We are a small preschool with an important mission: To cultivate your child's intellectual and social growth while developing his/her language skills and cultural awareness. Kinderhaus provides San Francisco with a program geared to empower children to speak confidently and discover their worlds in German.
The Kinderhaus program runs for 11 months, starting each year at the end of August to the end of July, with a 4 weeks break in the summer. Our program is based on child-initiated activities and focuses on the German language and German-speaking cultures while incorporating American and English stories, songs, and customs.
The Kinderhaus program runs for 11 months, starting each year at the end of August to the end of July, with a 4 weeks break in the summer. Our program is based on child-initiated activities and focuses on the German language and German-speaking cultures while incorporating American and English stories, songs, and customs.
Services
Originally established as a preschool co-op, Kinderhaus has grown and flourished into full-time, German immersion preschool. The values and community that were established in the early days of Kinderhaus remain true today. We celebrate culture. Kinderhaus is a German immersion preschool that respects and values the many unique backgrounds that bring us together.
The Kinderhaus program welcomes children around the age of 2.9 through 5 years old. We are often flexible with the start age depending on a child's overall preschool readiness. The school year begins each year in August, and runs through mid-July, with a 4-week break in the summer. The Kinderhaus program operates daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
As we aim to foster social and intellectual growth in your child, Kinderhaus provides activities that stimulate senses, engage curiosity, and provide opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and conversation. Here is an example of how, by listening to and observing the interests of the children, we provide hands-on experiences and materials to inspire activities that seek further exploration.
Ivana holds an M.A. degree in German literature and has taught German, English and Croatian from university to elementary school levels. In 2015, she purposefully refocused her interest and research to the youngest students of German. She is intrigued by the studies on brain development and special needs integration in schools.
Thank you for your interest in Kinderhaus. We are a small preschool with an important mission: To cultivate your child's intellectual and social growth while developing his/her language skills and cultural awareness. Kinderhaus provides San Francisco with a program geared to empower children to speak confidently and discover their worlds in German.
Reviews (20)
Ioana C.
Jan 29, 2021
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Kinderhaus is a caring, supportive community of teachers and parents. Our daughter comes from a bilingual, German-English, household, and started attending Kinderhaus at age 4 with only passive knowledge of the German language. Within weeks, she started forming simple sentences in German and her language skills continue to flourish. The teachers are highly dedicated, and run a wonderful program of play-based learning, focused on creative play, exploration, and lots of outdoor time. The preschool is a non-profit, offering parents the opportunity to be involved in running the program. We are
Chrissy T.
Jan 28, 2021
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Our three year old son is a new student at Kinderhaus and we could not be more thrilled with his and our experience thus far. Kinderhaus is an exceptionally close-knit, caring community that works to create a wonderful play based environment for littles ones. We've been especially impressed with the staff's care and attention to creating a safe environment in light of the pandemic, which has made us feel comfortable and trusting that our family's health is in good hands. Since starting at Kinderhaus, our son has quickly and seamlessly adjusted to the new environment and schedule
Alexander N.
Jan 20, 2021
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Fantastic German-immersion pre-school. We are a dual-speaking household with one parent of German descent, and one parent of American descent. This is similar to many other families at Kinderhaus. The school reminds us of the pre-schools we went to as kids in the suburbs. Next to a wonderful playground, great outdoor areas, lots of activities. Our son sprints there every morning and we're in love with the teachers. There's new activities and engagement on a daily and weekly basis. Great community of parents as well most of which are heavily engaged with the community. Would recommend
Olivia B.
Jan 20, 2021
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Kinderhaus is an amazing German preschool. Our son is very shy and doesn't feel very comfortable in big group but this stopped when he startet at Kinderhaus. The teachers are extremely sweet and patient with the children, every day they offer new and creative activities and overall it is just a very loving atmosphere. The location is also awesome as they have a huge playground and an athletic field directly in front of their house. Our son started during covid time and we are so impressed how the teachers are following the safety guidelines and create a very warm but also save environment
Hallam Gugelmann
Jan 09, 2017
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Dedicated, caring staff in a supportive, rich learning environment, our daughter has really opened up to other children and made some lifelong friends, all while developing her German skills. What an incredible development for the neighborhood to have such a positive learning environment in what has been a neglected and dangerous neighborhood playground!
Angelina
Oct 19, 2016
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Staff is horrible...They let there kids bully, push and shove other kids. Putting hands on other outside kids that come to the neighborhood play ground makes other parents second guest there staff..Staff will just sit there and watch there kids bully others with out a care or concern in the world. There's numerous occasions I've seen this happen and not just to my kid but others as well! It's ridiculous to have to come to our neighborhood playground to have to parent there kids as well as your own. Isn't that why there is a staff? Staff should be speaking to these kids and teaching them to not
Nathalie L.
May 29, 2016
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This is the preschool for chill, down to earth parents who work and need flexibility, who want their child to be loved and listened to but also to know there are other important things at the center of the universe:) the teachers here are awesome, creative, dedicated and teach respect manners and how to do-exist without overthinking it.
We have been super happy here and enjoy the sounds and culture of Germany in our lives.
We have been super happy here and enjoy the sounds and culture of Germany in our lives.
Lily P.
May 25, 2016
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Our child is a student at kinderhaus and we are so pleased with our experience! Our daughter loves going to school and has truly blossomed under the guidance of their excellent staff. The school continuously comes up with new and creative ways to engage the children and adheres to the philosophy of play based learning. The result is a wonderful, nurturing environment that fosters creativity, independence and curiosity. All with the added bonus of being a German immersion program. We are so happy here and plan on having our other children attend when they reach preschool age.
Jan N.
May 24, 2016
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H. G.
May 21, 2016
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Alison R.
Apr 06, 2016
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Received a completely disingenuous email from Ms. Shannon stating that they received my reply to an account that isn't used. This, of course, doesn't explain why they didn't receive my second email to Rose.
With all these rave reviews, I'm left questioning whether or not these are from real customers.
With all these rave reviews, I'm left questioning whether or not these are from real customers.
Sun-Hee Y.
May 29, 2015
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KinderHaus is a wonderful institution in San Francisco that initially started as a parent run co-op, then got licensed as a preschool in 2005. Small class sizes, native german speaking teachers, a great parent community that is really diverse and spans the whole spectrum of German speaking folks, including Swiss and Austrian. My daughter has really blossomed here, made a ton of friends and her German has taken off! She's become truly bilingual, speaking to english speakers in english, switching seamlessly to German with the teachers and pals. She'll even speak German with me even
Hillary N.
Jun 03, 2014
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My daughter loves Kinderhaus- the teachers are so good with her and recently provided us really thoughtful and helpful feedback at the year-end parent teacher conferences. As many others have said, my daughter (2 years, 9 months at the time) made a huge leap in her German speaking within a couple weeks of beginning to attend Kinderhaus- her father is a native German speaker and I also speak some, but finding a use for the language in communicating with her peers made a huge difference for her. She already understood German well, but now will usually speak it back when we speak it to her (if she
Martin W.
Feb 06, 2014
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Kinderhaus is the only German immersion preschool in San Francisco. My daughter goes two days a week, and her German has jumped from understanding only to talking back in German and even dreaming in German (she talks in her sleep) in the few months she's been there.
While we were originally drawn to the school mainly because it is a German immersion program, I am deeply impressed with the quality of the program, the teachers, and the community.
Kinderhaus used to be a run as a co-op, but it is now a regular pre-school. Parents are still required to help out (serve on committees etc.),
While we were originally drawn to the school mainly because it is a German immersion program, I am deeply impressed with the quality of the program, the teachers, and the community.
Kinderhaus used to be a run as a co-op, but it is now a regular pre-school. Parents are still required to help out (serve on committees etc.),
A. J.
Feb 06, 2014
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My kids are currently attending Kinderhaus and we couldn't be happier!
It's a happy and fun place where everyone is really warm and welcoming, and the strong parent involvement makes the school feel more like an extended family where kids are nurtured and safe.
The only language kids listen to and speak is German, so it is a real German immersion experience for them and it really boosts their language skills.
My kids love Kinderhaus and so do I!
It's a happy and fun place where everyone is really warm and welcoming, and the strong parent involvement makes the school feel more like an extended family where kids are nurtured and safe.
The only language kids listen to and speak is German, so it is a real German immersion experience for them and it really boosts their language skills.
My kids love Kinderhaus and so do I!
Alan R.
Nov 09, 2013
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Ok, let's be real here, the facilities there are in the basement of an old church, not adequate for preschoolers, cold, dirty and just set up behind divider walls in a big room! Parents also have to bring lunch to school for their kids because they don't have a kitchen there. In addition it is substantially more expensive than other pre schools, but it requires more involvement than others as well such as cleaning, setup. Additionally, the staff is nice but they are not proper pre school teachers, they are constantly struggeling finding adequate staff because most staff have their own
Katrin M.
Feb 12, 2011
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Jb S.
Oct 09, 2010
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So excited to have found this school for my three year old. It's been the perfect introdcution to school for him- fun and caring teachers, a cozy and nurturing environment, and a great group of children and parents. My husband is Swiss and I'm so happy to have found a place where my son can practice speaking German. I also love that it's a co-op and I can participate and experience this new phase in my son's life.
Katrin S.
Oct 04, 2010
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My daughter joined Kinderhaus this summer and I'm a BIG fan. I love that there is a community that keeps the German language, customs and traditions alive even far away from Germany. I love that the kids are exposed in their early years to the German way of educating and nurturing, combined with all what San Francisco has to offer. I love bilingual education. The group is small and every child gets a lot of attention. I like that a lot. And a another lovable detail: they have the biggest selection on princessdresses for the girls...
Shannon D.
Dec 11, 2009
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Ich liebe Kinderhaus! This is about as far as my German goes, but not my daughter's! She has REALLY blossomed at this small, fun and caring preschool. Since it is a co-op, there is a lot of parent involvement and parents do have to volunteer in the classroom, but I really enjoy experiencing all the fun stuff my daughter gets to do: art projects, German songs and books, garden projects, science-related projects and much more! All of this is guided by two wonderful and caring native-born German teachers. My daughter and her father now speak exclusively German to each other - thanks in no small
