, we focus on the children's strengths in order to provide them with targeted support and accompany them in their developmental process. For us, inclusion means forming a unit. Our aim is to give children the confidence to accept themselves and others as “valuable.” This way of thinking should be encouraged from an early age.

In the groups, all educational activities, rooms, and materials are selected in such a way that all children can enjoy them equally.

Our daycare centers are designed to be barrier-free or low-barrier in terms of layout. In November 2025, the SpielRaum Perlentaucher team developed a binding guideline on how we want to live inclusion in everyday daycare life . We have also clearly defined the limits of inclusion work.

When settling into one of our daycare centers, we create a language learning diary for each child. In this diary, we record educational processes and experiences from everyday life - both verbally, in writing, and in pictures.

The children are actively involved in the design of their language learning diary. They can decide which artwork and photos to include and which pages to remove. The diary is constantly updated and supplemented by the children's feedback on the pictures and experiences.

At the end of the daycare center, we will present you with this book as a memento of the time spent at the daycare center together.

We are a language-focused daycare Language development happens everywhere: during play, meals, routines and movement. Children learn languages through everyday experiences. sprachfoerderung_unseres_kindes.pdf

…We wish you, dear parents, and your child, that you always feel well looked after and comfortable with us.

“Children should play more than many children do these days. Because if you play enough when you are little, you carry treasures with you that you can draw on later in life.” (Astrid Lindgren)

the teams of the SpielRaum-Kitas

The children who want to sleep are accompanied by their pedagogical carergiver. The children who do not want to sleep can now pursue other quiet activities (quiet phase).

Important: Your children decide for themselves whether they want to sleep. Sleeping is not compulsory in our centers.

At SpielRaum-Kitas Berlin, we have clear guidelines on the administration of medication to ensure the safety and well-being of your children. We are not allowed to administer medication in the daycare center; exceptions are only made for emergency medication that is vital for your child.

We would like to point out that we are not allowed to administer antibiotics or other regular medication. These must be given by you at home.

If your child requires medication, please inform us immediately.

Can medication be administered at the daycare centre?

The administration of medication in the daycare center is only permitted in certain exceptional cases and under certain conditions: Medication may only be administered with a corresponding doctor's prescription, which contains the dosage instructions and a signature, from the original packaging and with a package insert. You can obtain the ‘Medication Administration’ form for the doctor from the daycare center management. We cannot administer medication without a doctor's prescription.

Who is authorised to administer medication?

Medication is only administered by authorised employees. The name of the authorised person is recorded on the ‘Administration of medication’ form signed by you.

What about creams and lotions?

The application of special lotions and creams with non-medical ingredients (such as wound protection cream or skin care cream) is only possible at your request if you have filled out a corresponding form or signed the corresponding agreement for the application of such products when signing the care contract.

The morning circle - an important ritual for your children

Our morning circle takes place every morning at 9.30 a.m. in each group. This marks the end of drop-off time. The morning circle is flexible and is customized according to the situation and the needs of the children. It usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

To ensure that your children arrive relaxed and can get in the mood for the morning circle, please bring them to the daycare center on time by 9:20 am at the latest. This gives them enough time to settle in and start the day together with their group.

Children who wish to sleep are gently accompanied by their designated caregiver. Children who do not want to sleep take part in a quiet rest period instead (for example, looking at books or other calm activities). Important: Whether or not your child wants to sleep is their own decision. There is no obligation to sleep in our daycares.

Please take note of the notices on the information boards in the coatroom (or hallway) for your personal information on a daily basis.

The parents' information board in the entrance area informs you about general facility-related and group-internal topics and dates, as well as about everyday educational events in the groups.

Nutrition plays a central role in the SpielRaum daycare centers and is considered an important area of education. The daycare centers offer organic, regional, and vegetarian meals that not only meet the children's physical needs but also support their educational processes.

Nutrition education is seen as an integral part of early childhood education by enabling children to handle food and drink in a self-determined and responsible manner. This promotes sensory and motor development, supports language development, and strengthens social skills such as a sense of community and consideration. Eating together is seen as an important ritual in which children also experience cultural and aesthetic knowledge. Different tastes and cultural ways of eating are taken into account, which helps to teach values such as diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

It is particularly emphasized that children are given the freedom to make their own choices when it comes to selecting their intake. This is achieved through the choice of food and portions, with the support of educational staff. Families are also involved in nutritional education, for example, by being able to advise us on their eating habits for the daycare center's daily routine.

The SpielRaum daycare centers also focus on sustainability and promote environmentally friendly behavior. The daycare centers combine the promotion of healthy eating with the goals of the Diversity Charter and the 17 global sustainability goals.

Regular activities take place in the groups and also across other groups. The activities are based on the following principles:

• Holistic approach (covers all areas of education as far as possible)
• Child-oriented
• Interest-oriented
• Age-oriented
• Seasonally oriented

You are welcome to add! :)

At least twice a year, we hold a general parent evening at each daycare center. During these meetings, parents receive detailed information about group life, projects, upcoming celebrations, and much more. We also regularly focus on topics that are relevant to many families and everyday daycare life, such as: • Communication in early childhood: “Help, my child is biting!” • How inclusion is lived in daycare—and what it means for everyone • Early childhood sexuality • Media use and addiction prevention • Preschool and how to support a smooth transition to primary school

Communication within parent groups is an important part of creating a positive and supportive environment—for you, your children, and us as a daycare center. We would like to share a few basic guidelines to help ensure respectful and constructive communication. Important points for communication: Relevance of information: Please consider whether the information you share is relevant for all parents. Topics related to children’s well-being and development should always be discussed openly and transparently. Respecting confidentiality: For personal concerns or sensitive topics, it is often better to speak directly with the daycare team in a protected setting. Not everything needs to be shared in the group, and personal topics may sometimes cause unnecessary worry for others. Being considerate: We all have different perspectives and experiences. Please treat each other with respect and value differing opinions. A respectful exchange helps create a positive group atmosphere. Open communication: If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. Open conversations help prevent misunderstandings and build trust within the community. Our goal Our aim is to build a supportive community in which all parents feel comfortable and children can grow up in a positive environment. Together, we can help ensure that everyone—both children and parents—feels welcome and at ease, both in the daycare center and in parent groups. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Elternvertretung

The teams in our daycare centers work according to an integrated/enclosed group concept.

Every child has a fixed place in their group. There they experience the day with free play, morning circle, craft activities, and other educational activities. However, your children have the opportunity to visit other groups at any time or to socialize with children from different groups in the play areas outside the group room. Excursions are also offered across groups.

In this way, we promote your children's ability to make decisions, independence, and self-activity. In addition, the children quickly find their way around the daycare center and get to know many play and learning opportunities. Their social behavior is also trained as they come into contact with many different children and adults.

Participation is very important to us. Children have their own ideas and wishes. For this reason, it is completely normal for us that the children have a say, for example, in the organization of the weekly schedule, the cooking day, excursion destinations, etc. In this way, the children learn the basics of democratic behavior at an early age and are empowered not only to represent their own wishes and ideas and to stand up for them, but also to accept the wishes of others.

Konzept: SpielRaum Perlentaucher Konzept des SpielRaum Perlentaucher

Konzept SpielRaum Havelsegler konzept_spielraum_havelsegler.pdf

Our pedagogical understanding - simply explained

We see every child as curious and eager to learn. At the daycare center, we want to create a place where all children feel well looked after and safe. Our aim is for children to learn through play, discover new things, and grow together with others.

Loving care:

It is very important to us that your child feels at home right from the start. With a gentle familiarization process, a loving team, and child-friendly rooms, we create a safe environment. Here, your child can build trust and develop according to their needs. Our aim is to ensure that childcare at the daycare center is not just an emergency solution but an enrichment for your child and you as parents.

Common education:

We work closely with you as parents to support your child's development. The educators help the children discover their own abilities and develop independence. This also means that they learn how to deal with conflicts and recognize their own boundaries. It is important to us that children can make their own decisions, but also that they learn from their mistakes. We support them in this, because this is the only way they can become independent and strong.

Education through play and discovery:

At our daycare center, we support the children in learning at their own pace. The teachers provide the children with stimuli and accompany them on their journey to discover the world. We make sure that your child is encouraged in various areas, such as language, movement, and social interaction. We create an environment in which learning is fun and the children's curiosity is awakened.

Important values:

We do not force children to eat, sleep, or take part in certain activities. Each child can decide for themselves what they want to participate in. Nevertheless, there are rules that make living together in the daycare center easier. These rules are discussed together with the children and apply to everyone.

Our most important goal is to maintain the children's curiosity and encourage their love of learning. Children learn everywhere and at all times, and they are active in the process. Our task is to create an environment that supports learning and makes it exciting. We make sure that the children can learn in many different areas, for example, in language, play, or movement. We are guided by the Berlin Education Programme (BBP) Bedeutung Berliner-Bildungsprogramm).

Our pedagogical team is always available to answer your questions and discuss your child's development. It is important to us that you feel well informed and that we work together to provide the best care and support for your children.

Children are often fascinated by words like “pee” and “poo”. This is a normal part of development and related to language discovery, humour, curiosity and learning about their own bodies. Music recommendation Pipikacka-Automat / Eva Sauters

Every daycare center has a digital recording device.

In principle, no photos or films of children may be taken with private devices either inside or outside the daycare center.

At SpielRaum-Kitas, we photograph and film the children on various occasions. These are exclusively pictures as souvenirs and for documentation purposes and may not be made publicly accessible, reproduced or otherwise distributed. The children are never photographed or filmed unclothed. All photographs are for institution-related purposes.

Some of the photos are made available to the parents on the password-protected area of the homepage with the permission of the parents.

The documentation through photos requires a photo and film permission from the legal guardians, which is filled out with the childcare contract.

If your child is to be picked up by someone other than yourself, a pick-up authorization is required. If this is a permanent pick-up authorization, please speak to the staff at the facility so that the person picking up the child can be noted in the child's file.

You can download the collection authorization as a pdf here.

At the beginning of the settling-in period, you will have received a childcare voucher from the responsible youth welfare office. This voucher determines the care times for your children in the SpielRaum daycare centers. Please make sure that you do not exceed the hours specified in the voucher. Otherwise, we will unfortunately have to charge you for exceeding the childcare times.

You can drop off and pick up your children during the regular opening hours; please note the educational offers, such as the morning circle or breakfast times and bring your children accordingly if, for example, they are still to have lunch at the facility.

Children often show great interest in words like ‘wee-wee’ and ‘poo-poo’, which can often surprise parents and, depending on the situation, can also make you feel uncomfortable. However, this behavior is a normal part of child development and can be explained by several factors:

Linguistic discovery: Children begin to discover language as a means of expression at pre-school age. Words that are part of everyday life, such as ‘wee-wee’ and ‘poo-poo’, are particularly interesting for them because they are linked to their own physical experiences and everyday routines. They understand these terms and experience them as ‘special’ because they are often associated with taboos.

Curiosity and humour: Children are naturally curious and like to try out what reactions they can evoke with certain words. Words like ‘wee’ and ‘poo’ usually elicit laughter or surprised reactions, which fascinates children. Humour and silliness play a big part in young children's everyday lives and saying such words often brings them joy.

Testing boundaries: Children also use these terms to test the reactions of you adults and to find out what boundaries there are. Words that are normally considered ‘naughty’ have a special appeal for them because they can try out how adults react to them. This is part of their natural urge to discover and explore the world around them.

Development of body awareness Children between the ages of around 3 and 6 increasingly develop an awareness of their own body and the functions associated with it. As this may become a daily topic, they are attracted to words relating to this area. For them, the topic is physically and emotionally relevant, without the taboos that adults often associate with it.

Throughout kindergarten, your child will acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for school.

Our daycare centers are especially designed to strengthen the child's learning methodological skills, i.e., to help the child learn how to learn. In order to attend school, the child first needs to learn social skills in order to get along in the mixed-age classroom and, of course, interpersonal skills in order to feel and communicate their own needs and to be intrinsically motivated. Children learn a lot of these skills just by attending daycare! Nevertheless, there is training in specific skills and abilities, such as traffic rules, through regular excursions in the neighborhood.

Here is an exemplary overview of the activities on the preschool children's schedule: beispiele_uebersicht_vorschularbeit.pdf

We support the children in a situative-learning way as part of our educational mission by carrying out projects in small and large groups on various topics. When planning and implementing projects, we are guided by your children's individual stage of development and the requirements of the Berlin Education Program. The children's ideas and current interests are also incorporated into the project.

A common theme we have between our 6 daycare centers is the ‘Lila Raum’, a physical education and multifunctional room that does not accommodate a single group but is used freely by everyone.

There is a “purple room” in every SpielRaum daycare center: a room that children require and that has established itself as being multifunctional. With individual climbing options and plenty of space, it meets the children's drive to be active, as it can be quickly transformed into a mobile construction site. We have fitness balls, a climbing wall or jungle gym, skipping ropes, exercise and yoga mats etc. available for your children.

Around naptime, the room is transformed into an oasis of calm where the little ones can take a relaxing nap in a cozy atmosphere. For this purpose, the room can be darkened to the outside with thick curtains. The room is also used in the facilities for the morning circle, a sitting circle for all daycare children, as well as for parents' evenings, family cafés and celebrations.

Using public transportation in Berlin can be a practical and pedagogically valuable way to go on excursions and teach children about mobility.

• Independence and orientation: Children learn to orientate themselves on public transport, understand timetables and pay attention to safety measures such as traffic lights and zebra crossings.
• Social experience: They learn to stay together in a group, show consideration for other passengers and respect social norms in public.
• Environmental awareness: By using public transport, children are shown at an early age how important it is to promote sustainable mobility and take care of the environment.

Examples of excursions

• Museums: Daycare centres in Berlin often use public transport to visit museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Technology Museum or the MACHmit! museum.
• Excursions to the Grundewald forest or to the art school (MiK)
• Visits to the theatre or library: Public transport is also useful for cultural events or visits to the library.

The use of public transport in Berlin's day is a valuable way of gaining mobility awareness, going on excursions and promoting children's independence. It enables safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly experiences in everyday life with children.

Quality assurance for us means: updating concepts, evalutations, team days, documentation, advanced training and periodic team meetings.

For all our SpielRaum-Kitas (SpielRaum Perlentaucher, SpielRaum Havelsegler, SpielRaum Stephanshafen, SpielRaum Reinickenufer, SpielRaum Captain Moder, SpielRaum Emsdeich, you can register your child by e-mail to: anmeldung@spielraumkitas.de .

Downtime at the daycare center is essential for the well-being and healthy development of children. It enables important physical and mental recovery and helps to recharge their batteries. Regular rest periods improve the ability to concentrate and increase the willingness to learn for the rest of the day. Quiet time also promotes children's self-regulation, as they learn to recognize and control their needs for rest and activity by themselves.

In the SpielRaum daycare centers, quiet times are organized through fixed periods and rituals. However, attention is also paid to the individual needs of the children, as not everyone has the same need for rest. For children who do not want to sleep, alternative quiet activities such as looking at picture books are offered.

Rituals play an important role in the emotional and social development of children in daycare centers. They provide structure, security and sense of community and help children to feel comfortable in their environment. Here are the main reasons why rituals are so important in daycare centers:

Creating security and stability Reliability: Rituals give the children a regular and reliable structure to their daily routine. This predictability helps the children to feel safe as they know what is coming next. Routine: Recurring rituals, such as the morning circle or the evening ritual, organise daily routines and facilitate the transition between different activities.

Promotion of community and togetherness Shared experiences: Rituals create shared experiences that strengthen the sense of community. For example, having breakfast together or a weekly birthday circle promotes a sense of togetherness and social bonding among the children.

Support for emotional development Emotional security: Rituals can help children to regulate their feelings. A familiar end to the day, such as a story before nap time, can have a calming effect and give children a sense of security.

Coping with change: Rituals provide a stable framework that makes it easier for children to deal with changes and transitions, such as the start or end of a day at the daycare center.

Promotion of social behaviour and independence

Taking responsibility: Certain rituals, such as organising tasks or tidying up regularly, encourage children to be independent and take responsibility.

Social interaction: By singing, playing or eating together, children learn to understand social rules, show consideration, share responsibility and look out for each other.

Strengthening identity and appreciation

Individual significance: Rituals that celebrate special events such as birthdays or individual successes give children the feeling of being valued and unique.

Ritualised celebrations: Special days such as festivals or seasonal celebrations give children the opportunity to experience and appreciate cultural and social traditions.

Support of learning processes

• Learning through repetition: Rituals promote the learning and internalisation of procedures and rules through repetition. They help children to get used to routines and develop new skills.
• Integration of content: Rituals can also integrate educational content, such as playfully learning numbers or letters through songs and rhymes.

Examples of rituals in the daycare centre

• Morning circle: A daily circle in which the day is discussed helps the children to prepare for the upcoming activities and to socialise.
• Songs and rhymes: Regular singing and reciting rhymes not only promote language development, but also create a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.
• Farewell rituals: A short ritual at the end of the day, such as saying goodbye to friends and caregivers, helps the children to say goodbye to the daycare center and makes the transition home easier.

Rituals in the daycare centre are essential to offer the children security, community and emotional support. They promote a structured and caring environment in which children can develop and learn to find their way in a social context.

In our work, it is important for us to be a good role model. Children learn a lot by imitating adults. If you or our staff behave in a respectful and friendly manner, the children will learn to do the same. We expect the same from you as parents as part of the educational partnership. Please pay particular attention to your language.

A daily greeting and a personal farewell are important. Your children observe you closely and often copy your behavior. You should therefore pay attention to how you speak and interact with each other. In this way, children learn how to behave in different situations, e.g. when you greet them in a friendly manner or listen to them attentively. Being a good role model helps to support children on their journey.

Rules and values organize coexistence in a society. They provide orientation and ensure that fairness and justice apply to everyone. Rules are discussed together with the children, drawn up and adjusted if necessary. This also includes exceptions and consequences.

In this way, the children develop into responsible, mature and constructive people with a democratic understanding. By negotiating rules, your children also learn to be self-effective, which has a positive effect on their self-confidence.

The theme of the seasons at the daycare center offers many opportunities to introduce children to nature, the weather and the various changes throughout the year in a playful way. Each season offers special activities such as handicrafts, nature explorations or festivals that promote creativity, fine motor skills and a sense of community. They help your children to understand the cycle of nature, the changing weather and the seasonal festivities. This supports holistic learning with all the senses and the children develop an awareness of their environment and the passing of the seasons.

It is particularly important to us to make the settling-in period as pleasant and individual as possible for children and families. The settling-in period forms the basis for a trusting relationship that should last for years to come. We are guided by the tried and tested “Berlin settling-in model”.

SpielRaum daycare centers promote social cohesion by giving children from different backgrounds the opportunity to learn from each other. When allocating placements, we consciously pay attention to the diversity of families.

All children should feel at home in our daycare centers, make friends and take on new responsibilities. Through cooperation with schools, senior citizens' facilities, libraries and recreational centers, we offer children long-term contacts and role models. With our language programs in German and English based on the Inclusive Teaching principle, an organic, regional and vegetarian diet and well thought-out educational projects, we offer high-quality educational opportunities. We believe that these children will change the world.

Together with our employees and families, we are constantly working to improve our educational work. Feedback and ideas are always welcome.

Our main areas of focus are

• Language education for school preparation
• Co-determination and co-design inside and outside the daycare center
• English according to Inclusive English Teaching
• Health and sustainability in everyday life

We welcome children from families that reflect the diversity of our society: Different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, different approaches to life, people with and without disabilities and different social backgrounds are all welcome here.

Team days are an important part of teamwork and development in the SpielRaum daycare centers. We come together as a team on a total of four days a year to work together on various topics and undergo further training. The team days offer the opportunity to reflect on educational concepts, develop new ideas and share our experiences.

On these days, we focus on improving pedagogical practice, planning new projects, the daycare year and optimizing daycare processes. We also promote personal and professional development, for example by taking part in internal training courses.

We use this time to develop as a team and strengthen our cooperation, which ultimately also benefits the children by continuously improving our educational care.

In the SpielRaum daycare centers, thematic parents' evenings are an essential part of the cooperation between you as parents and our daycare centers. These evenings are used to discuss current topics. We currently offer two themed parents' evenings that you can attend.

At the parents' evening 'Transition to elementary school' we give you an insight into our preschool work and explain how we prepare your children specifically for the next step on their educational path. We will talk to you about the educational goals we pursue and answer your questions about school preparation, such as starting school, as well as your specific needs.

The parents' evening 'school enrollment' serves to inform you in detail about the school enrollment process. We explain the steps we take to help new children get off to a smooth start and discuss how you can support this transition.

These evenings are not only an opportunity to clarify your questions, but also to gain a comprehensive insight into our work and the educational approaches of the daycare center.

The children receive support from our educational staff in weaning from diapers. This is individually adapted to each child. It is based on the needs, well-being, and consent of the respective child. We value the children's self-assessment as to whether they need our help with cleanliness, going to the toilet, etc. We respect the children's privacy. Daily oral hygiene takes place at daycare. In terms of hygiene education, it is important to us that the children learn to recognize when they need a tissue or the need to wash their hands.

There are regular toy-free periods in the SpielRaum daycare centers, which usually last 1 to 2 weeks, sometimes longer. During these phases, we take a “toy pause” and do without conventional toys. The aim is to promote alternative play opportunities and creative experiences.

During this time, we can focus on other aspects of development, such as discovering new materials and encouraging social interactions without the distraction of toys. We often find that these toy-free periods stimulate the children's creativity and problem-solving skills and lead to new, enriching play ingenuity.

We employ pedagogical specialists in training in our daycare centers.

Several times a year, we welcome interns from various institutions (students in training to become pedagogical specialists, school interns) to gain an insight into our facilities and the profession of educator.

We also work closely with the SOS Children's Village and support interns as part of their career orientation.

If you are interested in an internship at one of our facilities, please send us your application:

• SpielRaum Perlentaucher: kontakt@spielraumperlentaucher.de
• SpielRaum Havelsegler : kontakt@spielraumhavelsegler.de
• SpielRaum Stephanshafen: kontakt@spielraumstephanshafen.de
• SpielRaum Reinickenufer: kontakt@spielraumreinickenufer.de
• SpielRaum Captain Moder: kontakt@spielraumcaptainmoder.de
• SpielRaum Emsdeich: kontakt@spielraumemsdeich.de

Children are encouraged to try things repeatedly and learn through experience. We give the children time to try things out, as this is an important basis for their development. Through independent exploration and experimentation, they learn to solve problems, discover their abilities and build self-confidence. These independent experiences not only promote cognitive and motor development, but also strengthen creativity and social skills. They enable children to recognize their own interests and strengths and to take responsibility for their own learning.

At each SpielRaum daycare center, there are designated areas for parking children’s vehicles. Riding children’s vehicles, roller skates, skateboards, or similar items is not permitted inside the buildings. Children’s vehicles are a great way to support motor skills, coordination, and social behavior.

Each child is assigned a checkroom space, which is marked with their picture and name. Jackets, shoes, raingear, bags for changing clothes, slippers, sun hats, scarves, hats and gloves are stored here. All items of clothing must be labeled with the child's name and appropriate for the season. It is also important to check clothing sizes regularly. This also applies to the clothes in the changing boxes. Parents are responsible for ensuring that all their child's personal items of clothing are in place when they collect them. No liability can be accepted for wardrobe items.

As parents, some situations or processes can sometimes seem a little “chaotic” at the start of daycare. In a group of children and caregivers, there is often a different “ pattern” than in everyday family life. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time to ask questions or share your concerns with us.