What was that again about the members' anual meeting? Where can I find important phone numbers? What do I give my child to eat?
Admission
See under registration
Assumption of costs
...must be applied for at the Social and Youth Welfare Office of the city in which the residence is registered. Students with a low income are usually reimbursed for the costs.
Backpack
Please provide your child, no matter how old, with their own backpack for their personal items, such as breakfast, pacifier or water bottle. Backpacks that hold the straps together in front of the chest so that they do not slip over your child's shoulders are ideal.
Birth
Due to the waiting list, we recommend that you register your child with us immediately after birth (see Admission, Waiting List).
Birthdays
We love to celebrate birthdays together with the children. It is a special experience for your child to be able to celebrate this day in their group. If you have a special idea, it is best to discuss this with the educators in advance (see sweets).
Breakfast
During core time, the children have breakfast and snack in the group in the morning and in the afternoon. In the kindergarten groups, snacks are provided (except on field trip days). In the nest groups we ask you to give your children food in snack boxes.
We attach great importance to healthy nutrition. Therefore, we ask you not to give your children sweets (see sweets).
Board of Directors
Calendar
See "Important Downloads" in the blue box at the top right.
Calls
If you have any questions about the well-being of the children during care, please feel free to call us. Please keep in mind, however, that this can also lead to interruptions with the children. Therefore, please use this possibility only in special (emergency) cases.
Cancellation
The childcare contract can be terminated in writing up to and including the 15th of each month to the end of the following month (except for July 31st due to the summer break).
During this period, the full cost of care must be paid. Both the childcare contract for your child and the association's membership must be cancelled separately in writing to the end of the month.
Exception: At the beginning of the childcare contract, both parties, i.e. the association and you, can terminate the relationship in writing within the first four weeks. In this case, only the costs for the started month of care will be charged.
Caregivers
The association employs approximately 40 professionals and 10 interns, as well as two substitutes for sick leave and vacation. In addition, there are three emergency caregivers on duty on a rotating basis and four housekeeping staff. Since 2009, Knirps & Co. has also been a training facility for educators and occasionally employs school and recognition interns.
Childcare
Knirps offers different models of care. We distinguish between a full-day group and a morning group (with meals). It is important for us that the children are not looked after for more than eight hours a day and that they attend the facility at least three days a week. For pedagogical reasons, the children must take three weeks of vacation per year from the facility, two weeks of which must be taken at a stretch.
Childcare costs
You can find the childcare costs in the list.
The childcare costs are based on the number of childcare units for your child.
The costs are generally collected by direct debit on the 10th of the following month. The care costs are to be paid monthly (12x per year) regardless of absences or closing times.
Upon request, you will receive a tax certificate for the fees paid. Please contact Ms. Yunuen Mann (yunuen.mann@uni-konstanz.de) for this purpose.
Chronic illnesses
or allergies of your child should be communicated to the educators. Only then can the special needs of your child be taken into consideration and optimal care be guaranteed.
Cleanliness education
The basis of successful cleanliness education is the individual maturity of the child. For us, the voluntariness and independence of the child to use the toilet in everyday group life comes first. Forced or too early cleanliness education does not lead to sustainable dryness. The use of potties is not possible for hygienic reasons, nor is the use of cloth diapers.
Closing times
See "Important Downloads" in the blue box at the top right.
Clothes
We ask that you dress your child in appropriate clothing, i.e. clothing that is suitable for both the weather and the activity. Please also leave a change of clothes in your child's locker.
It is advisable to keep rubber boots and mud pants in the checkroom. Each child has their own locker for this purpose. We are not responsible for dirty or damaged clothing.
Bibs, bedding, etc. are washed by us on site.
Core Time
Core time represents the time period during which the children should be in their groups. This is an important time for both the children and the educators to be able to organize the day together in a meaningful and intensive way. This helps the children to find a rhythm in their daily routine and makes it easier for them to make friends, for example. Therefore, please bring your children to the group by 9:30 a.m. at the latest. Earliest pick-up times should be as follows, depending on the type of care:
Full-day group: 4 p.m.
Morning group with meals: 1 p.m.
We will of course take your wishes into consideration. Please contact us specifically in such a case.
Data protection regulation
Together with the contract you will receive a copy of our data protection regulation.
Dates
See "Important downloads" in the blue box on the top right.
Dental hygiene
The responsibility for dental hygiene lies with the parents.
Development meetings
take place once a year and provide an opportunity for an intensive exchange of ideas about the development and further support of your child. Of course, you have the opportunity to contact us at any time to arrange a meeting. A short exchange about the daily routine and the condition of your child is otherwise offered by "door-to-door talks" when bringing or picking up the children.
Diapers
Diapers are provided by Knirps & Co.
Drinking
Tap water is always available for the children to drink. We get the children used to drinking from glasses as early as possible and make sure that they drink enough during the day.
Emergency child care
More information about emergency child care...
English information
At the moment we offer the acclimatization brochure in English: Leaflet "Getting acclimatized at the Kinderhaus Knirps & Co.". For additional material or translations, please contact the Kinderhaus management.
Entrance doors
Please make sure not to let strangers into the Kinderhaus and that only your own children go outside with you and no other children.
Flexible places
More information about flexible places...
Flexible times
More information about flexible times...
Food
Our own cooking team prepares the meals themselves in the in-house kitchen. The meal consists of a main course and fresh salad, and there is regularly fruit for dessert. We offer a varied snack both in the morning and in the afternoon.
Lunch takes place for all children in full-day and extended morning groups between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.. Please inform the teachers if you have any allergies or religious or ideologically motivated peculiarities (see Jar Money, Meal Costs).
Garden
We have a large, fenced-in outdoor area directly at the Kinderhaus with a sandbox and other playground equipment. Spending time in the fresh air is very important to us, so the outdoor area is used accordingly often. In addition, the Hockgraben is also very suitable for smaller adventure tours. Please make sure that the children are dressed appropriately for the weather (e.g. mud pants), which can be deposited on the hooks in front of the group room.
Info boards/doors
At the info doors and boards you will find all the important information that has already been communicated to you in the parents' letter (see parents' letters/mail). In addition, the teachers will give you information about what is going on in the group, what materials are needed, or what diseases are circulating. A regular look at the info doors and boards is therefore advisable. Each group has its own information board (see entrance doors).
Inclusion
Our house is also open to children with special needs and their families. We strive to find individual solutions to meet the needs of each child and group. Our professionals are trained accordingly according to their needs.
Insurance
For the time of care and on the way to Knirps & Co. or home, your child is insured with the UKBW.
Illnesses
In case your child is ill, please inform the children's group. Especially in the case of contagious, serious illnesses, such as childhood diseases, care can only be resumed upon presentation of a doctor's certificate. Contagious illnesses such as gastrointestinal infections or purulent colds should also be cured at home, as otherwise children and teachers will repeatedly infect each other and be absent. The child may return to the childcare facility two days after recovery at the earliest. To ensure that you can still attend important appointments, we offer emergency care at home (see Emergency Care).
Jar Money
If your child is younger than one year old and does not yet participate in the regular lunch program, you may give your child jars or home-cooked porridge. Upon submission of receipts, you will be reimbursed for your expenses (max. €23.00 per month) (see Food).
Meal costs
The monthly fees include the lunch fee and are independent of holidays and closing days.
Membership fees
Membership dues are collected in July/August from your account for the previous kindergarten year by direct debit. If you join or leave the association during the kindergarten semester, only half the membership fee will be collected.
Members' Meeting
...takes place once a year. The 1st chairperson reports on the work of the association, current developments and the financial situation. In addition, fundamental decisions are discussed and voted on, and the association's board of directors is discharged and newly elected. At the general meeting you have the possibility to bring in your interests and suggestions. Please use this opportunity.
Midday nap/rest break
It is important to us that our full-day children sleep in a comfortable sleeping area. Rest time is between noon and 2 p.m.. We ask that you do not pick up your children before this time so as not to disturb your own and the other children's sleep (see Sleeping).
Minutes
You can view the minutes of the general meeting (see general meeting) in the office of the management.
Parents' evenings
and general meetings are held at regular intervals. You will find the dates in the parents' mail (see parents' letters/mail) or on the entrance doors. At the parents' evenings, we discuss the children's daily routine, pedagogical content and are open to any inquiries regarding the children's development, the association or other matters. We would be pleased if you would take advantage of this offer.
Parental involvement
Even if your time is limited, we are very happy if you as parents participate in small but necessary association activities. These can be toy clean-ups or support work for festive activities. Please remember that it also gives you the opportunity to get to know the facility and other parents better. Usually, you can sign up for specific parent services on posted lists. If you have any further questions, please contact the parent representatives of the Parent Council.
Parents' letters / Parents' mail
About 3 - 4 times a year you will receive parent mail from Knirps & Co. by email. Here you will receive important information about e.g. preregistrations, upcoming closing times, project days, events, etc. that affect the entire Kinderhaus. Information that only concerns your child or your child's group is posted on the respective group doors or placed in your child's box.
Parent meetings
are offered after your child has settled in. It offers you the opportunity to ask questions about your child's development or to make arrangements for further care. A parent interview is automatically offered to you after the settling-in phase (see settling-in). Otherwise, drop-off and pick-up times also offer opportunities for mutual exchange.
Parents' Council
More information about the work of the parents' council...
Parking
The Kinderhaus Knirps & Co is located in a nature reserve. For this reason, the Kinderhaus can only be reached by bicycle or on foot. Cars must be parked in the university parking lots - even for short periods to pick up or drop off the children.
Phone list
See "Important Downloads" in the blue box at the top right.
Pictures
Pictures will only be taken of your child if you agree. Together with the contract you will receive a form for consenting to photography/filming. Here you can indicate whether your child may be photographed/filmed and if so, for what purposes the footage may be used.
Plan B
More information about Plan B...
Problems
Please speak openly about any problems. You can contact the management, the teachers or the parents' representatives. We would like to take time for you especially in such a case.
Probationary period
There is a trial period of eight weeks, which begins with the first day of care. During this time, the caregivers, together with representatives of the association and the respective parents, decide whether the child can be integrated into the group. During the trial period, the above-mentioned notice period does not apply. If the care does not start on the first of a month or ends in the middle of the month, these months must still be paid in full.
Saturday care
More information about Saturday care...
Settling in
In accordance with the Berlin Model, the settling-in period is a process that can take several weeks. Parents should accompany the child in the facility until the caregiver has succeeded in developing a sustainable relationship with the child. This is the most important task of the caregiver, because this relationship becomes the basis for everything else. Children need at least three days to establish a relationship of trust with a stranger. For this reason, parents are present in the group with the child for two hours during the first three days. On the fourth day, a first separation attempt is made, but no longer than thirty minutes. Depending on the outcome of this separation attempt, a new plan is made with the child's caregiver each day to continue the settling-in process. Depending on this, the separation and the daily routine will be extended. The settling-in period can be very different for each individual, but it is good if the child has enough time to "arrive" in the group. It takes at least two weeks, but tends to be more. You can find out more about this in the initial and acclimatization meeting and in our acclimatization brochure.
Sleeping
In order to ensure the greatest possible safety when the children are sleeping, we use sleeping bags instead of quilts. If you still insist on using blankets, we ask you to discuss this with the teachers (see nap time).
Shoes
Slippers are worn in both summer and winter. Please label your children's shoes to avoid confusion. This also applies to jackets, rubber boots, etc.
Sponsors
...are always welcome. We are grateful for any form of support, whether in kind or in money. Please inform friends, acquaintances, relatives and employers that it is possible to support our association, e.g. as a sponsoring member.
Suggestions
...are always welcome and desired.
Sweets
...are not allowed in the interest of the teeth and a conscious and healthy nutrition with us. Exceptions are made, for example, for birthdays or at the Christmas party. In such a case, please consult with the teachers.
Vacation and sickness replacement
In order to be able to guarantee continuous care, we employ a vacation and sickness substitute.
Visit
Every first Tuesday of the month from 4 p.m. it is possible to visit the Kinderhaus by appointment with the management.