In addition, staff changes often take place during exactly this period: qualified childcare professionals start new positions, trainees begin their training, and summer holiday absences may still have an impact. The settling-in phase in the childcare centre therefore coincides with a team that is itself undergoing change.
If this overlap is not taken into account, there is a risk of overloading the team: key workers are tied up, group dynamics become unstable, and the remaining staff have to take on additional tasks. Good preparation in early summer therefore helps to relieve the pressure throughout the autumn.
What Makes a Successful Settling-In Period?
Settling in is much more than an organisational transition. It is about building a strong and trusting relationship between the child and their key worker – and therefore forms the foundation for everything that follows.
Three principles are essential:
A consistent key worker: Each child should be supported by a clearly assigned childcare professional who remains present throughout the entire settling-in period. Changing responsibilities can significantly prolong the process.
An individual pace: Children differ greatly in how quickly they develop a sense of security. Setting a fixed timeframe almost always means that some children will feel overwhelmed.
Parents as partners: The child does not separate from the parent, but moves towards the new key worker. During the initial phase, parents are not a disruption but a secure base from which the child can begin exploring.
An Overview of the Established Settling-In Models
In German-speaking Switzerland, most childcare centres follow one of two established models. Both are well documented and can be adapted to the individual centre's educational approach.
The Berlin Settling-In Model
The Berlin Model is the best-known and most clearly structured approach. It consists of four phases:
During the initial phase, a parent accompanies the child to the group for around three days, usually for one to two hours each day. No separation takes place during this time. The key worker carefully begins building a relationship with the child without being intrusive.
On the fourth day, the first separation attempt takes place. The parent says goodbye clearly and leaves the room for a few minutes. The child's reaction provides an indication of how the process should continue. If the child can be comforted by the childcare professional, the settling-in process may progress more quickly.
During the stabilisation phase, the separation periods are gradually extended, and the key worker increasingly takes over care activities such as changing nappies or feeding.
During the final phase, the parent leaves the childcare centre but remains available at all times. The settling-in period is only considered complete when the child can reliably be comforted by the key worker.
The Munich Settling-In Model
The Munich Model places greater emphasis on the group as a whole. It begins with an approximately one-week familiarisation phase during which no separation takes place. The child explores everyday life together with their parent and is also gradually introduced to the group by children who are already settled in.
Only afterwards does the actual security phase begin, with the first separations. This model is particularly suitable for centres with stable groups and mixed-age structures.
Which Model Is Right for Your Kita?
Both models can work well – what matters is that the entire team follows a consistent approach. Document the chosen method in your educational concept and ensure that new employees are trained accordingly. Few things make parents feel more uncertain than receiving contradictory information from different members of the same team.
Realistic Planning: How Long Does Settling In Take?
As a general rule, allow two to four weeks. Shorter settling-in periods of around one week do occur, but they are the exception and are usually limited to older children who already have experience in childcare settings.
Communicate this timeframe openly to parents from the beginning. Many families plan their return to work very tightly and can come under pressure if the settling-in period takes longer than expected. Clearly mentioning this during the initial contract meeting can prevent disappointment and conflicts later in the process.
Practical tip: Encourage parents not to return to working 100% immediately during the first week after the settling-in period has been completed. Setbacks after a weekend or a cold are normal and can be handled much more calmly when some flexibility has been planned.
Building a Partnership with Parents – Communication Before and During Settling In
The quality of communication with parents often has a greater impact on the process than the model itself.
Before the start: Conduct a detailed admission meeting to learn about the child's sleeping and eating habits, comforting routines, allergies and family language. Explain the settling-in process step by step and clearly name the responsible key worker.
During the process: Clear goodbye routines are essential. Ask parents to always say goodbye consciously and visibly. Secretly leaving can seriously undermine the child's trust. A short daily update of two to three minutes at pick-up is usually enough to address uncertainties and reassure parents.
After completion: A short review meeting after around four to six weeks rounds off the process. It demonstrates professionalism and strengthens the family's relationship with your Kita – a factor that can later lead to positive recommendations.
Staff Planning: How to Manage the Settling-In Period as a Team
Settling-in periods require additional resources. A childcare professional supporting a new child is only partially available to the rest of the group. These five measures have proven effective:
Stagger start dates: Avoid settling in more than two new children per week and group. Spacing start dates by a few days can significantly reduce the pressure on the team.
Assign key workers early: Clarify responsibilities as early as June or July, rather than during the first week.
Adjust staff schedules: Organise working hours so that key workers are reliably present during the important morning hours.
Plan holidays carefully: A key worker should not take holidays during the settling-in period of the child they are responsible for. This may sound obvious, but it is often overlooked in practice.
Address staffing gaps early: If it is clear that your team will not be fully staffed in August, advertise open positions in early summer. Find out how you can still recruit qualified childcare professionals at short notice in our article on the summer staff shortage.
Recognising Warning Signs – When a Child Needs More Time
Not every settling-in period goes according to plan. Look out for these signs:
The child cannot be comforted by the key worker over several days
The child consistently refuses food or sleep at the Kita
The child appears consistently withdrawn rather than protesting – quiet withdrawal is often overlooked
Significant changes occur at home, such as sleep problems or strong clinginess
In these situations, taking a step back is not a setback but the professionally appropriate response. Reduce the separation periods again and speak with the parents promptly. Transparently communicating that the settling-in period needs to be extended is always better than forcing the process and potentially causing it to break down later.
How Kinderkrippe.ch Supports Your Kita During This Phase
A successful settling-in period requires two things: a fully staffed team and families who have consciously chosen your Kita because it is the right fit for them.
As a specialised platform for childcare in Switzerland, Kinderkrippe.ch supports you with both. Through job listings, you can specifically reach qualified childcare professionals (FaBe EFZ), group leaders and Kita managers who are actively looking for a new position – without the wasted reach of general job platforms. At the same time, your Kita profile makes your educational approach visible to parents. Families who already understand your approach to settling in before registering their child come with more realistic expectations – making the start noticeably easier for everyone involved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does settling in at a Kita take?
Usually two to four weeks. The child determines the exact pace. Older children with previous childcare experience may sometimes need only one week, while younger or particularly reserved children may need significantly more time.
What is the Berlin Settling-In Model?
A four-phase approach consisting of the initial phase, the first separation attempt, the stabilisation phase and the final phase. It is considered the most clearly structured model and is widely used in German-speaking Switzerland.
When is the settling-in period complete?
Not when the child stops crying, but when they can reliably be comforted by their key worker and actively explore everyday life at the Kita. Some protest when saying goodbye can still be completely normal.
Why do so many settling-in periods start in August?
Because the Swiss Kita year begins in August. Children who move on to kindergarten leave the Kita, and the places that become available are filled with new children at the same time.
How many children should be settled in at the same time?
A maximum of two children per week and group is recommended. More simultaneous settling-in periods require too many staff resources and can affect the stability of the existing group.
Conclusion
Settling in is the most demanding, but also one of the most important phases of the Kita year. Careful planning lays the foundation for a strong relationship with the child, trust with parents and a calmer autumn for the team.
Three things are particularly important: a model that is clearly understood and consistently followed by the entire team, open and early communication with families, and staff planning that genuinely takes the additional workload in August into account. With these conditions in place, the start of the new Kita year becomes not an exceptional situation, but a well-prepared transition.
Start the New Kita Year with a Fully Staffed Team
A successful settling-in period requires childcare professionals who have enough time for the children. Make sure your team is fully staffed in August – and that families can find your Kita before all places are taken.
Publish your open positions now on Kinderkrippe.ch and showcase your Kita where Swiss families and childcare professionals are looking.
