Weststadt • Ecology as a core idea: Anyone who thinks rice can only be cooked and corks can only be removed from bottles is mistaken. In the sustainable “Kirschblüte” daycare of the Kita gGmbH, many things are turned into craft materials, and children become ecology experts. The building is equipped with a photovoltaic system, ground-source heat pump, and solar panels. With their own solar power meter, the 38 toddlers and 62 kindergarten children can read how much energy is produced and consumed in the building. And that’s not all. We live the ecological idea throughout our daycare daily life.

Our children learn how humans, animals, and plants depend on the environment and how we can positively influence all of this. There are many places in the “Kirschblüte” daycare to exchange ideas about sustainability: the studio, the woodworking shop, the learning or research workshop, and a multi-purpose sports room invite everyone to discover, try things out, and chat together. Independence and need-based daily organization are supported by our open pedagogy, which promotes many skills in children. Creativity, self-efficacy, self-confidence, curiosity, and the formation of play groups are developed. The daily circle of conversation creates a sense of community, provides an opportunity for collective music-making, and promotes language skills. The children’s council and daily participation show that we practice participation in our daycare. The KiföG – MV (Child Daycare Act – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), as well as the educational concept, provide the framework for all our pedagogical actions.

The outdoor area of the “Kirschblüte” daycare, with the adjacent Frisian sports field, allows us to use nature as an additional green space for children. Movement and nature experiences are also gathered during observation walks and nature excursions. Healthy development and body awareness are supported through foot exercises, hydrotherapy, yoga, massages, shopping and preparing meals from fresh ingredients in the children’s kitchen, flexible mealtimes in the children’s restaurant, attention to the individual rest needs of the children, dental care, and preventive check-ups.