Kölyökház Alapítvány

description of organisation

Presentation of the Kölyökház Foundation, regular activities:

The Kölyökház Foundation has been operating in Hungary since 2010, in Szekszárd. From 2011 we operated 3 family daycare centers, then in 2014 we also established the 4th. Within this framework, we provided day care for children in nursery and preschool, and after-school learning and playing opportunities for schoolchildren. In addition, we organised summer camps for children aged 4-10. From 2017, continuing to operate as a family nursery due to changes in the law, we continuously provide for 24 children of nursery age. We hold thinking-development sessions for preschoolers and schoolchildren in small groups, we organise thematic weeks for preschoolers and schoolchildren several times a week in the afternoon, and for 5-6 weeks in the summer, we provide childcare continuously, we have weekend children's events available for those interested.

We carry out all our activities based on the Montessori method, which offers children the possibility to choose on the one hand, and supports their independent decision-making and problem-solving skills on the other. With this method, in addition to perception, mathematical and mother tongue development, we offer activities for the little ones in the field of getting to know everyday life and our environment. We make the tools for our activities ourselves. We work with silent games every day, where we put the focus of development on attention, patience, social sensitivity to each other. Parents and volunteers are also involved in the use of this method, e.g. we create games and development tools together, and we have the opportunity to provide information about the method.

Our thinking-development sessions are suitable for talent development, the development of children who are lagging behind in their development in one sub-area, as well as the development of attention, concentration, observation, memory and the development of strategies. Children can also experience cooperation and competition during these playing activities, thus gaining a sense of success and strengthening their ability to tolerate failure. During the sessions, the children check their own performance and become able to improve it.

Our summer thematic-weeks are organised according to the wishes of the children. Thus, kindergarten and elementary school students become little chefs, pirates, explorers, detectives, and toy makers during this period.

Our weekend kids-parties are popular. Considering the success of these and the parental need - that it would be good for the parents to have a free evening every month -, our plans include organising night childcare once a month, the topics of which will also be decided by the children.

We are basically working to provide good quality care for children according to their individual needs and to give room for their development. We make sure working parents know their children are safe while they work. Together with parents, we take responsibility for the well-being and development of children. We pay special attention to disadvantaged children, and we provide them with additional support, both in terms of funding and development. We consider it important to protect our environment, so we regularly work with recycled materials in our classes, and parents are also involved in the collection of raw materials; we take care of the nature and built environment in which we operate, our volunteers also help a lot in this activity.

The goals of the Kölyökház Foundation are:

- Help families enable parents to take up work and keep their children safe for the duration of their work.

- During the time spent at the Kölyökház Foundation, children should receive high-quality, personalised care and support their development.

- Contribute to the creation of equal opportunities for socially disadvantaged children by providing a high-level care and offering opportunities appropriate to their level of development.

- To create peace for children and offer activities that provide opportunities for development.

Our target groups are:

Children of nursery age, for whom we provide day-care; Preschool children for whom we hold pre-school classes; Children aged 5-12, for whom we offer thinking-development programmes; Children aged 4-10, for whom we organise summer themed weeks; Children aged 4-10, for whom we offer weekend programmes.

The volunteers, in addition to our employees, direct the involvement of their activities, such as the care and education of children, the preparation of activity plans together with our staff. By participating in the decoration of our spaces and in the preparation of material to our online news on their individual motivation, they can learn about the operation and tools of the Montessori method. We support them in their further development of their independence and responsibility. They can do their volunteer work under the guidance of one of our co-workers, supported by a coach and a mentor.