Friedrichsthal • Located in the heart of Friedrichsthal, our daycare center “Reggio Emilia” was built in 2004 and expanded in 2018 by the Kita gGmbH. Here, children have the opportunity to experiment, explore, and express their discoveries, experiences, and feelings in "a hundred languages." The educational staff explore the world together with the children, providing no ready-made solutions. Often, a single thought leads to an entire project.

These projects are born from the children's interests. The project work is documented through so-called "speaking walls," which are an integral part of the Reggio pedagogy. The focus is not on the result, but on the process of reaching the goal. Large sheets of paper, photos, and notes with suggestions and wishes from the children are displayed on the walls. We take these seriously, and it's exciting to accompany this developmental process together with the parents. Our modern daycare, with space for 30 toddlers and 90 kindergarten children, is fully based on the Reggio pedagogy concept. This approach seeks to understand each child and view them as an equal partner. Parents and grandparents are always involved.

From the ideas of the children, educators, and relatives, many creative and exciting things often emerge. For example, one summer, our children followed the life of a caterpillar until it became a butterfly, which they released together with the educational staff. Other experiences arise from the close network with the local voluntary fire brigade in Warnitz and other businesses or institutions near the daycare center. This is where research, enthusiastic discovery, and learning with local experts take place. Every year, the children elect their own child council and learn democratic behavior. In their daily interactions with each other and the educational staff, they experience that their feelings and opinions are important – and how they can express them. We convey to our children the message: “I believe in you!”