Key takeaways
- Transitioning from Kindergarten to a big change. Prepare your child and yourself for the same.
- All the first-day-of-school traditions focus on making the child comfortable and excited about school.
- You start by making Schultüte and buying a bag pack. Then you attend the welcome ceremony, go to lunch with the family, and conclude the celebration with a cake.
This is how you do it
- When buying a schultüte, bag pack, or dress for the first day, ensure your child likes it. It’s critical that your child is excited about going to school.
- You should arrive at least 15 minutes before the official start time on the first day.
- Invite your close friends or relatives to celebrate the first day together.
Table of Contents
Kids grow faster than we can ever imagine. It’s already their first day of school.
Starting school is a big change for your child. They were the big kids in kindergarten (kita) and will now be the youngest in the elementary school.
Children must be experiencing a lot of emotions during this time. They can be scared, excited, nervous, or a mix of all three.
So, to make kids feel comfortable and welcomed, German schools follow some traditions. Of course, parents are involved in this tradition with their children.
Prepare for the first day of school (Einschulung)
The first day of school is called “Einschulung” in German. You need to prepare many things before this day.
Preparing for the school gets kids excited about the first day. Here is what you must prepare for the school.
Schultüte: oldest German tradition
One of the oldest first-day-of-school traditions followed in Germany is bringing a big paper cone filled with sweets and treats to school. This big school cone is called Schultüte in German.
The ritual of children bringing schultüte is over 200 years old. The first written evidence was found in “Thüringer Wald” from 1801. [1]
Several books are published on the first day of school in Germany (Erster Schultag). They explain the school cone tradition in a fun way.
I recommend that every expat parent in Germany read this book with their children. This will help both you and your child better understand the tradition.
The book can be found on Amazon* or at any major bookstore. You can also borrow one from a library near you for free.
The first day of school is a big deal for kids. And the school cone tradition is a great way to get kids excited about the first day.
Where can you get a Schultüte in Germany?
Traditionally, parents make the Schultüte together with their kids. They color it, put sparkles on it, and much more together.
However, note that kids only help their parents make the cone. What goes inside the cone is a surprise for the child.
The child gets to open the Schultüte on their first day of school. And this makes the first day of school even more exciting for the kids.
Nowadays, you can also buy the Schultüte (only the cone) online on Amazon* or in supermarkets.
The next question is, what do you pack in a Schultüte?
What do you pack in a Schultüte?
Originally, parents used to fill the Schultüte with candies, dried fruits, cookies, etc. But nowadays, parents are getting creative.
The Schultüte contains not only sugary candies but also things kids will need for school, like stationery. You can expect to spend around 40 € to 100 € on the Schultüte and its contents.
Just to give you some examples of typical Schultüte contents
- Fancy Pencils
- Fancy Books
- Fancy Notebook
- Fancy Scale
As you can guess by now, the focus is on the stuff being fancy. So, buy a frozen princess pencil if your child is her fan.
Similarly, get a Paw Patrol notebook for your child if they don’t watch anything else but Paw Patrol. I think you get an idea.
I know it seems like a lot of work. But trust me, it’s all worth it.
Buying a school bag is another first-day-of-school tradition
It’s the first time your child will be carrying school supplies like notebooks, folders, pens, etc. to the school. And to carry all that stuff, they need a good ergonomic school bag.
Shopping for a school bag for your kid is another fun activity for the whole family. Again, many different types of school bags are available in Germany.
I prefer to buy a school bag in a physical store. However, if you can’t find something your child likes in the local store, you can always search online*.
Be prepared to spend over a hundred euros on the school bag.
Your child will also need a gym bag. So, buy one together with the school bag to save money.
Additionally, you’ll need the following items.
- Folder: In Germany, kids get and use a lot of A4 sheets to write. So, they need a folder to keep them in one place.
- Lunch box
- Pencil box to hold pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, etc.
- Color pencil box
What do children wear on their first day at school in Germany?
Your child can wear anything they like on their first day of school. Remember, you want to make them feel comfortable and excited about the school.
So, go shopping with them and buy the clothes they feel most comfortable wearing on the first day.
What happens on the first day of school in Germany?
In German culture, starting elementary school symbolizes the start of a new phase in your child’s life. Your child transitions from kindergarten to first grade.
Everyone celebrates this transition as a rite of passage from one phase to the next.
Here is what a typical first day of school looks like in Germany.
School teachers and students welcome new kids
The primary schools in Germany will inform you in advance about the day’s schedule and when you should arrive. You should arrive at least 15 minutes before the official time.
Arriving exactly at the official time or later is considered to be late.
This is what you can expect once you arrive at the school. All the new kids will be assembled together with their school teachers.
New students are usually welcomed in the school auditorium.
The welcome ceremony starts with a few words from the school principal. It’s followed by a musical performance of the second graders to welcome the new kids.
Later, the kids go to their classrooms with the teachers through a narrow passage formed by the second graders. This narrow passage symbolizes the “rite of passage” from one phase to the next.
The first day of school is shorter than a typical day. On the first day, children get familiar with their surroundings and new classmates.
While the kids get to know their new classmates, parents can mingle with each other while enjoying brunch.
Click a group photo
The first day of school is a big event in your child’s life. So, you obviously want to capture it.
The school usually clicks a group photo of the new class. However, you can also click the pictures of your child during the event.
Celebrating the day with the family
The first day of school usually lasts about three hours. So, you continue the celebration after school.
German families invite friends and other family members on this day. They go out to eat together and celebrate the special day with cake.
I bet that by the end of the first day at school, your child is settled and looking forward to the next day.
What happens after the first day of school?
The first day of school is typically planned on a Saturday. And the kids start the normal school schedule on Monday.
Your child most probably already received the school’s timetable. You can hang it in a visible place. It will help you and your child plan the week.
After the first full day at school, your child will receive homework and information relevant to parents. Since it’s new for your child to pass on this kind of information to you, it’s better to take a look yourself.
During school’s first week, give yourself and your kid time to find a routine and settle.
You now know what to prepare for your child’s transition to school in Germany. I wish you and your child all the best and a great first day of school.
