7 Things You Should Know About Grade 1 in Germany 📚 [BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR CHILD]

🎒 Embarking on the Grade 1 journey in Germany? Here are 7 essential things you need to know before sending your little one off to the German "Grundschule"

We're chatting about school reputations, Schulpflicht (compulsory education), and the ins and outs of registering your child for Grade 1. BUT also unpacking the fun side of the German school experience – from the iconic Schulranzen to the magical Schultüte and the celebrations that make the first day unforgettable.

🎒 Buying your kiddos first Schulranzen?
You have 15% off at GMT for Kids with the code "LIFEINGERMANY"
[Does not work in combination with other current sale codes]

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#expats #germany #lifeingermany #expatsingermany #expattips

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MY TIPS FOR LIVING IN GERMANY ✅

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[lifeingermany_]

Buying your kiddos first Schulranzen? 🎒You have 15% off at GMT for Kids with the code "LIFEINGERMANY"

[wtsalive]

A Federmäppchen is organised. All pens, pencils, rubber and pencil sharpener has its own place. A „Schlampermäppchen“ is not organised. You throw all stuff in it. If you need something you have to search in it, like a in women’s handbag😁…and it’s cooler

[lordofnumbers]

At least in East Germany there is a "Hort". After school the children go to "Hort". There it will be ensured that they eat lunch, do their homework and then play until you pick up your child. The "Hort" is open until 17:30 Uhr, which is enough for most parents. I also lived in Rosenheim (Oberbayern) for 17 years. My sister has children and of course they started school at some point. But I don't remember whether there is an "Hort" in Bavaria where children can go after school.

[j.wagner]

There are options to keep the kids in school for longer e.g. a Hort or a Hausaufgabenbetreuung that is offered by the school, other than that, my elemaentary school (back in 2007) had offered additional Nachmittagsbetreuung for the kids. So there are ways to have your kids in Elementary school while still having working parents. Later, your kid could also become what we in Germany call a "Schlüsselkind" ("key child") where (when the child is old enough and knows how to gwt home by public transport) the child will have a key for the home so that it can get in when the school day is over but the parents are still at work.

[lordofnumbers]

In a Federmäppchen there are the loops into which the pens, the fountain pen, the eraser, the sharpener can be put, so very neatly, and a larger compartment in which things like a ruler or protractor can be stored. A Schlampermäppchen, on the other hand, is just a small bag into which you just throw pens and other things, so it's very messy, which can cost time if you need something very specific. I definitely prefer the Federmäppchen. Ordnung ist das halbe Leben, right?

[jgr_lilli_]

3:18 Another good address to turn to is the local "Bildungsbehörde" or "Schulamt" of your chosen city or district. They might be better able to oversee the ressources each school has for accommodating children with foreign language background, and might be able to refer you to the individual schools of interest.

[nadinebeck]

I remember when Schlampermäpchen were allowed in 5th grade, we collcted signatures on and inside them. We draw the names/logos of our favourite bands on them. Each Schlampermäppchen was really a unique piece or art 😅

[Annabella]

This is still a difference between East and West Germany today. In the East, most primary school children attend after-school care. This is often housed in a daycare center near the school, and sometimes (especially in villages) also in the school. The children are looked after there until 5:00 p.m. They can play and also do their homework. You also get lunch and snacks. And for parents who have to work before classes start (which is usually 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.), there is also childcare before school starts (open from 6:00 a.m.). Both are a great relief for parents, who can then coordinate work and family life. The children are also looked after in the after-school care center during the holidays when the school is closed. Then there are holiday plans with special activities and also some excursions.
(Translated by Google.)

[LiebeNachDland]

Nice one, this was fun. I’m originally from Michigan in the US and would love for my future kids to have a German raising and education, along with a great German wife, which I don’t yet have.

[ane-louisestampe]

- and the ranzels make perfect "cabin bags" for the kids, when we travel.

[HauptmannMumm]

auch in Düsseldorf gibt es Ganztagsschulen, manchmal in freier Trägerschaft
in die Schultüte kommt ganz unten eine Orange, oder eine Pomelo, oder eine (kleine) Melone

[flamedealership]

Cool backpack👍😎
I just love it when your tongue gives up on German idioms: "Tag der öffenen Tur" - you are such a hoot!😁💛💛

[Frohds]

The reputation of a school seems to me to be more of a problem in some large cities in certain federal states.
In Hesse, for example, there is no free choice of school in primary schools. The children go to the primary school in the district in which they live. The district can only be changed in justified exceptional cases (e.g. if the grandma takes over the afternoon care and lives somewhere else). Only at the secondary level can one choose the school, although preference should always be given to students who live in the area in which they live (of course not always possible in large cities). This is because the municipalities (the cities and rural communities each have to finance the school in their district).

[JonasReichert]

9:10 They only want that in Elementary School- if you try to use it after that you definitely get bullied 😂

[annnnnanas]

They don’t offer a Turnbeutel (sports clothing bag) in their package?

[deniseb.]

Back in the early 90s, elementary school was wild and I believe people from other countries wouldn't believe it. We would share the school yard and the building with older kids up to grade 10.
My school wasn't only a Grundschule but also a Haupt- and Realschule which meant there were kids from 6-16 or maybe even 17 yo. So there were considerably older kids kicking or hitting you or screaming sexual slur words at you and teaching inappropriate words and jokes to the children. There was also a totally leagal smoking corner where kids that were 16+ were allouwed to smoke on the school yard and this was fine for 16+ yo. Obviously there were sometimes younger children trying to smoke which was't legal but it happened. We also had no school lunch or canteens like nowadays. We had whatever our parents gave us (which was sometimes literally candy in my case because my mother wanted to be nice but tbh not the best choice for a chubby girl).
However: Nowadays an elementary school is only an elementary school and there aren't older kids anymore. Smoking age is 18+ now and it's illegal to smoke at the school yard anyways. And there is school lunch in canteens where kids get a real balanced meal.

[heindaddel]

And don’t you dare to by a ready made Schultüte from the shop if you want to be a cool mom! Cool moms do it themselves, the more creative the better 🎉

[stephenmcnamara]

They have way too many books from Grade 2 onwards - and once you get to 5th it is insane - my son is at easily 10kg - and for each course there are 2-3 hardcover books. At weiterführend thank goodness they have a few lockers to rent, so I have with the hope of having less books heading home.

[filipinabisdaknurseswissvlog]

Watching from Switzerland . Very interesting

[RalfSteffens]

What? - You celebrate first day in school? Why? That was life for me: Baby, boy, school and growing up.
If they need celebrations they can organize it to happen or not.