Review of the Fröbel Symposium 2025: #TOGETHER for good child protection

The protection of children is a socially highly relevant topic that is of great importance in research, teaching and practice. How can child endangerment be recognised in educational institutions? Which procedures need to be used and which practices have proven to be particularly helpful for children and families? These questions were at the focus of the symposium "#TOGETHER for good child protection - What does it take in child daycare?" at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and were discussed in cooperation with practitioners and academics. The conference aimed to reach interested parties throughout Germany, thereby contributing to the dissemination of relevant findings.

A strong programme for child protection

The two-day conference offered a high-calibre programme with specialist presentations, thought and dialogue workshops and interactive exchange formats.

At the opening, Prof Dr Eva Schmitt-Rodermund, President of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, emphasised the need to understand child protection as a task for society as a whole. Fröbel Managing Director Stefan Spieker made it clear: "Child protection is not a topic of fear - we have included children's rights in our mission statement and consistently implement them." Alexandra Mebus-Haarhoff, Head of the Children, Youth and Family Department in Potsdam, underlined the growing urgency: the number of child protection cases is increasing, especially in cases of neglect and sexualised violence. Her appeal to all professionals: look and act!

Prof Dr Annette Dreier, Professor of Pedagogy and Education in Childhood at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam: "For the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, the collaboration with the sponsor Fröbel and the Fröbel kindergarten is a great benefit: we experience a great deal of interest in 'the theory', i.e. our childhood education projects and research, and we find open ears and doors for our ideas in the facilities. At the same time, the daycare centres are constantly giving us new impetus for projects and research projects with children and students. In addition, interns are supported at a high professional level and, after completing their Bachelor's degree, numerous graduates of the Early Childhood Education have been able to work in Fröbel daycare centres. For us, the collaboration is characterised by high professional quality, innovation and inspiration."

Professional exchange and practical workshops

In addition to presentations, the focus was on exchange in thought and dialogue workshops. Participants had the opportunity to discuss practical issues such as highly contentious parental conflicts, participation and complaints procedures for children, protection against discrimination in child protection and cooperation between daycare centres and youth welfare offices.

The programme was rounded off by a cultural finale with a children's literary inspiration by Prof Gunnar Pietsch and a presentation by Anne Kuhnert on the importance of an open and sustainable team culture for child protection.

New building on campus and research kindergarten

FH Potsdam has worked with the Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Forschung und Kultur (MWFK) and the Brandenburgischen Landesbetrieb für Liegenschaften und Bauen (BLB) for many years on the construction of a new university building, New Building V, which is set to begin in summer 2025. Various university departments will use the new building. In addition, a research kindergarten will be set up on the ground floor. This will be supported by the Department of Social and Educational Sciences' Early Childhood Education (BABEK) programme, and will be closely integrated into teaching and research. Fröbel has been selected to organise this research kindergarten, and the facility at the FHP is part of a nationwide Fröbel research network.

Further information and impressions