Am I mad to put DS into German Kindergarten when he could go to army pre-school ?

[trockodile]

This is my very first time starting a thread. Please can someone answer!
Husband is in the army, we live in Germany. Both DH and I speak basic German, DS (3 in May) does not yet speak any. I would love him to have a chance at learning the local language and feel it is such a good chance. I am going to look round a local kindergarten tomorrow, my German neighbour recomends it and her child starts this week.
Given all the horror stories I have read on here about German education is this a good idea? We would probably be here for another 3 years and then back to uk where i would try to keep up his German through German Sat School. Not worried about his English or standard of work on return to UK. He is a bright boy and I see it as a bonus that he could put off starting formal education.
So can anyone reassure me that it is a good idea?
Any hints on what to ask Kindergarten and what negative points I should look out for? Please help!

How much longer is your posting? am thinking how old will ds be when he goes to next shcool/returns to uk

Thank you for answering! Unlikely to be longer than 4 years so would prob only be in Kindergarten here. More likely 2-3 years.

Trockodile- is it a steiner kindergarten?

also known as waldorf - if it is, be very careful.

No, just local, bog standard German Kindergarten as far as I know.

It really depends on the kindergarten.

There have been some stonkers of threads moaning about the German education system, but generally the kindergartens are good.

Our kindergarten is fantastic, I would have no hesitation recommending it. If you have a good feeling about the kindergarten, then it would be an advantage for your DS.

There are huge differences between learning a language as a child, particularly before the age of 7 or 8 and as an adult. Your DS will learn German as a native speaker. I would go for it.

Where are you? I am not far from Mönchengladbach.

ok- I would try and have taster days in each to see how formal/informal they both are, get a feel for how your son responds to the kindergarten/preschool, look at the facilties, standards of care, the outdoor space and take it from there?
and remember you can always change your mind

No problem in answering! Army wife myself, my German v.poor! I looked at a German day nursery for dd, she didn't go there in the end as we were posted, it looked very good. If it was me in your shoes I would see it is as an excellent opportunity for ds.If its a Steiner school - parents in the UK pay through the nose for them & German kindegarten I assume will be free/cheapish. Important to keep German up on rtn to UK I have a German friend here who finds herself forgetting her 'first' language.
My dd is 3y3mos I chose her current nursery on the basis:
Well established
low staff turn over
clean & tidy
evidence of themes/activities
daily routine
big garden
any help?
Where do you live?

Kindersurprise,we are in Gutersloh. Thanks for your support everyone. I do feel very lucky that we have a choice. It would be so easy to go with the army system but I am so keen on the idea of learning the language. I struggle with it so much, and I think it would do me good too -it is so easy to be lazy when you are in the army system.
Any other opinions welcome, thank you.

If you need any info on bilingualism, this site has good information.

we all get lazy when we are in the army system!

I think 15 hours/week would be about 150 euro per month so pretty cheap yes. How many hours would be needed to have best chace of learning the language? One site I looked at said minimum 30% immersion. I have already started by only allowing DVD watching in German! Maisy Mouse is wonderful!

I would have to work hard at my German, it is far from fluent! But, I do have German friends who can help with translation if necessary-and one friend already has her child going (she is German married to soldier) so would probably keep me informed of anything important I miss!

Thanks to all, you have given me some hope -and lots to think about! Will probably have more questions tomorrow after visit! Off to bed now (via the bins as have just remembered rubbish day tomorrow!) Feel quite excited! (about kindergarten, not bin!)

Here is some info about immersion

Basically, the more time he spends in a German speaking environment, the better.

Our DCs kindergarten offer a good programme in the morning. Most kindergartens prefer to have the children come in daily until lunchtime.

Would you be looking for half days? Or prefer 2 or 3 full days?

Not yet gone to bed! Thank you for that info KS. Am resigned to the fact that he would have to go more than I would send him to english pre-school at this age. Prob 4/5 half days to start but will see what they say -definately not starting at 7 am though! He doesn't wake up till at least 8!

I would go for the German kindergarten, tbh. As long as he continues to speak the language upon returning to the UK, it will work to his advantage. German kindergartens are generally quite good.

Hi Trockodile,
Am in the same situation (apart from DH not in forces). Live near Munich. DS is 3 next month. We decided that he needed to go to KG a. to make friends as he's a friendly little thing b. learn the language so he can communicate c. give me a break to prepare for second baby.
We were used to him going to nursery back in the UK 3 days a week. Here, the KG suggested he come in every day to ensure he maintains friendships and doesn't feel left out. Was initially sad about less tiem with him, but he does M,W and F 8-3pm and T & T 8-12. We're only into our fourth week of KG and he's already skipping around singing German (or his version of), and mixing the two languages together. I nearly cried this morning when I dropped him off and he said "Tschuss, Mama. Bis bald." It's made it so worthwhile, and the teachers/children love him as he's different. No English is spoken to him there, hence he's picking it up fast, and I make an effort to talk English at home to maintain it, but to add in what German I know.
Good luck, and I thoroughly recommend what you're thinking of doing.

Hi trockodile. Califrau gave some good advice - mine went to German Kindergarden aged 4 and their German became fluent after 2 years, no problems at all but the worst thing was missing things because I didn't understand. Even when they sent a letter out I sometimes got it wrong! If you go the German kindergarten way then try to find a parent with dc in the same place to help you communicate at first.
If he goes half days then you could try to teach him abit of the alphabet and basic numbers in the afternoons to get him ready for going to school in the UK when you go back because most kindergardens don't teach at all. The girls at my dc's place said they weren't allowed but if a dc asked them to write a word or something at the bottom of a painting then they could.

Our Kindergarten too is great. There's more emphasis in Germany on social skills, playing & developing motor skills though play rather than a strict pre-school format.
Much better I think and when they reach school age they tend to have the basics for learning in place.

I have to bring dd by 9.30 and a part-time place is till 12, or 1pm by arrangement. They can go back after lunch till 4.
Full time we have the option to go 7am - 5pm but it's v flexible, come and go when I please. Dd is 5 and full-time now to boost her German and confidence and is there usually 9 till 3.30.

We only pay for meals because she's in her last year before school so the place is free. She love sit and her teachers are great.

Once your ds gets asked round to play in the afternoons you'll find it a better way to have contact too and what's available by way of sports etc.

Emkana: please read

Well, We enjoyed our look round this morning. Lovely building, very spacious with good outdoor area. Have to go back tomorrow to pick up forms etc. DS slightly overwhelmed -he came out and said 'the children are all shouting Mummy' -not sure if he is robust enough to be a proper German! Don't know if we will get in -they suggested applying to other kindergartens too. Is this normal or do you think they don't want us?
I certainly have an incentive now to work on my German -understood most of what she said but struggled to express myself!
Glad to hear so many positive stories about KG, thanks everyone.

Good to hear that your first impression was positive.

Wait a couple of months, and he will be running about shouting too.

It is common to apply to a couple of kindergartens. It really depends on the area, how many places each kita has and how popular it is. Would you be looking for him to start in May? You might find that they will offer you a place after the summer hols.

Our kita is very popular at the moment so can be difficult to get a place. I actually only applied to our kita as I hoped that the Leiterin would be flattered that I only wanted to go to her kita. lol, no idea if that helped, but we did get in.