My first Kindergarten experience...

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
I just wanted to say this, as when I was researching education in Zurich I was very worried about the difference between Switzerland and the UK/Australia and all I could think about was the lack of reading and writing skills that were not 'taught' till they went to Primary School at 6, I was so caught up in what she wont learn that I did not pay much attention to what she will be learning, So I wanted this to be written so newbies can get an impression of what its like, not just what they learn..

It was my daughters introduction day at the local Kindergarten this morning and I wanted to say that I was REALLY IMPRESSED

I was really worried for a long time that our time in Switzerland will be a negative on her education, with the different approach to early leaning -through play rather than conventional reading/writing 'lessons' and when we go back to the UK she will behind on such things.

But I went there with my best open mind and I was happily surprised, the amount of children's writing on the wall was a relief - as I was told by someone they dont formally teach 'writing'

The environment was like a treasure chest of activity so many things for them to do and explore.

Myself and my daughter do not speak any German but we were warmly welcomed and the other children were also friendly and mimed alot with her, bless them. She will get a special German teacher for 25mins twice a week to teach her the basics.

One thing I noticed was how confident all the new children were, in front of strangers they happily answered questions (mine was to shy ) and laughed and joined in, admittedly I have no comparison but I really expected it to be a more awkward introduction.

When the teacher wanted all the kids to come back to her circle she produced this recorder and played a little tune, not loud but just enough, as soon as the big children heard they stopped what they were doing and went to the circle, received their instruction -I presume to tidy up as thats what they all scurried away and did, then they came to sit down and listen. Im sure this is all very normal but as someone who didnt know what to expect I was impressed

The end of the morning what the best part for my daughter when she was given her very own high vis vest thing, so often she wanted ones like the other school kids walking along the street, anybody would have though it was a gold medal ceremony by the look on her face!

If my daughter only gains a little 'formal education' I will be very proud if she comes away with as much confidence and imagination as the other Swiss children Oh and enough German to teach me

2
I have also been impressed by the kindegartens here. My daughter is just finishing her second year and my son is about to start. They get so much confidence and have so much fun here.

I think school may be a shock for my daughter though as they have had sooooo much fun in kindie.

Caz

3
Love this bit - we should just copy this across to any future post from us UKers fretting that their 4 yr old won't be taught to read War and Peace by Christmas

4
We are just finishing up 4 years with the same KG Teacher -- 2 years for my daughter and 2 for my son. The experience has been unlike anything I could have hoped for. On our first visiting day, 4 years ago, I was practically in tears of joy when I saw what was happening in the classroom. Our teacher did not disappoint, and to be honest the hardest part for the kids is saying goodbye at the end of Kindergarten. But guess what! The teacher invites the kids to come back to visit whenever they like, and she even makes a special day to go visit all of her "graduates" in the first grade.

You may be confused at times (like next autumn when you will be invited to come help your child carve her turnip!), but you will not be disappointed. Kindergarten in Switzerland is a magical, empowering, time and place. I do not think I could have given them a better experience anywhere in the world. (Just so you know, I am not blowing smoke, I have PLENTY of complaints about living in Switzerland , but KG is not one of them!)

Oh and BTW, both of my kids started with no prior German and both are now chatting away! (Ashamed to admit, I use them as translators!)

Enjoy Switzerland!

5
Kindskis here are usually great except the fact, that mostly they open their dors at 8:30 and close at 12:00. There might be some difference between cantons and cities, but generally, this is it. So, either one of parents stays at home anyway, or they send their kids to some horts, krippes, tages mutters or whatever they can find. Some of horts have three year waiting lists, which seems to be quite normal for locals, and is kind of a shock for foreigners. Prices for these day care facilities can be really really high ~100 CHF/day. Some of them are subsidized, but you need to have really low income - < 70k/year/family to apply.

6
Both my kids went through Swiss Kindergarten, and had the same excellent experience. They focus mostly on learning through play and developing discipline and social skills. Both came out speaking fluent dialect and high German (in addition to English that we speak exclusively at home). The first "foreign" language is introduced in the 2nd grade...they had just decided to make it English as my daughter started the 2nd grade, so she became the teacher's assistant and was allowed to read advanced English books.

Careful, though, once the paradise of Kindergarten is over, they really step on the accelerator...kids are really pushed, and constantly tested, and lots of homework is given. Kids are then evaluated in the 5th grade as to which "Oberstüfe" they will go to, there are 3 levels depending on test scores. The highest level is extremely exclusive (Gymnasium or Berzirkschule depending on Kanton) and usually about 10% of the students make the cut to the highest level...2 out of a class of 20. My daughter made the cut, my son will face this challenge in 2 years.

7
I'm constantly amazed when around little ones at a table how well they quietly sit and drink their juice and eat their snack without nonsense. Can't speak for the education itself, but table manners in tiny ones is a joy to see. Kindergarten has this benefit, at least, in conditioning them to sit still.

Blimey, I'm turning into an old fart, but there's a time and place for 'expression'...

8
I haven't found this at all. My son's just finished 4th grade, and the whole of primary has been a 'softly, softly, lots of handicrafts, let them have a childhood' kind of education. He's been getting about an hour's homework a week, and that allows for the fact he's only been being educated via French for two years so it's presumably taking him a little longer to do than the others.

I've heard that 5th grade's a shocker, though. We'll find out in a couple of months...

9

Not true in Basel. I live alone so I am forced to send my daughter to daycare fulltime and I do get subsidized and I do earn more than 70k per year

If it was down to me I'm sure my wee one would grow up as if she was raised by a pack of monkeys, thank God for her daycare!!

10
Nice way to search for a date

11
It wasn't meant to read quite like that.....

LOL!

12
My eldest has just finished his first year at Kindergarten today and has come home absolutely devastated as his teacher is not returning next year. He LOVES going each day and is totally gutted when he can't! He has learnt a lot, particularly with the language, BUT when I see what is happening in the Kindergarten class it is the same as what he was doing 2 years ago in childcare in Australia.

The childcare centre he attended had/have a brilliant programme for the older (4-6yr) children. The programme was stimulating, fun and offered a lot of variety and it is all in preparation for them to enter the prep/kindy/school system. The fact that he is repeating these things has created a bit of bordem/restlessness in him and he is chomping at the bit to learn how to read and write. We are now teaching this to him at home as this is something that is still several years away for him in the Swiss system.

Don't get me wrong, I think there are some great things with the Swiss system, along with some not so great things (another story!) but it has made me realise that it is not necessarily the best way. I have decided that it all comes down to the teacher and there dedication to their job, the kids.

13
Is there that much variety between cantons, then? If he's just finished first year KG, I guess he's aged 5 with one more KG year to go (shame about the teacher leaving, my daughter would have hated that too). How come he won't learn to read and write for several more years? I thought all Swiss schools started primary aged 6, after two (or very rarely) one year of KG?

14
I'm in Canton AG and also have heard from parents in Canton ZH that kids don't start reading and writing until 1st or 2nd class. It really is late here. I too am teaching my son at home since he really wants to learn this.

15
And that time and place was college, so: back to work!

16
Unfortunately (maybe) he has an early May birthday which means he is 6 and one of the oldest in his class. By the time he finishes Kindergarten and goes into Grade 1 he will be over 7.

Back in Oz & NZ he would of started this process of learning to read and write a whole 2 years earlier.

Here in Switzerland they don't start teaching the children the alphabet until they are in school!

17
As far as I know they don't teach the alphabet anymore. They start with reading words and sentences. Kindergarten in Switzerland is preparation for school with emphasis on the development of social skills. Perhaps society should appreciate these skills more. There would be probably far less morons and criminals around in the economical world.

18
I fully agree with you. It to my daughter about 6 months to really start reading once she went into the first class. Now at the end of the second class she is reading 2 or 3 books a week from the library - mainly in German and the occasional book in English depending on the mood.

Jim

19
It is worth observing that teaching a child to read and write in English is a world away from doing the same in German: children can become literate in German very quickly, thanks to the regularity of the spelling system. Reading and writing in English, by contrast, takes a lot longer, which is why schools in the anglosphere begin their literacy programmes much earlier.

It really is quite unhelpful to compare the two systems and suggest that one is better or worse than the other. They are merely different.

I am delighted to hear that the OP's experience of Swiss kindergarten has been a positive one, however.