
Focal points
Family centers
A family center in North Rhine-Westphalia is an extended form of a daycare facility that offers a wide range of support and advice services for families in the social area in addition to the traditional care and education services. The aim of a family center is to offer parents and children comprehensive support from a single source, thereby promoting the compatibility of family and career and improving children's educational opportunities.
Family centers can help to develop action strategies that promote the social participation of families and thus contribute to more equal opportunities, especially in disadvantaged areas that are characterized by inadequate infrastructure or poverty.
plusKITAs
PlusKITAs in North Rhine-Westphalia are special daycare centers that receive additional staff resources to specifically support children from socially disadvantaged families. The aim of these facilities is to create equal opportunities and have a positive impact on children's education by encouraging and supporting them at an early age. One focus of this facility is the implementation of language education and support integrated into everyday life.
Language daycare centers
Language daycare centers in North Rhine-Westphalia are special daycare facilities that focus intensively on the language education and support of children. Until 2023, this program was part of a nationwide initiative by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) called "Sprach-Kitas: Weil Sprache der Schlüssel zur Welt ist" (Language daycare centers: Because language is the key to the world). The aim of Sprach-Kitas is to promote children's language skills early and sustainably in order to give them better opportunities for education and participation. Other key tasks include inclusion and supporting a good educational partnership. Since summer 2023, the language daycare centers have been continued as a state-funded programme.
Forest kindergartens
Forest kindergartens offer children the opportunity to experience nature up close every day. Most of the educational work takes place outside, which promotes physical activity and a connection to nature. By playing and learning in nature, children develop a strong environmental awareness and strengthen their motor and social skills. Forest kindergartens promote a respectful attitude towards nature and sustainable thinking. Here, children learn how important it is to treat natural resources with care.
Recognized movement kindergartens
Recognized movement kindergartens focus on movement-oriented development that strengthens children's physical and cognitive health. They offer a variety of daily movement activities that help children to develop a healthy body awareness and enjoy being active. Educational promotion through movement supports holistic development and awakens an awareness of health and active living at an early age. The aim is to promote enjoyment of movement and healthy physical development. With the Kita-Finder, you can easily search for daycare facilities with this focus in your area.
Recognized physical activity kindergartens with Plus Point Nutrition
The recognized movement kindergartens with the nutrition bonus combine movement and nutrition education. Here, children learn the importance of a balanced lifestyle through active exercise and health-promoting nutritional offers. In addition to the exercise program, the children learn how nutrition and physical activity interact in an age-appropriate way and are introduced to healthy eating habits at an early age. With the Kita-Finder, you can easily search for daycare facilities with this focus in your area.
From 2025, daycare facilities will also have the opportunity to focus on healthy nutrition education without first being certified as a recognized movement kindergarten. In this way, more daycare centers can be addressed and participate in the Pluspunkt Ernährung program. The holistic further development of health promotion in the elementary sector in all three fields of action (nutrition, exercise and mental health) is to be continued and consolidated.
Further information on the recognized movement kindergartens with the Plus Point Nutrition can be found on the following website: https://www.bewegungskindergarten-nrw.de/