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Language as a key: How daycare centers strengthen children for school!
On August 12, 2025, the challenges of language support in schools and daycare centers will be discussed, including policy proposals.
Language as a key: How daycare centers strengthen children for school!
In recent years, a trend has emerged in Germany that is causing great concern for many parents and teachers: a large number of students have difficulties with the German language. This not only impacts their academic performance, but also their social experiences. Loud MDR There is already political discussion about introducing mandatory language tests in the daycare phase. Such tests, if implemented correctly, could provide valuable support.
“However, the necessary conditions for this are not yet optimal,” say many education experts. This includes effective language assessment instruments, which are currently only partially available, as well as competent, trained staff who are entrusted with language support. Unfortunately, there are also programs that are proven to be ineffective. There are also concerns about the accuracy of language proficiency assessments, which can produce both false positive and false negative assessments.
The role of promotion
The implementation of appropriate language support measures therefore faces challenges. Politicians should therefore invest more in everyday language support in daycare centers, as this has been proven to have positive effects on children's language development. This is particularly important now, as many children are just starting school and need support in good time to get the best possible start to school.
One of the essential measures for this start to school is the individual consideration of each child. The developmental level and learning potential of the individual child should be taken into account in order to find suitable access to the learning content. This is particularly relevant for children who come from diverse linguistic backgrounds. According to that KMK The “Education through Language and Writing” (BiSS) initiative has been specifically promoting such measures since 2013.
In the current phase of the initiative, which has been running since March 1, 2020, up to 2,700 schools and daycare centers in Germany are benefiting from the results of the first program phase. Qualitative research and support from state institutes play a key role in specifically integrating diagnostic and support measures into practice.
The importance of language
But why is this all so important? Good language skills are crucial for education, social contacts and personal development. Many children and young people in Germany have inadequate language, reading and writing skills. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has therefore launched several initiatives to actively support language development.
An example of this are the Reading Foundation's reading promotion projects, which encourage reading aloud not only at school but also in everyday family life. This can be a crucial help, especially for children who have experienced flight. The numbers speak for themselves: Over 90 percent of children between the ages of three and six attend a daycare center or kindergarten, where the foundation for their language education is laid.
The following applies to all parents: keep a cool head! Watch your child relax and promote joy and motivation for learning. If you notice dissatisfaction, it is important to offer support without placing unnecessary stress on the child. Deficits in language development can be addressed through loving and thoughtful approaches.