What actually happens behind the doors of Kita Apfelbaum? What does it mean in practice when we talk about participation, needs-orientation and respectful community? We have put the answers in our educational concept — and we want to give you a few glimpses.
Children genuinely have a say
Participation is not a buzzword for us. Children here help decide what goes on the table, how the morning is spent — and even who changes their nappy. We believe that real self-determination begins from day one.
No praise, no punishment — and why that is a good thing
We deliberately avoid both praise and punishment. Bold? Yes. Our approach relies on intrinsic motivation: children learn more sustainably and more deeply when the drive comes from within — not because someone claps or shakes their head. The concept explains in detail what this looks like in everyday life.
Montessori meets Reggio-Emilia
"Help me to do it myself" — Maria Montessori's guiding principle shapes our daily routine. It is complemented by the Reggio-Emilia approach, which grants every child a hundred forms of expression: language, movement, art, music, building, wondering. Our job is to listen to these languages and create space for them.
An individual portfolio for every child
Every child at our Kita receives a personal portfolio — a book that captures their everyday life in photos and texts. It grows week by week, grows with the child, and becomes a lasting memory of this special time.
Parents as partners, not visitors
Brief daily chats at drop-off and pick-up, development conversations every six months, open communication at any time — we see parents as the experts on their own children. Our role is to combine that knowledge with our pedagogical perspective.
This is just a small glimpse of what makes our concept special. If you would like to understand what a real day at our Kita looks like, what we mean by respectful community and how we live inclusion — we warmly recommend reading the full document.