Our kindergarten booklets accompany you through an exciting time

Children make huge leaps in their development during their kindergarten years. Kindergarten booklet project manager Claudia Landolt remembers how much she would have liked a guide for parents during this time. And introduces our kindergarten booklets - which fill precisely this gap.
You only realise how important kindergarten is for children and their parents when you're in the middle of it. "How small he still is," I sighed on my first-born's first day of kindergarten. Only to realise a year later: "How big he is now."

Oh, how I wish someone had told me, especially with my first child, how quickly children develop in kindergarten. Someone who wasn't called Google. Someone who would have told me: "This is how it could be done."

This is exactly why we designed the kindergarten booklets for you, dear parents. The Stiftung Elternsein foundation, publisher of the Swiss parents' magazine Fritz+Fränzi, wants to accompany you, dear mums and dads, during this exciting time and stand by your side when things get stressful.
"The central developmental motive at this age is being together with other children."
Paediatrician Herbert Renz-Polster
It is quite possible that this will happen. The challenges are numerous. When your child enters kindergarten, the first stage of primary school begins and he or she is gently prepared for learning at school. For the first time, your son or daughter is confronted with a very large and very heterogeneous group of children, has several caregivers and gets to know many new activities. The child has to learn to adapt, to sit quietly in a circle of chairs and to wait for their turn. A lot is demanded of them - an immense effort to adapt.
But the most exciting thing is the many other "Gspänli" your child has. In the words of German paediatrician and author Herbert Renz-Polster: "The central developmental motive at this age is being together with other children."

Naturally, children want to deepen these newly established contacts in their free time. It is often during this time that the first deep friendships grow, which sometimes even accompany the child beyond their school years. And so it is not uncommon for there to be two or three more children sitting and playing at your table or in your living room. Not to mention the many upcoming birthday parties and invitations.

Kindergarten is a great, wonderful adventure - look forward to it.
I hope you enjoy reading - and wish your child a good start.
Yours sincerely - Claudia Landolt, senior author and project manager for kindergarten magazines
with Florina Schwander, online editor and editor of kindergarten magazines

Click through the overview of our kindergarten booklets:

Das «Kindergartenheft 1. Jahr/Herbst» mit dem Titel «Endlich Chindsgi» wendet sich an Eltern von Kindergartenschülerinnen und -schüler des ersten Jahres. Expertinnen und Experten wie Margrit Stamm, Fabian Grolimund und Jesper Juul beschäftigen sich unter anderem mit diesen Themen: Welche Herausforderungen warten auf ein Kind im Kindergarten? Wie können Eltern ihr Kind bei diesem grossen Schritt unterstützen? Wie kommt das Kindergartenkind zu genügend Schlaf? Hier bestellen.
The «Kindergarten booklet 1st year/autumn» entitled «Chindsgi at last» is aimed at parents of kindergarten pupils in their first year. Experts such as Margrit Stamm, Fabian Grolimund and Jesper Juul deal with these topics, among others: What challenges await a child in kindergarten? How can parents support their child in this big step? How does a kindergarten child get enough sleep? Order here.
Das «Kindergartenheft 1. Jahr/Frühling» mit dem Titel «Gut eingelebt» wendet sich an Eltern von Kindergartenschülerinnen und -schülern des ersten Jahres. Das grosse Thema ist der Umgang mit den eigenen Gefühlen, die Entwicklung der sogenannten exekutiven Funktionen, unter anderem der Frustrationstoleranz. Der Umgang mit Kritik zum Beispiel, aber auch schwierige Situationen mit «Gspänli», Raufereien auf dem Pausenplatz oder Konflikte mit Lehrpersonen. Hier bestellen.
The «Kindergarten booklet 1st year/spring» entitled «Well settled» is aimed at parents of kindergarten pupils in their first year. The main topic is dealing with one's own feelings, the development of so-called executive functions, including frustration tolerance. Dealing with criticism, for example, but also difficult situations with «mates», fights on the playground or conflicts with teachers. Order here.
Das «Kindergartenheft 2. Jahr/Herbst» mit dem Titel «Fast schon gross» wendet sich an Eltern von Kindergartenschülerinnen und -schüler des zweiten Jahres. Eltern von grossen «Chindsgi»-Kindern beschäftigten sich unter anderem mit diesen Themen: Woher kommen Kinderängste? Muss mein Kind vor dem Übertritt in die Primarschule lesen und schreiben können? Was ändert sich für mein Kind mit dem Lehrplan 21 und der Einführung des Fachs «Medien und Informatik» im Kindergarten? Hier bestellen.
The «Kindergarten booklet 2nd year/autumn» with the title «Almost grown up» is aimed at parents of kindergarten pupils in their second year. Parents of older «Chindsgi» children dealt with these topics, among others: Where do children's fears come from? Does my child need to be able to read and write before starting primary school? What will change for my child with Curriculum 21 and the introduction of the subject «Media and IT» in kindergarten? Order here.
Das «Kindergartenheft 2. Jahr/Frühling» schliesslich mit dem Titel «Ab in die Schule!» wendet sich an Eltern von Kindergartenschülerinnen und –schüler, die im Sommer von der Kindergartenstufe in die erste Regelklasse wechseln. Hausaufgaben, Organisatorisches und Fragen rund um den richtigen Schulthek, Schulweg und individuelles Lernen werden in diesem Heft beantwortet. Hier bestellen.
Finally, the «Kindergarten booklet 2nd year/spring» entitled «Off to school!» is aimed at parents of kindergarten pupils who are moving from kindergarten to the first mainstream class in the summer. Homework, organisational matters and questions about the right school desk, the way to school and individual learning are answered in this booklet. Order here.


Ordering options for parents:

Parents who would like to order the magazine, please use our issue order page.

Read more about kindergarten:

All previously published articles on the subject of kindergarten can be found in the section of the same name.