10 answers

Seeking Good Pre-school in Kaiserslautern Area

I have a 4 year old daughter who has such a desire for learning. At our last duty station she was going to be able to start kindergarten this year in August and she really got excited! She showed such a desire to learn and made such an effort. When we arrived here we found out that she misses the kindergarten cut off date by 17 days. We have asked and there are no exceptions to this policy. Therefore, she will be 17 days shy of turning 6 before she gets to enter kindergarten. That leaves me with a year and a half to try to fill that void.

I tried to send her to a part day pre-school program but she said that she wants to learn more and that she was bored. We currently have her in a German kindergarten, but just like the CDC they play all day. We currently do most of the learning at home and I try to make it as fun as possible.

I know that she is only 4, but what else do you do except try to find her the challenge that she desires? I guess what I am asking is if there are any pre-schools in the area that we could look into. I would love to find one that gives her the socialization they need at this age along with the learning she so desperately desires.

What can I do next?

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I have a soon to be 4 year old girl too. She has been attending private daycare since we got here in Dec 06. The provider is a military spouse and has a great educational program. She usually only takes children 3 years and up. She gears each child's learning focus to the child's abilities. Since it is a private daycare, the children receive quite of bit of individual time with the teacher. If it is something you might be interested just let me know and I can get you hooked up with her. My husband and I are extremely pleased with the great job her teacher does with all the children under her care.

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I started my child at Children's learning Academy and at first he did really well he had a great teacher! Then his teacher left and he got another really great teacher but things changed he was playing more than learning, which was good for his social skills but he needed structured learning which is what it seemd like you are looking for. I moved him to Faith Baptist and he does wonderfully there and it is an excellent program! You know what to expect and they teach a curriculum. I strongly suggest them according to what you say you are looking for with CLA you don't really know what you may get could be a good teacher it's a gamble unlike Faith Baptist. Good luck!

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Sorry, could not be more help. Andi

My daughter is in the same boat as yours. She was 5 in November and they would not take her because of the cut off. I choose to put her in the Childrens Learning Academy in Mackenbach. She only goes to the 2 day a week part day program, but they do have 2 full day programs. There is the preschool and German Immersion kindergarten. My daughter has learned allot because they are actually learning and not just playing all morning. I will say that it is not cheap though. We pay 200 a month for the 2 day program and it would be about 600 a month for the all day program. That is depending on the Euro rate to cause you pay in Euros. They also have a 3 morning (MWF) preschool too. I would say the education was really great there and she learned allot.
My friend has here children at the C&K which has a little different learning style and is not a structured. There is also a preschool at the Faith Baptist Church. I am going to check into that for my 3 year old for the fall. Hope that some of this helps you and if you want more info just message me!
H. C

Does she speak German fluently? If not, German Kindergarten may be enough of a challenge as long as you tell them not to speak English to your daughter. My son is 3 and goes to a German Kindergarten in Hoheinod (South of Landstuhl) and he only really goes to learn German and socialize. As far as learning other things, we've had to take it into our own hands. He can write the entire Alphabet and numbers 0-9. Just two days ago he started learning to read in English. He's been quite successful. Start with a bunch of books, then pads of paper for practicing letter, then on to a dry-erase board as a reward for doing so well on paper. That's how we kept learning fun. Currently we have a reward system that keeps him trying with the reading which is every day that he tries for an hour to read he gets one chocolate, once he can read a 1st Stage begining reader book he gets to pick out a toy at Toys R US. I've also challenged my son by doing mini-Science projects like volcanos and observing insects and using my old College Biology book to identify all the different parts on a flower, which I quiz him on through out the week.

As for me: I am a SAHM with a 3 year old son and a 2 month old daughter, we haven't decided how long we'll be here in Germany with the military yet... but we hope to be in Germany for quite some time.

Children's Learning Academy in Mackenbach (just off Ramstein)is a great school, and they also offer German immersion for that age! Here's the web site: http://www.childrens-learning.org/

My kids went to Faith Baptist Church preschool. They use a Pre-k Abeka. I loved it.

Childrens Learning Academy in Mackenbach is an English speaking preschool. The teachers are wonderful and very professional. They use a curriculum for every class room even the very young children. I recommend calling and speaking to Stacy the director. 06374-994-131
The teachers and staff there are wonderful.

You can also google Childrens Learning Academy Germany and go to their website that way. There is also an English speaking Montessori I've heard good things about called ABC... Sometimes they run ads in the KA.

Good luck and welcome to Germany-

ps- the sun does shine here! Just be patient!! :)

Try homeschooling her. There is material that you can get and teach her yourself.

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