Beaming faces: Röhrnbach celebrates 30 new citizens!

Beaming faces: Röhrnbach celebrates 30 new citizens!

Last weekend, numerous new parents met for the annual baby reception in the Josef-Eder-Halle in Röhrnbach in the Freyung-Grafenau district. Mayor Leo Meier warmly welcomed the new parents and was pleased about the stable birth rate of around 30 children per year. This was the fifth consecutive baby reception, providing an opportunity to strengthen community and connect. In total, around 20 of the 30 newborn Röhrnbach children were present.

The event not only offered parents a place to exchange ideas, but also valuable information about family-oriented offers in the region. Mayor Meier presented the parents with a local history book, which also contains an information brochure about the various family offers. In addition to the convivial coffee party, eight facilities were presented to give parents an understanding of what they have to offer. Among them were the forest kindergartens “Waldbachkinder” and “Dornbachkinder” from Waldkirchen as well as the St. Michael children’s home and the Kumreut kindergarten from Röhrnbach.

Diverse offers for families

The parents were able to find out about various support offers, including the infant care course run by the Catholic Adult Education (KEB) and the Coordinating Child Protection Center (KoKi) from Freyung. Johanna Kilger also offered a musical program with “children’s mantra singing,” while Andrea Czech introduced the Röhrnbach mother-child group. The event was described by parents as a benefit for the community, children and families. Andrea Geier, 37 years old, emphasized how important the baby reception is for making contacts.

A central part of the offer for the children are the forest kindergartens, which have existed in Germany since 1993. The first recognized forest kindergarten found its home in Flensburg. These special facilities offer children the opportunity to learn, play and experience nature up close outdoors. Playing in the forest promotes child development and provides an ideal space for movement that strengthens children's motor skills. Materials such as moss, stones and sticks are used and enable creative and educational activities.

Forest kindergartens as a support facility

The educational work in forest kindergartens is based on the knowledge that experiences in nature shape and promote children's emotional stability, ability to concentrate and balance. Various focal points such as experiencing nature and personal development support the children's individual development. According to the German Wildlife Foundation, the specific offerings of forest kindergartens meet the needs of children and therefore offer a valuable addition to conventional daycare centers.

This initiative is particularly relevant when considering the current comparison between “home kindergarten care” and care in nature and forest kindergartens. The experiences that children gain in a forest kindergarten can have a lasting influence on their entire personality development. Access to a natural area is not only beneficial for children, but also an important element for healthy development in today's fast-paced world.