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Kinderhaus Ringelrosen – Children’s Day nurseries in the heart of Wipkingen since 1993

The Ringelrosen Children’s Day nursery was founded on 1 October 1993 in the heart of Zurich-Wipkingen by Ilse Aschwanden, a mother of four adult daughters and six grandchildren. From her own experience, she knew that in addition to family and work, parents needed to find a place to provide care and attention for children. At that time, this barely existed in Switzerland, so with great courage and energy she opened a crèche with two groups of children and five employees in a single-family house at 61, Rosengartenstrasse. The demand was enormous and the following year, through happy coincidence, she was also able to rent the neighbouring building for three more groups.

With her daughter Andrea Kienle, who joined the business in 1997, she opened two more locations in Rötelstrasse and Scheffelstrasse until her retirement in 2005 when Andrea Kienle took over the management. She was assisted by Steffi Mühlemann, who first took charge of kindergarten management and from 2008 the educational management of the entire company. In 2016, Andrea’s son Gabriel Kienle joined the family business and assisted his mother in managing the administration and marketing. The fourth site, on Bucheggstrasse opened its doors in 2020 with three more groups of children.

From the very beginning, Ringelrosen Children’s Day nurseries have been oriented towards the social development and the needs of its clients. The duration of care and the range of services offered have been continuously adapted and expanded in response to changing demand, including subsidised childcare places. Specific age groups such as infant and Forest Kindergarten groups are offered. In addition, there is our Kita evening sleepover for two, or our annual Kita camp with the Forest Kindergarten group.

We attach great importance to harmonious spaces that are rich in experiences, both indoors and outdoors. We are constantly adapting these spaces to the needs of the children and the group as a whole. We attach great importance to providing healthy and lovingly prepared food for our children. But the most important thing for us is the beautiful and valuable cooperation with the parents who entrust us their children. We have been able to inspire and pamper parents and children at many family events and open and transparent communication is very close to our hearts.

Since 1996, the Ringelrosen Children’s Day nurseries have successfully trained students to become childcare specialists and have enabled young people to gain their first experience in a social profession. In addition to the apprentices and trainees, we employ over 20 qualified educators who are committed to the well-being and development of the children.

The Ringelrosen Children’s Day nurseries are run as educational day care centres according to the principles of the Infans concept, which places high demands on the professionalism of the specialist staff and their willingness to innovate, because the children in their care receive individual support. In 2014, the centre was awarded the Infans Education Day Care Award. Our staff are continuously trained with this aim in mind.

Up to 2020, the Ringelrosen Children’s Day nursery took part in the Zurich Department of Social Affairs pilot project, “Q-Kita”. This was a quality development support service provided by the city to private day care centres under contract.

The Ringelrosen Children’s Day nursery aspires to certification with the Qualikita label in 2023.