Language development begins even before birth. A newborn’s very first sounds, movements, and reactions are part of a process that continues throughout life. Language serves a purpose far beyond simply communicating needs. Children use it to process experiences, reflect on what they’ve learned, and express and understand their feelings.

Physical activity is a basic need. It strengthens motor skills, health, and well-being; a lack of physical activity, on the other hand, can hinder development. From early play through school and into leisure time, physical activity remains a central component of education.

Children’s learning processes are built on physical well-being, emotional security, and a fundamental sense of safety. Children develop a positive body image, become aware of their bodies and their capabilities, and view diversity as a matter of course. At the same time, they learn to recognize and respect the boundaries of others.

Democracy cannot be taken for granted; rather, it thrives when people understand it, value it, and actively help shape it. The foundations of democratic societies must be continually re-taught and brought to life. Democracy begins in our daily interactions. Children experience community, friendship, and solidarity; they practice consideration, learn to take on responsibility, and build trust.

Children first explore their world through their senses. They hear, touch, see, smell, and taste, and process these impressions into inner images and ideas. Cultural education means perceiving the world with all the senses and expressing oneself creatively. Cultural education opens doors for all children. It also offers opportunities for self-expression to those who have limited verbal abilities, whether due to their age, a different native language, or a disability.

Children approach the world with openness and wonder, developing their own ideas about what makes life valuable and meaningful. They experience fear and security, failure and success, hope and trust. Children contribute their questions and perspectives, make sense of their experiences, and search for answers together with others. Specialists and teachers encourage them to grasp connections, ask questions about where things come from, where they are going, and why, and to develop their own answers.

Mathematics is part of children’s lives from the very beginning. It is not just a school subject, but a natural part of their world: they encounter patterns, shapes, numbers, and comparisons everywhere. Mathematics opens up ways to create order, discover structures, and develop solutions to challenges.

Children encounter science and technology everywhere in their daily lives: while cooking and baking, playing with water and sand, building things, observing animals and plants, or taking walks in nature. They learn that technical devices can be made, repaired, or modified.

When it comes to the environment and sustainability, children’s everyday experiences serve as the starting point. When they play outside, observe animals, plant seeds in the garden, or explore puddles when it rains, they experience nature with all their senses. Joy, wonder, a sense of security, and sometimes even fear or sadness—all of these are fundamental experiences that connect children to their environment.

Digital media shape every aspect of life today. They are omnipresent and often barely noticeable because they are invisibly embedded in everyday devices and processes. For children and adults alike, it is simply a given that digital technology plays a role in nearly every area of life.