Day care centre in Berlin - Kinderhaus Wannsee

The German-English-speaking Montessori Kinderhaus Wannsee is part of the campus of our International Montessori School (IMS). Around 30 children between the ages of 2.5 and school entry are currently cared for in the former coach house of the country house Oppenheim.

The kindergarten is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The children play and learn in a German-English environment. They are in constant contact with our bilingual teachers and are thus introduced to both languages in a playful way – a natural form of language acquisition.

A hot lunch is delivered by an organic catering company. In addition, the children receive healthy and fresh organic fruit for their snack.

We support and help children to discover and use their own resources. “Help me to do it myself” (Maria Montessori): This credo of our educational work is manifested in all areas of our daily structure and weekly planning. In the daily routine of our children’s house, the children have many opportunities to discover, consolidate and expand new skills in a variety of ways. In this process, free work and free play play just as important a role as guided projects and focused practice phases in the learning areas in a room typically prepared according to Montessori principles. A large garden and the weekly forest day enrich the children in their sensory experiences and in their natural urge to move. We create shared experiences and many beautiful lasting memories through rituals, cultural traditions and varied excursions.

We also shape the educational partnership with parents in a bilingual and diverse way. We value transparency, openness and cooperation in the interest of the children. Parent cafés, cultural festivities and regular exchange are the basis for our joint cooperation and transparent communication.

Children from our childcare centers are given preferential admission to the bilingual International Montessori School Berlin (IMS). The same applies to siblings who wish to attend the school. (Subject to availability of places).

The children in our daycare center come into contact with the International Montessori School Berlin (IMS) early on, getting to know it through joint festivities or projects and the sports activities offered at the school. During the spring and summer months, the children also regularly spend time in the IMS school garden, where they actively learn how to sow, care for and harvest plants.

In addition to the International Montessori School Berlin, the Wannsee School e.V. is also our cooperation partner.

Day structure

08:00 – 09:30 Phase of arrival Free play/free work & breakfast

09:30 – 10:00 Phase of transition Last breakfast phase & preparation

10:00 – 11:30 Focused exercise phase Incl. midday circle Station work in free work and support in Montessori learning areas

11:30-13:00 Lunch phase Selected lunch leaders set the tables for the children’s restaurant; free choice of mealtime during this phase

1:00 – 2:00 pm Quiet time Various forms of rest, relaxation and quiet activities

2:00 – 3:00 pm Snack time Snack preparation: homemade salads or smoothies, baking together

3:00 – 5:00 pm Closing time, Free play & independent work indoor/outdoor, Pick-up phase for children

The garden is open almost all day.

Focused learning areas of the week according to Montessori

• Movement (age-appropriate sports, dance and movement activities)
• Mathematics (numbers, quantities and sizes, 2D & 3D construction)
• Language (bilingualism, writing and language (literacy), narrative forms, theater)
• Art and music (forms of art, art techniques, songs, instruments suitable for children)
• Cosmic education (nature & environment, geography, experiments, annual cycle, planetary science)
• Practical life skills (fine and gross motor skills, participation and responsibility in everyday activities)
• Social relationships (responsibility, joint projects, rituals and cultural festivities, fostering social and emotional skills)

The following learning and play areas are available to the children:

• Children’s restaurant / practical room
• Exercise and construction room (including sensory)
• Mathematics, music and literacy and theater room (including sensory)
• Room for art & cosmic education
• Garden (movement, sensory perception, nature & environment, social relationships)
• Forest (at the large Wannsee lake, movement, sensory perception, nature & environment, social relationships)
• School garden (from March to October, practical exercises, social relationships)
• Social spaces Wannsee, Grunewald, Kladow, Potsdam and Zehlendorf (field trips, playgrounds, museums, children’s cinema, theater)