Activities – Blüemli Daycare Zurich Witikon
Daily Activities
Forest and nature education with daily time spent in the forest.
Our daycare takes pride in its daily time outdoors: after the morning snack until lunch and in the afternoon until the afternoon snack, children regularly spend time in the nearby forest. Here they experience the changing seasons and learn through play to navigate their environment. In summer, children enjoy their snacks directly in the forest, fostering an especially strong connection to nature. Lucienne, a trained nature educator, accompanies the children and ensures they can explore the forest safely and enjoyably. This outdoor time promotes their well-being, motor skills, and respect for the environment. See also: SRF Knowledge – Forest Kindergartens
Bilingual education in German and English
German and English are integrated into our daily routine—during play, storytelling, singing, crafts, meals, or tidying up together.
Children hear, experience, and use both languages naturally in a variety of situations. This helps them develop a secure sense of language, expand their vocabulary in both languages, and learn to use language as a tool for communication, exploration, and understanding.
Our bilingual approach not only supports language development but also positively impacts cognitive skills such as concentration, memory, and perspective taking. Children exposed to multiple languages early often develop strong language awareness and high social sensitivity.
Through daily contact with German and English, multilingualism becomes second nature for the children—a natural part of their personal development.
Parent events and celebrations to strengthen the community
Every two months, we organize parent events and celebrations, giving parents the opportunity to actively participate in daily life and their children’s progress. These events provide an ideal chance to connect with other families and engage with our team. Parents appreciate the transparency and sense of community fostered by these regular gatherings.
Förderung des Programm "Gut vorbereitet in den Kindergarten"
Die KiTa Blüemli nimmt am Programm „Gut vorbereitet in den Kindergarten“ teil, das professionelle Deutschförderung für die Kinder beinhaltet. Diese Sprachförderung legt einen wichtigen Grundstein für die spätere sprachliche und schulische Entwicklung und unterstützt die Kinder gezielt beim Übergang in den Kindergarten.
Weekly swimming sessions to build confidence in the water.
Our weekly swimming program for children from 2 years old is a special highlight of our offerings. Under the guidance of an experienced swimming instructor, children become familiar with water in a playful and safe way, helping to reduce fears. Children swim once a week. Regular water exposure builds confidence and provides a valuable foundation for their personal development.
Weekly gym visits to support movement and motor skill development.
Once a week, we take the children to the gym to provide a space for free and varied movement. In the large, safe gym environment, children can follow their natural urge to move, run, climb, jump, and strengthen their coordination. This physical activity is not only important for motor development but also promotes body awareness and boosts the children’s confidence.
Monthly outings and regular cultural experiences
In addition to daily forest activities, we offer monthly excursions to various nature and cultural destinations depending on the season. In summer, we plan at least two trips to provide children with extra opportunities for exploration. These excursions promote a deeper understanding of nature and culture and broaden the children’s horizons.
Additional Forest Group Activities
Practical Activities
- Cooking and Baking: Children help prepare simple snacks such as fruit salad, cookies, or bread.
- Everyday Tasks: Watering plants, small woodworking activities, or collecting and sorting materials.
Creative Activities
- Crafts with Natural Materials: Creating artworks from leaves, branches, stones, or clay.
- Colour Experiences: Painting with brushes or hands, experimenting with mixed colours.
Music and Rhythm
- Musical Instruments: Playing age-appropriate instruments such as drums, xylophone, or sound bars.
- Singing: Singing songs together, often related to the season or forest experiences.
- Movement to Music: Dancing, clapping, and stomping to the rhythm of music.
Books and Stories
- Story Circles: Listening to and acting out stories, often inspired by forest experiences.
- Picture Books: Viewing books that focus on nature and animals.
Rest
- Quiet Moments in the Forest: Listening to natural sounds, relaxing on blankets or loungers in the shade.
- Relaxation at the Daycare: Cozy reading corner with cushions and books for a short break.
Shared Mealtimes
- Forest Picnics: Eating outdoors with self-prepared meals.
- Healthy Snacks: Children help prepare plates of fruits and vegetables.
- Sensory Experiences: Children learn to consciously explore new tastes and textures.
Here you can learn more about our Baby Group.
Baby Activities
Sensory Experiences
- Touch boxes: Babies explore different materials such as soft cloths, sponges or wooden toys.
- Sensory bottles: Bottles filled with water, glitter, beads or coloured liquids that babies shake and observe.
- Sand and water experiences: Playing with sand or water.
Movement Development
- Crawling course: Small obstacles such as mats, tunnels or cushions that encourage babies to crawl and climb.
- Movement games: Rolling a ball, kicking with the legs or reaching for toys.
- Musical movement: Dancing or gentle swaying to music to support motor development.
Music and Rhythm
- Singing: Age-appropriate children’s songs.
- Instruments: Rattles, small drums or a xylophone for first sound experiences.
- Clapping and Finger Games or Similar Activities
Creative Activities
- Finger Painting: Babies can explore non-toxic paints on paper.
- Making marks: Stamping with sponges or creating hand and foot prints. Observing colours: Watching colour changes in water or light projections.
Nature Experiences
- Out into nature: Watching the surroundings outdoors together in a stroller or on a blanket.
- Exploring natural materials: Touching leaves, pine cones or smooth stones.
- Enjoying fresh air: Babies enjoy feeling the wind and hearing sounds such as birds singing.
Books and Stories
- Looking at picture books: Books with large, high contrast images.
- Storytelling: Sharing short stories using simple words and a gentle voice.
- Touch books: Books with different textures for babies to explore.
Care and Rest as an Activity
- Observing and Listening: Mobiles or gentle music such as wind chimes.
- Swinging: Rocking in a hammock or on a rocking chair.
Shared Mealtimes
- First tasting experiences: Babies can try purees or experiment with foods like soft fruits.
- Sensory food experiences: Exploring textures and flavors through play.
Here you can learn more about our Forest Group.