Kindergarten

First day of Kindergarten.

Rick and I really would like our children to learn German. So, we signed them up with a local German kindergarten where even the teachers hardly speak English.

In Germany, Kindergarten (child's garden) would be similar to what "preschool"is in the states. In Kindergarten (ages 3-6) the kids play. They don't learn reading until first grade when they also begin learning English. They do create some crafts, however, the focus is mainly on free time. The children spend their time exploring the massive playground that has fields with mounds and trees to climb, not to mention several different wooden play structures and a old fashion water pump.

My favorite part about this kindergarten (in addition to its phenomenal playground) is its close proximity. The kids and I ride our bikes to and from occasionally stopping at the bakery. And I really appreciate that its only 3 1/2 hours.

In front of Weststadt Kindergarten.

(acknowledgements: I'd like to thank Chrissie for so diligently coloring and decorating the crowns with what little resources we had)

In honer of this day, and in my efforts to make it as positive of an experience as possible, I threw the kids a last minute "back to school feast," the idea of course coming from Nie Nie Dialogues.

I gave the kids these cones that are filled with presents. These cones are typically given as gifts from the teacher to the students on their first day of school.