Horseback Riding Lessons in Wiesbaden

Horseback riding lessons are a lot cheaper here in Germany than in the US. You can get clothing and equipment at Decathalon which always gives good prices. In addition to horseback riding lessons, they also do horse vaulting with small ponies. From what I have been told, horse vaulting is not done in the US.

Many Americans go to Hofgut Adamstal. It has both riding lessons and vaulting and some English classes, depending on interest. You can also do private lessons until you learn enough German and riding skills to join a German group class.

Here are several other places to explore: Reitschule Helmke (girls only), Reiterhof Walluf,  and a bigger list from the Wiesbaden website.

School Closings in Hessen & School Holidays in Hessen

Schools in Wiesbaden do not close often. We’ve seen early dismissal due to snow and the buses or heat (because they have no air conditioning). Last year school was canceled quite a bit one of the schools due to a broken heating system.

Here are two sites that list cancellations: Schulausfälle in Hessen and here.

Also, school websites are not always updated and calendars may only list the long school breaks (fall, Easter and summer) and not list the public holidays or other incidental days like teacher work days. Some public holidays are national and some are celebrated only in certain states. To confuse things even more, some public holidays are SOMETIMES celebrated in certain states, but not every year. It is also common to have a Brückentag or bridge day off if the public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday.  So, be sure to look up Public Holidays in Hessen (or whatever state you are in) and write them on your calendar. Ask if the school has a complete list of days off that includes school holidays, teacher work days and public holidays. The Grundschule registration process starts 18 months before the start of 1st grade, so the calendar may have been handed out at one of the many meetings/events they have as part of that and if you come in later in the process, they typically don’t automatically give you what you missed. If you are starting in 2nd grade or beyond, they might have given the calendar at the end of the previous school year, so ask if you don’t get one or see an updated calendar on the school’s website.

As always, make sure you are in the class Whatsapp Group because the information is often sent there as well.

Homeschooling in Germany

In general, homeschooling is not allowed in Germany for German citizens and residents. However, if you are here with the US government as either military or civilian and have SOFA status, you absolutely CAN homeschool.

Homeschooling is popular in the American military community so wherever there is a base, there is probably a homeschool community. There are two active Facebook Groups in the Wiesbaden area: WATCH (Christian) and Wiesbaden Area Homeschoolers (secular).

Also, if you have SOFA status, be sure to join the Facebook Groups for SOFA-Status Americans. In Wiesbaden, there is the Wiesbaden Welcome Wagon and Official Americans in Wiesbaden. Americans Living in Germany is a great and active Facebook Group, but it is primarily for non-SOFA status Americans so it is not the best source of information because they follow different rules than we do.  Ask your sponsor what the Facebook Groups are for the installation you will be attached to as Facebook is currently the best source of information. Websites are often out-of-date.

As I have said before, if you are putting non-German-speaking kids into German school, I advise you NOT to continue to homeschool in English until the German is well-established and they have friends. It is exhausting to be in a foreign-language environment and they just don’t have the capacity to do more work so you are just adding stress and slowing German-language acquisition and social integration. Your time is better spent enrolling them in a physical activity that is conducted in German that will give them more language exposure but in a less-stressful way and give them more opportunity for social connection. Social connection is key. Once a child makes a friend, the language acquisition happens faster and easier.

 

Swim Lessons in Wiesbaden

Swim lessons for babies and toddlers seem to be less common in Germany than in the US (but you can find courses). Also, in the US we start with Freestlyle and in Germany they start with Breaststroke and Freestyle is the last stroke they teach.