Thank you Germany: Part 015: The country offers children many educational programmes

It is not without reason that the word "Kindergarden" also exists as a German loan word in English. The kindergarten was founded by a German educationalist. Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel laid the foundations for it. And Germany continues to provide valuable educational support for children to this day. The country not only offers children its own entertainment programmes on television. Many programmes are also organised to support children's development and clarify curious questions.

From towns and cities to clubs, kindergartens and schools, there is a wide variety of offers for children. There are also sports programmes. Sport provides exercise. But new friendships can also be made quickly through the events and institutions. In the kindergarten, children are prepared for school and supported by educational specialists. The kindergarten also enables parents to return to work more quickly. Incidentally, there is even a legal entitlement to enrolment in kindergarten in Germany if enrolment is made in good time. This means that if the kindergarten has capacity, it is not allowed to turn children away. In recent years, this legislation has further emphasised the child-friendliness of the country. But it is not only in the institutions that there is good support for children.

Most Germans are also open-minded and open to socialising with children. In addition, many clubs and societies do valuable youth work for children. In Germany, they receive excellent support in terms of music and art. The skills learnt here, such as playing an instrument, can make a person happy for the rest of their life.

The cultural awakening from 1968 onwards meant that people were more relaxed in their interactions across family boundaries and took children seriously. The personal rights of children were also strengthened. Hitting a child is a criminal offence in Germany. The aim is to prevent parents from using violence. In contrast to other countries, the use of slapping and other forms of violence against children has continued to decline in recent decades. Awareness has spread among Germans that children can be permanently harmed in this way. Every single child who is hit less is an important step forward.

The legislator has set clear limits for this. It is good that Germany also has a clear position on children's rights. Germany also realises the right to attend school with compulsory education. Education by parents at home is therefore not permitted. This ensures that children also receive a comprehensive perspective on the world. Some parents who wish to educate their child in a strongly religious manner or deprive them of sex education see this as a disadvantage for the country. Germany prohibits them from "homeschooling", i.e. schooling at home at their own discretion.

However, if you want all children to learn about evolution and be educated at the right time, compulsory education is an important achievement. Germany enforces it consistently. This consistent enforcement is for the benefit of the children and that is a good thing.