Award recognizes commitment to early language development and educational opportunities
Five daycare centers in the science city of Darmstadt and the Darmstadt-Dieburg district KiSS seal at the end of September 2025. The seal stands for special and long-term achievements in early language development for children .
The KiSS (Children's Language Screening) program is a scientifically evaluated and standardized procedure used to assess the language skills of four- to four-and-a-half-year-old children in Hessian daycare centers. The goal is to identify language deficits early initiate targeted support measures sustainably strengthen educational opportunities and social participation
Joint commitment to early education
The project is funded Hessian Ministry for Family, Sports, Health and Care, together with the Hessian Ministry for Labor, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs Hessian Child Care Center (HKVZ) at Frankfurt University Hospital is the lead project leader. Language experts from the Darmstadt-Dieburg Health Department train and support the KiSS educators who conduct the language assessment on-site.
"With the KiSS seal, we recognize the tremendous commitment of our daycare centers and their educators to early language development," emphasized Christel Sprößler , Social Affairs and Youth Director of the Darmstadt-Dieburg District and Deputy Chair of the Health Department. "Language is the key to educational opportunities and participation – and that's why it's so important to support children starting in preschool."
André Schellenberg also emphasized the importance of the program: "With KiSS, we are creating a bridge between education, health, and family. The fact that speech disorders can be identified early and specifically supported is a great benefit for children's development."
Excellent facilities in the city and district
The following institutions were honored during a ceremony:
- Municipal Daycare Center Ackermann , Ober-Ramstadt
- Protestant Daycare Center , Nieder-Beerbach
- SGA Sport-Kita , Darmstadt-Arheilgen
- Kindergarten Sunflower , Brandau
- Municipal Daycare Center Rasp-Nuri-Haus , Darmstadt
The KiSS project will continue in Darmstadt and the Darmstadt-Dieburg . Educational professionals can continue to receive free training and certification as KiSS educators .
Further information is available at www.gesundheitsamt-dadi.de/kinder-und-jugendliche/kiss
