Forest Daycare in Zurich (Waldkita)

A Waldkita — forest daycare — runs the day primarily outdoors, usually in a wooded area, with a small hut or shelter as a base for cold weather, sleep, and storage. Operation is year-round; in Zurich winters, children dress in layers of waterproofs and thermals and the activity adapts to the weather. Snow days are part of the experience; lightning and severe storms are the only hard stops.

The contrast with a standard nursery — even one with a generous garden — is the share of the day spent outside. A garden kita typically has thirty to sixty minutes of outdoor time; a Waldkita has the whole day. Compared with conventional indoor childcare, the base hut is for sleep and shelter rather than the main classroom. The approach tends to suit active children whose families are comfortable with weather-appropriate clothing as the default. Evidence suggests forest-based children get fewer respiratory infections than indoor-kita peers, since outdoor air dramatically reduces virus transmission.

If a Waldkita feels too far on the outdoor end, the nature-focused option is a useful middle ground (indoor base plus several hours outside per day). The full Zurich-wide directory shows everything else. Browse the Waldkitas and forest-based daycares across Zurich below.