7 Months at German Kita as a Foreigner! Here's What We Know! | Our Experience with German Daycare

The past seven months have brought A LOT of changes for Willa and us! They haven't all came easy, but we are so grateful for this experience to learn and be immersed in the German daycare system!
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Lots of love,
Tanner, Risa + Willa

[@d34d10ck]

I find it funny, that she said "meine" instead of "mine" in the beginning. Shows that kids are fighting for toys a lot, which she obviously has to do in German.

[@simoneriedl3398]

In Bavaria we start the Child daycare with the age of 0. That means, every Kita has own regulations. Some start with an age of 3 month, others start with an age of 8 month or even older. From 0-3 (0-2,5) its called „Krippe“ and from age 3-6 (2,5-7) its called „Kindergarten“. All in one, its called „Kita“ Kindertagesstätte.

[@allys8801]

I‘d like to try to explain the difference and I will try my best. Iam a Kindergartenteacher myself. So…the Kita (Kindertagesstätten) is the House where the whole thing takes place in. In most Kitas nowadays there are two different areas. The first area is called the Krippenbereich or Krippe. The Krippe is in General for children from 0-3 years even though there are sometimes differences. The second area is the Elementarbereich (3-6/7 years) and thats where the Word Kindergarten comes into play because it is common nowadays to use the word Kindergarten for the Elementarbereich. I‘m not enterly sure where this came from but my guess is that it comes from the fact that it was very unusal in western Germany to send children to a daycare when they where under the age of 3 a few years prior. Most Kitas where simply called Kindergarten back than and offerd Education for children between 3-6 years for half a day. When I went to Kindergarten myself (1997-2000) I was already 3,5 years old and Kindergarten was over at 12 pm. So not a daycare thing back then. Later more and more mothers began to work again earler after there childrens birth and the Krippen thing became more popular. The name Kindergarten became an old Memory and Kindertagesstätte was suddenly the common word.

[@starseed8087]

Wie haben wir früher nur überlebt und sind groß gewachsen ohne Kitas und Helikoptereltern 😂

[@reko7264]

@@starseed8087 wer spricht von Helikopter? Und tatsächlich geht es ja darum das immer weniger Mütter daheim bleiben um die Plagen zu erziehen. Früher war vieles anders und auch mieser. Ich bin froh das sich der Umgang mit den kleinen bei uns verbessert hat

[@starseed8087]

@@reko7264 Bei den Wartezeiten heute sehen das wohl viele anders. Aber ich bin da sowieso der falsche Ansprechpartner. In diese völlig überbevölkerten Welt die auf eine große globale Klimakriese zu rast finde ich es nicht besonders clever weitere Kinder in die Welt zu setzen..

[@martinohnenamen6147]

Kindergarten in the West back than was for older kids, like 3+. There were no Kitas or Krippe for younger kids back than.

[@allys8801]

@@martinohnenamen6147 Thats what I wrote

[@LaureninGermany]

I think little kids speaking German sounds so cute, so I can imagine hearing uppsala from Willa is so sweet. From the outside it looks like she’s doing so well. And that the school let you stay for a while, and calls you if it’s too much for her.. wow. They obviously really care. I still think she needs a cuddle from her Auntie Lauren though… I make deliveries…

[@arnodobler1096]

i need it too 😍🤣

[@LaureninGermany]

@@arnodobler1096 lol! I just saw this!!!

[@arnodobler1096]

@@LaureninGermany 🙋‍♂🤣Haha schönen Abend

[@synthesia3747]

I´m from East Saxony and when I was a child (I´m now 25) I was in Kinderkrippe at first (for children age 0-3) and after that in Kindergarten (3-6). Kita is just a different name :)

[@martinhatzl2987]

Thank you so much for the nice chat we had this afternoon in Brussels. It was a great pleasure for us to meet you and your parents. We wish you some nice days in Belgium and hope you will enjoy it as we do. Regards, Dani and Martin from Madrid 😊

[@gwynethglas-brown9171]

Can fully imagine that transition for Willa was pretty hard, lovely to hear she now enjoying this new Group. She pick German up fairly quickly. Children normally do than adults. Aww choosing how she wants her hair just so cute 🥰 Have a Great week 🥰

[@Greebo80]

Getting settled to Kita is a process for sure. I remember how bad I felt when my kids were crying cause they didn't want to stay. Thankfully, those days were rare and my kids enjoyed their time in Kita. What I found interesting in your video is how different the American words make Kindergarten seem. Class and teacher as opposed to Gruppe and Erzieherin in German. For me the German Kita words seem less school-like as opposed to the English ones. I'm very glad that Kindergarten in Germany is primarily focused on play and creativity and learning to connect to other people. Also, in my neck of the woods it's Kinderkrippe (Krippe) for ages 0-3 then Kindergarten until they're old enough for school. Kita is rarely used and then only as a generic term for both. Anyways, thanks for the update. I was wondering how Willa was doing in Kita.

[@mrchronos3374]

I was so glad how easily the transition of both of my kids has been. We brought them to the kita and they loved it from day 1. There were really rarely days, they didn't want to go to the kita and cried, when we brought them. But a lot of the days, they didn't want to leave when we wanted to pick them up.

[@DavidandSarah]

Willa is so cute! Good to hear she is adjusting to Kita!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@verenaburkhardt7256]

I love watching you and Willa. She is getting so big.

[@teongreen5254]

3:08 I love how she just switched to german saying meine :)

[@claudiaberger9639]

7:17 Uppsala [ˈɵpːˌsɑːla], obsolete Upsala, is a city in the Swedish province of Uppsala län and the historical province of Uppland. 🧐😁

[@RobTheWatcher]

When little Willa lifts up her skirt to walk up the stairs. 😍 Sooooo cute!

[@kerstinklenovsky239]

The earlier in the morning you drop your kid at Kita or Kindergarten the happier he or she will be, because the early kids get to pick their favourite games and the kids that arrive later have to ask them if they may join in the game.

[@bethlef5168]

Love the videos!!!

[@beverlywalker4111]

Love Willa stories!

[@zaldarion]

upsala is a cuter or a little version of ups, which also is used. just like: instead of I really messed up (ups), I just stumbled (upsala, can be also used trying to cover up a big ups :D )

[@annaf3915]

In Austria the group for 3 years and under is called "Kleinkindergruppe" and 3-6 is Kindergarten but once the kids progress to Kindergarten they'll call the younger ones "Babygruppe". I really appreciated that my son was able to switch groups on a day to day basis according to his needs. For example when he didn't want to nap anymore at 2 and a half years old they'd send him to Kindergarten after he took his lunch so he could play with the older children. But whenever they had theater or movies they'd send him to stay with the little ones because these things tend to upset him. Even at 6 years old while watching Finding Nemo he'd yell out that he wanted to go to Babygruppe because this was too sad - he got a bar of chocolate and helped to set up the games for the little ones and had a great time there. My little one was supposed to go to "Familiengruppe" which is 1-6 because his birthday is in late autumn and they didn't want him to stay with the toddlers until he's almost 4. But I told them that even if he's tall, he's a bit delayed in his development so "Kleinkindergruppe" is perfect for him and I was happy they listened.

[@jjivy6310]

First kids are the toughest to send to school. My boys loved going to school. My oldest cried and wanted to go to summer school (it's for those who need extra help) and he was a gifted child and wanted to learn more 😂. Younger son was totally social kid, no issues. Only had a couple times he wanted to stay with me.

[@bernwardstarke216]

Don’t worry Not the kids are the problem, the parents are. I do know, we lived with our kids for more than 9 years in UK, coming from Germany. The oldest was 4 when she first went to preschool in England. It was hard for her; she did not know English well but picked up at lightning speed. Kids at really young age, are fast learners, faster than any older kids or adults can dream of. With some support and love they will adapt an feel at home before you know where the next ALDI is.

[@Burnoutweltmeister]

Ich freue mich darauf Willa deutsch sprechen zu hören 🥰

[@MiniTitanic1]

my son become a adhd child and is 8yo. as a single father it is not simple but there is so much help here

[@jj_fantabulous4405]

Just found your channel and really like your videos! I also follow MyMerryMessyLife and TheBlackForestFamily so your channel fits right into my interests :D I find it so weird how you always ay school and teacher but I think that's just how it is in the US. I'm glad Willa ajusted to Kita well and is having fun now and making friends!

Danke!

[@howierfs5471]

I am pretty sure she will make it even with some hickups. Well, much more harder for her with the language barrier, but for kids such is never a reason not to understand each other or to play together. She is great

[@StrongKickMan]

You guys are underrated. I hope you guys get bigger.

[@OurStorytoTell]

That means a lot to us! THANK YOU 💛

[@wWvwvV]

Uppsala is also a town in Sweden. I think in german "uppsala" is used as a "Verballhornung" (malapropism, cacography (I had to look that up)) of "ups". "ups, uppsala". Uppsala sounds more melodic.

[@schoppi9300]

Hahaha...meine, meine, meine...she is so cute.😀

[@aabritingermanyc1248]

Kita is not school yet... don't mix it up. In Germany school starts with elementary School with the first class. Children will be 6 or 7 years of age entering. School will be mandatory kita isn't. In Germany a teacher works at school, in Kita the workers are nanny's in german: Erzieher

[@frolleinpunkt]

No, they are not nannys at all (nannys are often unlearned, or just a few weeks to months of training, they are not teaching). Erzieher translates to preschool-teacher/kindergarden-teacher. Actually Erzieher are trained to work with/teach people from birth up to age 21, go through 3-5 years of school or 3 years of university. Since Kitas are meant to be the first place to learn for the kids primarily (not just taking care of the children but teaching them important hard and soft skills) the term teacher is the most correct translation there is. And in a lot of other languages they are called teachers as well.

[@Al69BfR]

While parents are using Kita and Kindergarten more interchangeable local authorities and teachers are probably more distinctive. I also remember this distinction between Kita and Kindergarden at age three. But perhaps it depends on where you live.

[@51pinn]

I was born in 1955 in what was then West Germany and I frankly don't remember if I was ever in a kindergarten. When I read the disputes in the comments today about what the big differences are between a crèche, a kindergarten and a day-care center, I have to smile. It's so typically German to regulate everything and to want to add designations that seem particularly important. A caretaker used to be called a caretaker and when the toilet was clogged, he had to put his arm in there and unclog it. Today the caretaker is called the "facility manager" and if the toilet is clogged, he still has to put his arm into the toilet. What I want to say is that it is not so important what something is called, but it is very important that the children feel comfortable there and learn something for their life. And the whole thing without fear, without pressure but for the joy of learning. From my point of view, it doesn't matter whether they do it in a crèche, a daycare center or a kindergarten.

[@Simon-unterwegs]

The big differnece is that in Krippe you have more caretakers for less children. The ratio is 3-4 children for one caretaker. The groups are smaller, too. In krippe you have around 12 kids in a group. In Kindergarten you have 25 kids with the same amount of caretakers. In terms of child developement this makes a huge difference and it is good that there are differences between Krippe ad Kindergarten.

[@janeaddams9077]

The distinction between Krippe and Kindergarden is a safty thing. Children over the age of 3 thend to not explore the world through their mouths. So the toys can be smaller without them being a choking hazard.

[@robertzander9723]

In former East Germany it was just the kindergarden and there was no difference. Today everything needs to be more complicated and of course needs a modern name like Kita (Kindertagesstätte) with different kinds of options and models. I still call it kindergarden and the first days at the kindergarden can be tough, but after a while it's going to change especially with all her friends around. And Willa is so sweet and so open minded with parents like you, she will easily find a lot of friends. And the kid's are a wonderful opportunity to get introduced to other parents and maybe finding also new friends for you. 🙂

[@anna-ranja4573]

You are wrong. In east germany in former times there still was a daycare for U3 which changed also the thoughts of daycare after the german reunion. (Kinderkrippe later named Kindertagesstätte to make the difference to the Kindergarten up from U3 to U6

[@robertzander9723]

@@anna-ranja4573 that's just different names for almost the same thing and it's not necessary to explain them the extra Kinderkrippe for very young kids. I went to a Kinderkrippe in East Germany and it wasn't a go experience at all.

[@whatsthestorymorningglory61]

Hi! Kita is short for Kindertagesstätte, which just means daycare for kids and is just a general term. In Germany children under three go to „Krippe“, after that it’s „Kindergarten“, usually up to six or seven. Krippe usually has a smaller group size and everything is designed for smaller kids. In Kindergarten everything is bigger, there’s a more structure and entertainment.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Such helpful info! Thanks for the clarification!

[@whatsthestorymorningglory61]

@@OurStorytoTell thank you! My pleasure!

[@irenestrmnss4496]

​@@OurStorytoTell fun fact : Uppsala is a town in Sweden north of Stockholm 😅

[@SuperLittleTyke]

How does the German Kita compare to preschool in America? Do American toddlers attend some form of preschool at age 2 and, if so, is it free? Do you have to pay a fee for the German Kita and now Kindergarten? It always strikes me watching your videos with food that Willa may think that all children everywhere get to try so many varied foods and flavours. She is so lucky to have a couple of foodies for parents! Is there anything she refuses to eat? I cannot abide avocado, for example.

[@bluebear6570]

Kita is short for Kindertagesstätte or, in English, Children´s Day Care. Kindergarten is the older term for Kita, but that´s all. There is no difference.

[@katrinandrews79]

0 to 3 years Kindergrippe 3 to 6/ 7 years Kindergarten Kita means Kindertagesstätte, which is the official term for both groups

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks!

[@my_bitof_nature4029]

Uppsala basically means oops. And actually you say the same in German: ups (oops). The reason why some people say "Uppsala" is, because there is a city in Sweden, that goes by this name.

[@arnodobler1096]

omg she is so cute

[@86monjasophie86]

Kindergarten is from the age 3 to 6 and before our kids went to kitas!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ohh got it! Thanks! 😊

[@saschax8559]

In the kindergarten, children aged three to seven are often only cared for in the mornings. Some kindergartens also offer lunch. In contrast to the kindergarten, the day-care center offers all-day care. Your children will be looked after from morning until late afternoon.

[@allys8801]

That's old information. Nowadays it is common to call the Elementarbereich (children who are 3 and older) Kindergarten.

[@Kessina1989]

So you go working again all day like German mums?

[@anama3313]

@Rissa...You look a bit sad. Hope everything is ok :)

[@michaelscott1522]

Never heard a difference between Kita and Kindergarten in my life - my Daughter went to KITA from 1yo to 6yo - names never switched …

[@pinkhope84]

Differend bundesländer have differend concepts. My child goes from age 1 to 6 to kita no change there. But my sisters child had this Transition. 1-3 is kita 3-6 is Kindergarten. 😅

[@Nikioko]

Kita = short for Kindertagesstätte. Originally, Kita was East Germany and Kindergarten was West Germany.

[@Danny30011980]

Uppsala could also mean "Whopsie daisy" and "Aua" - "ouch/ie"

[@Nikioko]

Uppsala is a city in Sweden.

[@VerruckteKatzeFamSchu]

Kita means Kindertagesstätte day care,in ex GDR areas they say Kita (Krippe for children under 3).Thanks for your videos!I l love the food videos from London.

[@luidorluidor2830]

Kita ha s a diffretn betrueungsschlüssel. That's why it's actually not okay to stuff the young ones in kindergarten early. It's probably not only because the high demand on kita, but also because of to less Erzieher. Kita has a staff key 1 staff 2 children than walk and one that crowls Kindergarten has i think 1 staff up to 10 children

[@roesi1985]

Willa is talking so much! And she's looking a lot like Tanner in this video.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes she is! She most definitely has a lot of his features 😊

[@000jimbojones000]

isnt it also that KITA (Kintertagesstätte=Children Day care) is longer. including Lunch. And the Old "Kindergarten" is more until noon without lunch?. So the daycare is for the whole day and normal Kindergarten just half day? Ah and of course the age thing..

[@jjinwien9054]

i think the transition problem arises when the mother is home with the child for a long time. The child gets used to having Mom home with her all the time. My children were in the Kita as of 3 months owing to my workplace not allowing for mothers staying with the child for longer.

[@karinland8533]

Kids are just different

[@fckthelaw96]

My son was going to Kindergarten very late.. with 3 years old.. and He had no problems.. from day one he loved to go there.. it depents on the kid, has nothing to do how long the kid got to make a bond with the mother.

[@raik4987]

Hi, different Germany... "Key Ta" )) = KiTa = Kinder Tagesstätte = "Only" a building/house with a staggered range of care and at least 3 different concepts.= Kinder Krippe vs Kindergarten vs Kinder Hort. Kindergarten = a place and at the same time a concept. Pedagogically highly qualified people accompany the children and support them individually until the first day of school.

[@DJone4one]

ups i did it again🤣

[@JonasReichert1992]

Sounds like she learns German faster than you guys 😂

[@MettPitt]

It's scary... How... I mean how...can a little family..be so likable... 😂😂

[@privatevendetta]

Uppsala is a swedish city.

[@beatrixpastoors1104]

Just one thing: it's often a bit weird to hear you use English expressions which in Germany are totally false: A Kindergarten or Kita (=Kindertagesstätte) has definitely NOTHING to do with a school! So the paedagogues who work there are NO teachers. They are called Erzieher/in in German. And the children are members of different Kindergartengruppen (groups), but not of classes. And they don't play in a classroom, but in a Gruppenraum.(group room) . 🤣 And they are never expected to learn reading, writing or calculating.This will all happen at the Grundschule ( primary school) in their first school year. At the end of their first school year the kids should have learned the whole alphabet and be able to read any kind of text. But not earlier. There are lot of other important skills which must be developed first. And that takes place in the Kindergarten/Kita.

[@nosignaloriginal]

Kita and kindergarten are the same. Kita (Kindertagesstätte) is just a new, more modern word for kindergarten.

[@thomaseck3210]

That's not entirely true. Oftentimes Kita denotes the daycare for under 3 year olds while Kindergarten is used for 3-6 year olds.

[@Freiya2011]

"Gaduation"????🤣😂🤣

[@udomann9271]

"Kita" is just an abbreviation for "Kindertagesstätte", and that is the offical German word for "Kindergarten", "Kita" is just a synonym for "Kindergarten", nothing else.

[@Simon-unterwegs]

Not telling you that Willa spends the day at Kindergarten would be a big No for us. Especially for kids of that age there has to be some communication for this. Also keep in mind that there are kids up to 6 years old in Kindergarten. The smaller kids can have problems adjusting to their pace, etc.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for that info! From what we know, her next class will be with other children the same age as her up to 4 years old. So she will turn three the end of this year so I think it’s just a couple months before she normally would move to this class. Would you still do it then knowing that?

[@Simon-unterwegs]

@@OurStorytoTell It depends on how she feels with bigger children. If they only put her with children up to four it shouldn't be a big deal. Our daughter turned 3 last December and she spend the last year in Krippe because we think being one of the oldest kids in group is helping her self esteem, etc. Some parents put their kids already in Kindergarten then and for some it was totally fine for others the change was a bit too early. But as everything child related: It depends on how the individual kid feels 😉