Wednesday, December 10, 2025

St. Nikolaus at Rella’s Spielhaus — A Tradition That Travels Through the Week

At Rella’s Spielhaus, traditions rarely arrive all at once. They unfold. They repeat. They take on different shapes depending on who is present, how old the children are, and what the moment allows. St. Nikolaus is one of those traditions — not a single event on the calendar, but a gentle thread woven through the first days of December.

This year, that thread moved through our daycare, our Saturday School, and our community gathering on Sunday, December 7th. Sometimes St. Nikolaus came in person. Sometimes he didn’t. And sometimes, he was already there — in the quiet anticipation, in the careful crafting, in the shared understanding of what this season means.

When St. Nikolaus Comes to Daycare

For our youngest children, St. Nikolaus arrived softly and with great care. The daycare visit was shaped by calm excitement and age-appropriate wonder — not by spectacle, but by presence. When St. Nikolaus finally appeared, the room filled with that unmistakable mixture of curiosity and awe that only very young children bring to such moments. There were wide eyes, careful observations, and a quiet seriousness that felt almost ceremonial. For many of the children, this was their first encounter with St. Nikolaus — and we made sure it was grounded, reassuring, and gentle.

Each child received a small gift, accepted with great focus and concentration — sometimes shyly, sometimes with visible pride. What mattered most here was not the gift itself, but the shared moment surrounding it: being together, listening, and experiencing something special as a group. In this way, St. Nikolaus became less a character and more a shared experience — one rooted in trust, familiarity, and collective attention.

When St. Nikolaus Does Not Come

At our Saturday School on December 6th, St. Nikolaus did not come in person. And that, too, was intentional. Instead, the morning was devoted to preparation, imagination, and hands-on creativity. The children gathered for songs on the carpet — including “Lasst uns froh und munter sein” — moved their bodies, played rhythm instruments (with particular enthusiasm for the little glockenspiels), and then transitioned to arts and crafts. We painted, glued, and created, using watercolors and stickers to bring our ideas to life — not as a substitute for a visit, but as a different way of engaging with the tradition.

At Rella’s, we do not measure the value of a tradition by whether someone “shows up.” Sometimes, the meaning lies in what we do while waiting — and sometimes, quite simply, in the making. Through crafting, the children explored the idea of St. Nikolaus in a way that belonged fully to them. They asked questions. They shared what they already knew. They imagined. They remembered. In doing so, St. Nikolaus became something they carried with them — not someone they passively receive.

This approach reflects a core belief of our Saturday School and our German language program more broadly: that traditions grow deeper when children are invited to participate actively, to shape meaning with their own hands, and to experience continuity across years. Even without a visit, St. Nikolaus was very present that morning — in the focused quiet at the craft table, in the proud showing of finished work, and in the shared understanding that this season is about more than one moment.

A Community Comes Together on Sunday

On Sunday, December 7th, St. Nikolaus arrived once more — this time for our broader Rella’s community. Parents were present, children between one and four years old filled the room, and the atmosphere felt noticeably different from earlier in the week: fuller, warmer, and distinctly communal.

Two craft tables invited families to create together. There were coloring templates, ornaments to color, and felt ornaments to assemble — hands busy, conversations flowing, and siblings occasionally helping one another. When St. Nikolaus appeared, each child again received a small gift, accepted with that same mixture of excitement and seriousness we had already seen earlier in the week.

Here, St. Nikolaus was not just visiting children; he was visiting a community. Parents smiled at familiar moments, children watched one another closely, and the room carried the warmth that comes from seeing a tradition repeated year after year. Songs, words, and gestures felt known — and that familiarity created a sense of belonging that extends far beyond a single event. And yes — just like earlier in the week, St. Nikolaus gently reminded a few children to listen carefully, and encouraged others to be brave and try new foods. Even St. Nikolaus, it seems, knows that these small life lessons belong naturally in early childhood.

One Tradition, Many Shapes

Looking back at this week, it becomes clear that St. Nikolaus at Rella’s Spielhaus is not defined by one visit or one day. He appears in different forms — sometimes quietly, sometimes visibly, sometimes through hands busy with glue, paper, and felt. What ties these moments together is intention. Preparation. Repetition. Care.

At Rella’s, traditions are not performances. They are lived experiences, shaped by the needs of the children and the rhythm of the community. St. Nikolaus reminds us that generosity is not loud, that anticipation can be just as meaningful as arrival, and that shared rituals help children feel anchored in time and place — even far from where these traditions began.

As December continues, we carry these moments with us. Not as isolated memories, but as part of a larger story — one that unfolds each year, in many small and meaningful ways.

Sunday, November 9, 2025

A Gathering of Lights: Rella’s Spielhaus Laternenlauf 2025

Celebrating 14 years of music, warmth, and German tradition in New York City

Every November, just as the city tips into early dusk and the trees in Central Park stand almost bare, something quietly magical happens at Rella’s Spielhaus, our warm and longstanding German daycare in NYC. Children arrive with glowing “Laternen,” parents wrap their scarves a little tighter, and familiar melodies drift through the crisp air. This is our Laternenlauf, our annual lantern walk — a beloved German tradition that we have carried, tended, and joyfully grown here in New York for “vierzehn Jahre” = fourteen years! Fourteen years of small hands carrying light through the early evening. Fourteen years of music echoing between the trees. Fourteen years of keeping an old tradition alive in a new home. And every year, it feels both timeless and brand-new.

Why we celebrate: The story behind the “Laternen”

Behind this glowing celebration stands the story of Sankt Martin, a Roman soldier-turned-saint who lived in the 4th century — a story of kindness, courage, and one simple act of generosity. As the legend goes, Martin encountered a freezing “Bettler” on a cold winter night. With nothing else to give, he took his “Mantel,” drew his “Schwert,” and cut the coat in half so the beggar could survive the night.

Later, when the people wanted to make him “Bischof,” Martin hid in a “Gänsestall.” The people searched for him with lanterns — “Laternen” lighting their way through the dark — and the noisy geese gave away Martin’s hiding place. To this day, families in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland celebrate with lantern walks, songs, and stories. At Rella’s, we bring this tradition to life right here in New York, where children learn about sharing, courage, gratitude, and community — not just through stories, but through experience. It’s one of those traditions that beautifully blends storytelling, culture, and the kind of hands-on learning that defines our German classes for kids.

How we prepare: A peek into the classrooms

In the days before the lantern walk, our Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K rooms, as well as our Saturday School and Mommy & Me (& Dads too!) classes, fill with quiet excitement.

The children learn that Martin was “ein Soldat auf einem Pferd” (a soldier on a horse) and follow his journey around the globe: from “Ungarn” to “Italien” and finally to Tours in France.

They discover words like: “die Burg” (castle), “der Ritter” (knight), “die Rüstung” (armor), “das Schwert” (sword), “der Mantel” (coat/cloak), “der Bettler” (beggar), and “die Laterne” (lantern). The children hear the story, re-enact scenes, and learn what sharing meant in Martin’s world.

Of course, they also craft their own lanterns — each child creating something to hold proudly during the walk. But we keep this part brief here, because the heart of the tradition doesn’t happen in the classroom. It happens outside, in the cold November air, surrounded by community and song.

Fourteen years in New York: A tradition kept alive

When we began our Laternenlauf fourteen years ago, it started small — just a handful of families walking together with homemade lanterns. But each year, it grew. Children returned. New siblings were born. Friends invited friends. Families from many parts of the world joined us.

It became a living bridge between cultures: between “Heimat” and New York, between old traditions and new experiences, between the way things were done in Europe and the way they can be reimagined here. Parents tell us how meaningful it is to revisit a tradition from their own childhood. Others tell us how beautiful it is to discover a celebration centered not around spectacle, but around gentle light in the dark season. No matter the size of the group, the spirit remains the same: a circle of warmth in a very big city.

A constant in our story: Music

Rella’s has always been a place where music leads the way — and the Laternenlauf is no exception. For years, our beloved musician, longtime Rella’s teacher and friend, Andrea Neumann, has been at the heart of this event. A professional trombonist (“Posaunistin”), she brings continuity, joy, and artistry to our tradition. This year, we asked her a simple question — one we had been meaning to ask for a while: “Andrea, what brings you back, year after year?” Her answer was as heartfelt as the music she brings to our community:

“Barbara was one of the first people I met and worked for when I came to NYC. Finding a German community and being able to participate in our cultural norms — not to mention having an outlet to speak our language — has been so prevalent throughout my life. Barbara and her team at Rella’s Spielhaus provide that home away from home, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to be included.”

Because music is so central to our Laternenlauf — and to Rella’s Spielhaus in general — we asked Andrea a little more about that part of her journey with us. Her answer came instantly and from the heart:

“Barbara also gave me space to incorporate my long-standing love and dedication to music with teaching and inspiring children. I firmly believe that music is such a powerful motivator — and sometimes a safe space — to bring out the best in us all.”

Her words capture so much of what we cherish at Rella’s: music, community, and heart.

The 2025 Laternenlauf: Central Park aglow

On Sunday, November 9, families gathered at the Tarr Family Playground as twilight settled over Central Park. A soft drizzle hung in the air — nothing strong enough to dim the lanterns, just enough to make everything shimmer. Our musicians struck the first notes of LATERNE, LATERNE, SONNE, MOND UND STERNE and a familiar hush fell over the group as the children recognized the melody. Parents joined in. New families learned their first German lantern song right there among the trees. We walked slowly along the paths while singing ICH GEH MIT MEINER LATERNE — a long ribbon of soft, glowing light winding its way through the dark.

On the path, we paused where Barbara told the story of Sankt Martin once more with “der Mantel,” “das Schwert,” “der Bettler,” and of course the loud, betraying geese. Children held their breaths, while adults listened with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. And although the evening came early, it never truly felt dark. That is the promise of the Laternenlauf: Where we walk together, there is light. Back at our starting point, “Heiße Schokolade” (hot chocolate) was waiting for everyone. Children warmed their hands. Parents talked. Teachers connected with families old and new. For a moment, the city felt small — like a village gathering around stories and song.

Why we keep doing this

The Laternenlauf is more than an annual event. It is a reminder:

• that compassion (“Mitgefühl”) matters

• that traditions can travel across oceans

• that even a small light can brighten dark times

• and that a community can create warmth simply by coming together

At Rella’s Spielhaus, we are honored to keep this tradition alive for vierzehn Jahre — and we look forward to the next fourteen. Events like this sit at the heart of what we do at Rella’s: offering German classes for kids rooted in culture, community, and joy.

Thank you to every family who joined us, every child who carried a lantern, every teacher who prepared with love, and every musician who filled the night with song. We can’t wait to walk with you again next year. Until then: shine your light — “Licht in dunkler Zeit.”

 Saturday, October 11, 2025

Apple Week at Rella’s Spielhaus: A Sweet Taste of Learning

When autumn arrives in New York City, Rella’s Spielhaus turns into a small orchard of laughter and discovery. In both our Mommy & Me (& Dads too!) class and Saturday School, the children explored the season’s favorite fruit — “der Apfel” — through tasting, singing, moving, and creating.

Apple Adventures in the Mommy & Me (& Dads too) Class

Our youngest learners, ages one to three, start their 45-minute class with familiar German songs. Parents and children sing along to “Winke, winke, winke,” “Wir rollen unsere Arme,” and “Meine Hände sind verschwunden.” Soon, tiny hands shake rhythm instruments as we add movement and sound to autumn favorites like “Bunt sind schon die Wälder” and “Ich lieb den Herbst.”

Then comes a quiet, magical moment. Elke recites the rhyme “Fünf Finger und der Apfel.” The children watch, fascinated, as five little fingers work together to lift an imaginary apple — a playful lesson in teamwork and rhythm.

The highlight follows quickly: apple tasting! From a basket, Elke brings out one red and one green apple. “Rot oder grün?” she asks. Children point and shout their guesses as she peels and slices them. Everyone gets to try both. The red is sweet, the green a bit sour — but all agree: “Beide sind lecker!”

Together, we learn new words through touch and taste:

• der Apfel – the apple

• die Schale – the peel

• schneiden – to cut

• schälen – to peel

Afterward, it’s time to climb and slide in our indoor playground — the “Rutschbahn” always a favorite. Finally, the children gather around the table to color and paint their own apples with crayons and dot markers. Some are bright red, some yellow, others wonderfully rainbow-colored.

We end with a cheerful round of “Ringel, Ringel, Reihe” and our goodbye song “Tschüss, tschüss, auf Wiedersehen.” Little voices echo through the room — a sweet mix of music, movement, and first German words.

Cooking Apples in the Saturday Class

In the other classroom, the older children dive into a bigger project — “Apfelmus!” During free play, blocks and trains cover the floor while another group helps Mika color apple templates. Soon, everyone gathers to prepare the apples. One after another, the children peel, cut, and dice pieces for the pot. The air quickly fills with the cozy smell of apple and cinnamon. As the apples simmer, we sing “Wir heißen euch willkommen” and begin our exploration of “der Apfel — oder besser gesagt: die Äpfel!” We talk about where apples come from, what’s inside, and what happens when we cook them.

New vocabulary grows naturally from the experience:

• der Stengel – the stem

• der Kochtopf – the pot

• umrühren – to stir

• stampfen – to mash

The children take turns stirring the warm mixture and practice their new verbs in real time. Later, Elke points out that “apple” in German changes from “der Apfel” to “die Äpfel.” That sparks a lively mini-grammar game — finding other words that change the same way:

• das Blatt – die Blätter

• der Satz – die Sätze

• das Rad – die Räder

Learning through curiosity — and laughter — is what Rella’s is all about.

When the “Apfelmus” is ready, each child gets a small cup to taste. “So lecker!” one calls out, and the rest agree. Even a bit of drizzle can’t stop the fun. Outside, the children jump in puddles before returning to make apple prints using real apple halves and paint. The classroom smells of cinnamon, and colorful art fills the tables. The morning ends, fittingly, with one last song: “Ich lieb die Herbstzeit.”

Why We Love “Der Apfel”

Every theme at Rella’s Spielhaus, our German daycare on the Upper West Side, connects language to real life. Through the apple, children learn colors, shapes, textures, and tastes — and the German words that go with them.

For our youngest, repetition and song build understanding long before sentences appear. For our Saturday students, cooking and crafting turn vocabulary into experience. In both cases, language learning becomes sensory, joyful, and alive.

At Rella’s, even a simple apple becomes a bridge — between English and German, between seeing and saying, between learning and belonging.

Come Experience Language the Rella’s Way

Whether your child joins our Mommy & Me (& Dads too!) class or the Saturday School on their own, each week offers a new theme, a new song, and a new spark of curiosity.

Come learn, laugh, and taste a bit of autumn with us — “von der Musik bis zum Apfelmus.”

Rella’s Spielhaus – 50 West 97th Street, NYC
Offering German classes for kids and bilingual early education for families in New York City

Sunday, November 17, 2024

What a Day It Was Yesterday!

At the very end of the Annual GLSC Conference—where I had the honor of announcing the winners of the 2nd GLSC Reading Contest in the morning and leading a workshop on my theater-based approach to practicing reading aloud—I received the surprise of a lifetime:

The GLSC Merit Award 2024!

I am deeply humbled and want to thank the Rella’s Spielhaus families who nominated me, as well as the GLSC Board for confirming me, from the bottom of my heart.

Many of us dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to serving the families and communities around us. We know that the work we do enriches not only the lives of those we serve but also our own, and we deeply understand the value of quality early childhood education.

Receiving recognition for this work yesterday was an incredibly moving moment for me, and I am profoundly grateful. At the same time, I am keenly aware of the women and men who do our work in much more difficult circumstances.

With that in mind, I want to share this recognition with all of you who contribute so much to this field every day. Your dedication and hard work are the foundation of something truly extraordinary.

With gratitude,
Barbara Rellstab

November 11, 2024