Our dear Tamara from Switzerland has provided us with the following article. Enjoy reading:
My youngest of three children put me to the test this year . After a long “daycare crisis” that we couldn’t overcome, she was about to start kindergarten in August (she was almost 4.5 years old).
I was almost convinced to keep her at home for another year, but then we finally managed to get started …
How daycare and kindergarten work in Switzerland
For your information: in Switzerland, kindergarten is compulsory from the age of 4.
If a child is clearly not ready, they can be held back a year with a doctor’s note. Kindergarten lasts two years before starting school.
The children attend a group of up to 20 children, supervised by a kindergarten teacher. There are always two grades in each group.
The only exceptions are private kindergartens , which are hardly found in rural areas.
From the age of 3, there are indoor and forest play groups, each supervised by 1-2 leaders.
Before that, children from the age of 4 months can be looked after in a daycare center or by a childminder , nanny, etc.
In the daycare center, a different care ratio applies depending on the age of the children, so there are always several carers responsible for one group.
Parents can choose how they want their children to be cared for. The minimum is usually two half days, spread over a week.
Some children are in daycare full-time from birth, others half-day, and some are looked after at home or (co-)cared for by grandparents until they reach playgroup or kindergarten age.
These very different scenarios also require completely individual adjustments.
While there are corresponding protocols for this at the lower end (daycare), there is no provision for familiarization in playgroups and especially in kindergarten.
Tips for settling in
I simply always advise you to pay attention to the child and their needs when settling in and to make sure you take as much time as necessary.
Most daycare centers are accommodating in this regard, as our children are all different and some simply need more time…
Since many babies in Switzerland are also getting used to a new environment, it is worth breastfeeding before/after daycare or during the lunch break, so that the child can always recharge with closeness and security in between.
Many daycare centers also have baby carriers – so babies who need a lot of closeness can cuddle and fall asleep peacefully while the teachers have their hands free for other things.
Whenever possible, you shouldn’t plan anything else during the settling-in period. No unnecessary appointments, visits, etc.
Because getting used to a new environment is a big change and can be very stressful for the child, so afterwards they need a lot of peace and security at home or outside in nature with mom and/or dad.
This also gives parents the opportunity to see how their child is feeling after returning from daycare.
Babies and small children usually need a little sleep first , unless they have already slept in daycare or with their childminder.
That is of course completely legitimate.
Ready for kindergarten or not? Watch your child closely
Is my child well-balanced? Does he or she happily play with his or her things?
Does your child simply enjoy cuddling and reading books with mom or dad? Or is your child inconsolable, restless, hyperactive, or more aggressive than usual?
And how does the child react when it’s time to go to daycare, etc.? Is he or she happy?
Is it indifferent or is it defending itself at home with all means at its disposal?
First of all: separation anxiety is normal and acceptable. It’s a sign of a strong bond with your parents .
But that doesn’t mean that a child who happily runs to daycare has a poor bond. It’s simply a case of different personalities…
What is most important is that the child can be comforted easily by a childminder (childminder or kindergarten teacher) after about 10 minutes and then integrates well into the activities…
This was always very important to me and I often had it confirmed over the phone.
I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if my child had to cry any longer; I would have picked him up.
But in the vast majority of cases, my children were already playing wonderfully when I called or was called…
I think we have to give our children credit for this adjustment, especially those who normally prefer to be at home in peace.
For daycare days, I always ran a quiet program in the afternoon so that my child could recover.
If settling in doesn’t work at all, it’s time to think about it. Unfortunately, many parents rely on having their child cared for by someone else because of their jobs.
Often no relatives are available or they are not the first choice for certain reasons.
It depends on the maturity of the child, which we should also trust
When children enter kindergarten, they are 4 years old and older and should meet certain requirements.
This includes, for example, no longer wearing diapers, but also cognitive and social skills , etc.
Based on these points, parents can assess for themselves whether their child has the necessary maturity for this.
If in doubt, it is worth talking to the kindergarten teacher/school management and/or the pediatrician, who will issue the necessary certificate in the event of a deferral.
I was very grateful that I had the opportunity to just “try” it with my daughter, who I was really unsure about.
And finding out that she was more ready than I thought and that I could trust that kindergarten would also help her personally make progress in her social development.
If I hadn’t tried, and I realized that during the holidays, she probably wouldn’t have been challenged enough at home and I wouldn’t have been able to offer her enough on my own either.
Apart from that, our kindergarten only runs until midday in the first year, so it’s only three hours a day, which is manageable and leaves enough time and space for relaxation in the afternoon.
It’s not always easy, for either of us, especially after a long break like the three-week fall break we just had. It felt like a second start. But I think we’ll manage well…
In our case, it just needed a little push to get the wings to grow. It had plenty of roots, I just wasn’t aware of that…
