Why kids love going to school in Switzerland

School in Switzerland encompasses more than just academics. Various activities during school hours provide an enjoyable and healthy balance to the educational experience.

Movement and sport

Sport day - Sport Tag

Once a year, children participate in a day of games and sports competitions. At the end, the top performers are awarded medals. The activities are designed according to the class level, whether primary or secondary. It's a day of fun where they miss classes, focusing on fitness, health, and enjoying team exercises.

Autumn hiking

Each October, the entire school trades their regular shoes for hiking boots and heads into the woods for a hiking tour and campfire. Roasting marshmallows over the fire is always a highlight, and children enjoy playing in the woods while engaging in various activities. Depending on their grade level, from kindergarten to secondary, they select either simpler or more challenging hiking paths. When the weather cooperates, fun and laughter are unstoppable.

Visits in the nearby towns/villages

Whether it's a solar plant, an ecological farm, a museum, or a climbing park, children enjoy these day trips, where they have fun, get some exercise, and learn something new.

Class camps

Beginning in the 4th grade, there is an annual class camp held during school time with the class teachers. Typically, the group rents a cabin in the mountains, prepares their own meals, and the children take charge of various evening activities, such as game nights, baking parties, movie nights, or creative workshops. The camp itinerary always includes a visit to a museum or castle, or a chocolate or cheese factory, and a trip to a Badi (thermal bath). It is generally the most anticipated event of the year.

Creativity

Gestalten class course

In this course, children learn how to saw, knit, design and construct plush animals, make beanbags, and much more. Everything they create is age-appropriate and highly practical. These activities are the most popular in the entire curriculum and provide a lot of enjoyment.

Project week

In many schools, prior to the summer break, children participate in diverse creative activities over the course of five days. A wide range of workshops is available, including painting, manga, design, languages, and sports. Children select their preferred workshops, and the results are showcased in a gallery for the parents.

Creativity thinking

This initiative at our school involves assigning children a task (such as building a bridge over water using limited paper or bricks) that encourages creativity and experimentation. It occurs weekly in the morning, with children working in teams. It's incredible to observe what the children create and how it functions.

Digitalisation and media

Schools in Switzerland are embracing digital education and promoting the positive use of media among students. To this end, every child starting from the 4th or 5th grades receives a personal iPad at school, which they use for various educational activities. Moreover, children participate in numerous digital events.

Class video

They create a themed video for the class, produce films, perform songs, and upload everything online on the school's intranet.

Digital reporter

Some children participate in the school's digital newspaper, providing engaging topics for both parents and kids.

Collaboration and team work

Schools in Switzerland prioritize teaching children to work in teams, emphasizing collaboration and the ability to provide feedback. They occasionally engage students in paired activities to foster closer cooperation between two children, motivating them to learn how to work together effectively.

My children enjoy attending school, and they are excited to reunite with friends and begin engaging activities at the end of each holiday. There is a balance between education, tests, homework, and enjoyable activities. Occasionally, learning itself can be fun and exciting, such as when they learn multiplication through Kahoot.

These are just a few examples. Stay tuned to learn more about schools and education in Switzerland.

Jess