Soon after my daughter Isabelle started kindergarten in Switzerland, aged four, we received a note from the teacher. ‘We will be going to the woods tomorrow,’ it read. ‘Please bring a penknife. It must be sharp.’
This sort of comment would have many UK parents and teachers recoiling, but it reflects a very Swiss attitude to safety. Intercultural education specialist Marie Madeleine Steiger explains, ‘You want to protect your children from dangerous things, but life is dangerous. You don’t help children when you protect them from life.’
This attitude starts early. One Swiss nursery I visited never locked the main door, assuring me if a child wandered onto the street, other children would notice and bring them back. In another, the low, second-floor windows had no safety catches. ‘You worry too much,’ the owner maintained.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here