Introduction/specifics

My name is Romina Falaguerra and I was born in Düsseldorf in 1990. The love and admiration of small children has been a constant companion of mine my entire life. I come from a large family, with two younger siblings, three aunts, three uncles and many cousins. After graduating from school, I successfully completed training as a medical assistant, specializing in pediatrics and neuropediatrics. Both in practice and in the children's clinic, I was able to acquire a great deal of additional medical knowledge relating to children. There, too, I noticed how much joy I enjoyed working with and interacting with children, which often required a great deal of sensitivity and, above all, tact. After a total of seven years in this profession, the desire arose in me to deepen this joy of heart and relationship with children, which is why I decided to retrain as a childminder and open a childcare center. My goal is to offer families, regardless of their origin or religion, and single mothers or fathers the opportunity to pursue their careers without having to forego caring care, upbringing and education for their child.

Rooms

My premises are located in my three-unit house. I live on the second floor, and my daycare is on the first floor. I have a three-room, 65-square-meter apartment exclusively for the children. In the entrance area, there is a small cloakroom for the children and their belongings, such as a change of clothes, shoes, mud pants, etc. On the left side is a large kitchen with a dining table, which is used not only for eating but also a lot for crafts. Right next to the kitchen is the playroom with everything a child's heart desires. Here, the little ones can play with building blocks, cars, dolls, various musical instruments, and anything else that stimulates the senses. There is also a special cuddle corner with blankets and stuffed animals, which can be used either for relaxation or for reading aloud. Of course, there's also a children's play kitchen where children can prepare and enjoy delicious meals to their heart's content. The children's puppet theater offers the opportunity to slip into different roles and let their imaginations run wild with finger puppets and other costumes available to children in a separate box.

The bathroom is also child-friendly. It features a large corner bathtub and a toilet, which, of course, is equipped with a toilet trainer so that children can also go to the toilet independently. On the right side is the activity room. The main element is the Kidwood wooden children's climbing frame, with various wooden elements such as a slide, dumbbells, a swing, various climbing options, and, of course, a safety mat, perfect for climbing, sliding, swinging, crawling, and romping. It allows children to develop their physical skills through play, as well as coordination and dexterity. Six different wall elements have been attached to the wall, which are primarily intended to promote children's motor skills and perception. The children can play together and explore and learn different things at the same time. These include geometric shapes, colors, fine motor skills with beads, numbers, and musical development through the creation of different tones, sounds, and a sense of rhythm. Next to this room is the relaxation room/bedroom. The bedroom features five child-friendly beds, a changing table, and a small cozy corner. The beds can be stacked on top of each other, allowing for additional opportunities for movement games (e.g., freeze-dance) and sitting circles (e.g., singing songs).

Outdoor Facilities

The outdoor area.

This offers children plenty of space to play in the fresh air as they please. On one side of the lawn, there's a climbing frame with a slide and a telescope. Next to it, on the lawn, there's another playhouse for the children, a seesaw, and plenty of space for playing ball, exploring nature, and riding Bobby Cars.

Daily Schedule

7:00 – 9:00 a.m. Children arrive

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast together

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Free play (indoors or outdoors)

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Diaper changes, hand washing, and singing songs together

11:30 – 12:00 p.m. Lunch together

12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Nap with bedtime songs/stories

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Healthy snack (fruit and raw vegetables)

2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Free play, creative time, cleanup together, and pick-up of the children

Food

Three meals: a hearty breakfast, a hot and fresh lunch, and fresh fruit and raw vegetable snacks. Further details can be found in the "Daily Routine" section.

Description and Stations

After a two-minute walk, you reach the Jahnplatz stop, where trams 106 and 101 depart every 10 minutes. The area around Jahnplatz is wonderful for children. Right outside my front door is a large playground for children of all ages, and the beautiful Niederfeldsee lake, perfect for walks with the little ones, is also just a few minutes away on foot.

Basics

One of my most important goals is for the children to feel comfortable and safe with me. This can only come about through a loving and trusting bond between the child and me. Often, child day care is the first step in which the children become somewhat separated from their family and therefore require even more sensitivity and empathy. As we know, children discover our world much more intensively than we adults do, using all of their senses. I want to create a safe and trusting environment for the children in which they can learn all the basic skills they need for their further development in a playful way.

With all the experiences and impressions I have gathered, I have opted for a democratic style of parenting. Participation is very important in my childcare. It is important that the children have the opportunity to help shape everyday situations. Participation means letting them have a say and take part, because this too forms the self-education process, which is very important for the free development of their own personality. All play areas are designed so that the children can access the toys independently and are divided into different themed areas. Free play is an important, fundamental need for children, especially during development. Free play means plenty of space and time for imagination and development. They learn about the world and process experiences naturally through play. I take on the role of observer. It's important to find out and recognize what children are interested in, which topics they enjoy, and which ones they find fun and enjoyable, so that you can offer them further inspiration in the form of various materials and stimuli.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited!" Source: - Albert Einstein.

In my group, all children are treated equally and no discrimination is made in any way, regardless of their religion, skin color, or background. Of course, there will be arguments or disputes among the children in the group from time to time, but I have a clear stance on these. Social behavior is not something our youngest children are born with; these are things they must learn throughout their lives, as conflict resolution skills are also a developmental process. I will verbally facilitate conflicts, which means that as long as there is no danger (injury, etc.), I will not intervene in the dispute. It is important that the children learn to resolve their conflicts on their own, as this also supports their social and cognitive development. In supporting the children, I follow the educational areas of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Cooperations

I maintain close cooperation with my association, the Diakoniewerk Essen. It is very important to regularly exchange ideas on important topics and areas and to be able to get a second opinion if there are any questions or uncertainties. I also exchange ideas with other childminders and facilities, which also plays a large and important role in my experience and further training. We are happy to use this opportunity if you need help with the transition to kindergarten later on. I participate in professional training courses at least twice a year to continually expand my knowledge. If I am unable to care for your child due to health reasons, my professional association offers a qualified and trained substitute childminder and childminder who would step in in such a case to ensure the best possible care for your child.

Teamwork with parents

An important and essential aspect of childcare is, of course, the collaboration with you as parents. It is not only important to me that the children feel comfortable and safe with me, but you as parents should also feel welcomed, valued, well looked after, and respected. Communication is key in our parenting partnership. As already mentioned, it is important to create transparency and be honest with each other. I am not only there to accompany the children on their journey through life, but also to support you and to strengthen and encourage the children together in their development. We will hold development discussions to report to you on how individually and wonderfully your child is developing in my childcare. This discussion will take place without the child. It is also important to me that you as parents have the opportunity to approach me openly and to know that our collaboration underpins your child's balanced and happy development. We will hold these meetings according to your needs and wishes, but at least once a year.

Furthermore, I will also host regular farewell parties for the children to make the upcoming transition to daycare and the process of becoming independent as enjoyable as possible. After all, a farewell is also a defining event for the child, and it should be as joyful and festive as possible. If you need help or have questions regarding the transition to daycare, I would be happy to provide you with advice and full support.