Key takeaways
- Going to school is a big step for your child. Ensure they are ready for it.
- You can use our checklist to see if your child is ready for school.
- Every child in Germany undergoes a medical examination. The health checkup is to determine the school readiness of the kid.
This is how you do it
- Make learning fun for your kids. It creates a positive connection with learning.
- Educate yourself about the school system in Germany and how to prepare your kids for school.
- Use our checklist as a recommendation to prepare your child for school.
Table of Contents
Preparing your child for school is vital. Like any other country, Germany has its own education system.
German primary schools focus on making learning fun for the children. They want the children to be curious, explore, and learn together.
Considering these things, your child should be able to do certain things before starting school in Germany. These things revolve around the child’s social, motor, linguistic, and emotional skills and stability.
So don’t worry; your child doesn’t have to do maths or write essays before starting primary school in Germany.
Things a child should be able to do before starting school in Germany
We have created a checklist of things your child should be able to do. Please note that these are only recommendations and not a must-haves.
Even if your child cannot do some of the things mentioned in the checklist, it’s not a deal breaker. German primary school teachers know that every child learns at their own pace.
General development
- Have fun learning and curiosity
- Being able to listen
- Be able to hold a conversation (speak in complete sentences, ask and answer questions)
- Be able to concentrate on one thing for around 10 to 20 minutes at a time
- Be able to cut with scissors and hold a pen
- Have a certain level of frustration tolerance (deal with disappointments)
- Able to ask or answer questions
Independence
- Able to dress and undress without help
- Go to the toilet independently (and cleanly)
- Say and recognize their name
- Know their home address
- Recognize their things like clothes, school bags, etc.
- Able to wash their hands
- Ride a bike or scooter
- Tie shoes
Social skills
Germans place a high emphasis on a child’s social skills. The kindergarten (kita) teachers even ask the parents to delay the child’s admission into the primary school to give the child enough time to learn social skills.
Here are the social skills necessary for your child to enter German school life.
- The child should be used to being separated from their parents
- Able to communicate with others (children and adults).
- Ask for help if necessary
- Know and follow the rules of a group
- Resolve conflicts (with words)
- Able to complete tasks together with other kids and adults
- Able to say no
- Recognize when other children need help – and help
Numbers, colors, shapes
- A basic understanding of numbers, such as 3 is smaller than 5.
- Able to count up to ten
- Be able to name and distinguish between different shapes and colors
- Recognize their name in print (and write it if necessary)
- Understand and understand simple rules for games
- Throw and catch the ball
As said before, the list is only a recommendation.
There must be many things your child can do that are not mentioned here. At the same, a few things your kid is still learning.
Always remember that the focus is on making learning fun for the kid. If you put too much pressure on the child, the child will form a negative connection with learning. This will be detrimental in the long run.
What do the German primary schools don’t expect your child to be able to do?
Nobody expects your child to be able to read, write, or do math. These are skills children learn in school.
Of course, no one stops a child from learning these skills before school starts. But it’s important that the child doesn’t feel pressured while doing so.
When do children start school in Germany?
Children in Germany usually start school at 6 or 7 years old. You and your child must be prepared for school.
In addition to what we mentioned in the checklist, all children in Germany must undergo medical examinations. This is called “Schuleingangsuntersuchung” in German.
During the examination, the pediatrician checks whether the child is fit for school or should wait another year.
Child’s medical examination before starting school in Germany
Every child in Germany must go through a medical examination before entering school. The medical checkup is called “Schuleingangsuntersuchung.”
The health check consists of two parts: parts 1 and 2.
After the examination, the doctor explains to the parents whether everything is fine or not. If not, the doctor will recommend the required services.
For example, your child cannot see well. The doctor will prescribe glasses. Similarly, the doctor may prescribe hearing aids for hearing problems.
Part 1 of the health checkup
In part 1, the doctor looks at the vaccination booklet and other regular checkups (U-checkups). The purpose of this medical checkup is to see if your child is fit for school.
The doctor assesses the following things during the checkup:
- Social and emotional development: Here, the doctor observes the child’s concentration level, how they interact with strangers, confidence level, and how they feel about going to school.
- Physical and motor skills development: The child should be physically fit for school. The doctor checks whether the child can walk, hear, and see well. They also check whether the child can hold a pen to draw or use scissors.
- Mental Development: The doctors in Germany also check if your child can speak German, recognize colors and shapes, write their name, and know how old they are. The doctors also inspect whether your child can remember things and recognize connections.
Part 2 of the health checkup
The second part doesn’t always take place. The doctors conduct this part in the following cases.
- Your child hasn’t had a preventive health check-up (U9) yet.
- The doctor found abnormalities during the preventive medical check-up (U9).
- Your child never went to Kindergarten (Kita).
- You are unsure about your child starting school.
You can read our guide on school entry health checkups in Germany to learn more.
What should expat parents pay attention to while preparing their kids for school in Germany?
The most important thing is the child’s ability to understand and speak with others. As you all know, to do that, your child must understand and speak the German language.
As foreigners, many of us don’t speak German at home. So, the expats must pay particular attention to their children’s German language skills.
Many expats in Germany send their kids to “Kita.” This helps their child learn German while playing with other kids.
Children are like sponges, and they absorb things quickly. But if you feel your kid is struggling with the language, you should take action.
NOTE: German language skills are one of the core subjects that determine which secondary school your kid will attend.
How can you support your child’s German language skills?
- If you plan to make Germany your home, you must start learning German.
- Kids look up to their parents the most. So, when you start speaking in German, it motivates the kids to speak the German language themselves.
- Start speaking in German with your kids from time to time.
- Read German storybooks to your kids. Even if you don’t understand a word, don’t assume your child doesn’t, either. The same goes for storybooks in your native language. You read them, assuming that your child understands them.
- Play German cartoons, songs, movies, etc., during your child’s television time.
- Kids learn from one another the most. So, do as many play dates as possible with other German parents.
- Get support from a German language tutor. There are many language schools (sprachschule) for small kids in Germany. You can either enroll your child in one or get private or online tutoring.
Websites where you can find tutors in Germany
Here are some of the websites where you can find tutors near you or have online classes for your child.
- GoStudent
- Learnigo
- Optimalnachhilfe
- Studienkreis
You can also post an ad on Ebay-kleinanzeige regarding the tutor. Many locals find cost-effective tutors near them this way.
Important German vocabulary for you. Private tuitions are referred to as “Nachhilfe” in Germany.
Are there any first day in school traditions in Germany?
Yes, Germans celebrate the first day of school and are very specific about how they do it. Here is a typical first day of school in Germany.
The children come to the school with their parents and extended relatives. The school organizes a welcome event for all the new students.
The 2nd-grade students perform and welcome the 1st-graders. The parents can mingle and snap some memories.
The best part is preparing for the first day of school. Every child in Germany brings these two things on their first day of school.
- A big cone (Schultüte): Some make them at home, and others buy them on Amazon*. The cone is filled with the stuff kids need for school and tons of candies.
- School bag with all the school supplies: You’ll be surprised by how many types of school bags are available in Germany. Be prepared to spend over a hundred euros on the school bag and the school supplies.
You can read our guide on the first day of school in Germany to learn more.
