Kinderhaus offers afterschool programs with special COVID-precautions for children ages 1-13. The programs are German immersion programs with a special focus on outdoor activities and free play, fostering the children’s language skills, curiosity, and confidence.
When: Mondays through Fridays, 3:30-6:00 pm (following the KinderHaus calendar)
Where: 312 7th Street (off 5th Ave) / 466 6th Avenue (between 10th and 11th Streets)
Registration: Online Registration or via email to [email protected]
In compliance with our own meticulous safety measures developed during the early stages of the COVID pandemic and following the guidance of the new Department of Health regulations and including the regulations by the “Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie in Berlin”, Germany, our afterschool program has been adjusted, accordingly. With a focus on the outdoors, children will spend the afternoon primarily outside in a natural environment, such as Prospect Park or the outdoor backyards. The afterschool program encompasses monthly foci with a forest inspired curriculum.
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Monday – Classical Music
Unlock your child’s musical genius! Introducing our Classical Music AfterSchool program, where your child’s journey into the world of classical music begins with passion and purpose. Whether it is Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons or Mozart’s Magic Flute, the journey into the world of classical music will be a holistic experience for the children. Studies found that classical music, with its intricate compositions and timeless melodies, has positive effects on attention, motivation, and memory and promotes concentration and heightened thinking abilities in children when continuously exposed to classical music. Through our various approaches such as art, movement and dance, theater, and of course with instruments such as the piano, children will delve into a world of wonder and imagination. Beyond music, the classical music program fosters teamwork, and emotional expression, helping children thrive both academically and personally. Watch your child’s musical journey flourish!
Tuesday – Young Forest Explorers (older children)
Based on the German model of Waldkindergarten, KinderHaus WaldKindergarten is distinguished by its commitment to total nature immersion, interest-led flow learning, an emergent curriculum, place-based focus, inquiry-based teaching style and authentic play. Instead of the classroom, children will spend the afternoon primarily in a natural environment, such as Prospect Park and follow the lead of our Waldorf-trained KinderHaus teachers, who will transform the surroundings into an exciting classroom with a forest inspired curriculum. Research has proven many benefits of this special educational approach, including a stronger immune system, better physical coordination and significant improvement in reading, writing, mathematics, and social interactions. Various research and articles have elaborated on its benefits.
Tuesday – Culinary Adventures
The old saying that “too many cooks spoil the broth” does not apply to our little chefs in the Cooking AfterSchool program at KinderHaus. Our culinary adventures enrich the children’s experiences in many different ways, appealing to all of their senses while teaching them about healthy nutrition. Common hands on cooking activities help support self-confidence, collaboration, problem-solving and fine motor skills. The children explore different herbs, fruits and vegetables by smelling, feeling, and tasting them. They travel around the world experiencing culinary adventures from different parts of the world, all while expanding their German vocabulary. Together, we create a variety dishes and enjoy the delicious taste of healthy food. By preparing and eating a meal together, the children’s sense of community is encouraged as well as their appreciation of healthy food.
Wednesday – Creative Movement and Games
The Creative Movement and Games AfterSchool program offers a joyful way for children to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, channel energy, stimulate imagination and promote creativity. From obstacle courses to fantasy world games, we will use body actions to communicate an image, an idea, or a feeling. The children will strengthen their ability to create, perform, respond and connect to their bodies and music and will have lots of fun along the way.
Wednesday and Thursday – Art Club (Atelier 312)
Welcome to Atelier 312, where the after-school art magic happens! At Atelier 312 children enter a judgment-free zone, which encourages spontaneous, playful, and courageous expression with paint! Regular expressive painting practice (in German Ausdrucksmalen) positively affects children’s emotional well-being and enhances their problem-solving skills, fine motor skill development, and concentration span ability. Next to the expressive painting experience children love coming to the Art Club to experiment with new techniques, mediums, and materials. Art styles and works by influential artists are examined and drive inspiration for individualized art projects. Whilst working creatively the joy of artmaking in a group setting can be experienced. The atelier’s design and methodology are inspired by German-born Arno Stern, a pioneer in art pedagogy. Wednesday and Friday Karin, our swiss-trained Kindergarten Teacher and Art Therapist guides the children through the afternoons and helps them expand their artistic skills and knowledge. On Thursday our teacher Undine, who grew up singing in her father’s choir and called the Theater environment her second home, takes over the Art Atelier and is very excited to support our little artists in the process of creating and expressing.
Wednesday – R/W
The KinderHaus Reading & Writing AfterSchool program focuses on developing solid skills in German reading and writing with a specialized approach for English-German bilingual children. The students are between 4 and 13 years of age and will be assigned to different study groups according to their proficiency levels. They focus on improving their German reading and writing skills by practicing German phonics (sounds) and letters, merging them into words, and building first full sentences. All stories and workbooks are used to support early reading and writing comprehension skills through picture-matching, coloring activities, riddles, and others that are a great and motivating choice for emergent readers.
Thursday- Kamishibai Story Theater
Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese storytelling technique that involves using illustrated boards or cards to tell a story and began in the 12th century as Buddhist moral dramas for the illiterate. The audience of the Kamishibai saw and heard what happened to the characters in the story and compared their lives to the morals in the story. The Kamishibai “paper theater” storytelling is a common feature of the Japanese kindergarten experience.
The art of telling stories and interacting with the audience through the Kamishibai Story Theater is a delightful and engaging way to capture the imagination of children. Through stories like Die Raupe Nimmersatt (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Der Grolltroll (The Grumbletroll), children delve into the stories with multiple senses and are subsequently enabled to become part of the story or even change the story themselves strengthening their concentration, repetition, and reenacting skills as well as empowering them to realize how they can change the reality of their world.
Friday – Art Club (Atelier 312)
Welcome to Atelier 312, where the after-school art magic happens! At Atelier 312 children enter a judgment-free zone, which encourages spontaneous, playful, and courageous expression with paint! Regular expressive painting practice (in German Ausdrucksmalen) positively affects children’s emotional well-being and enhances their problem-solving skills, fine motor skill development and concentration span ability. Next to the expressive painting experience children love coming to the Art Club to experiment with new techniques, mediums, and materials. Art styles and works by influential artists are examined and drive inspiration for individualized art projects. Whilst working creatively the joy of artmaking in a group setting can be experienced. The atelier’s design and methodology are inspired by German-born Arno Stern, a pioneer in art pedagogy. On Fridays Karin, Khatuna, and Lorina rock the art club jointly and offer a bigger group of children access to the Art Club program. Pick up on these days takes place on the garden level of the building.