During the fall break, the city of Idar-Oberstein is once again offering children, teens, and families a varied and appealing vacation program. Through the online platform “Wohin mit den Ferien?!,” recreational, educational, and childcare programs are available that guarantee both exciting experiences and reliable care during school breaks. For the first time, the implementation of the Full-Day Education Act (GaFöG) plays a central role in the city’s vacation programs. While the vacation program is open to children and teens ages 6 to 16, the programs offered under the GaFöG are initially aimed at first-graders from the 2026 school-entry cohort. If capacity allows, additional children may be accommodated.
A Program with a Wide Variety of Options—GaFöG Opens Up New Possibilities
With its fall break program, the City Youth Welfare Office aims not only to provide children and teenagers with a varied break, but also to create spaces for social interaction, creativity, physical activity, and personal development. The activities are tailored to different age groups and offer a wide range of opportunities to discover new interests, make friends, and stay active during the break. Participants can look forward to a colorful mix of creative, athletic, nature-based, and educational activities. Thanks to close collaboration with numerous clubs, educational institutions, volunteers, and partners, a diverse program has been developed that offers suitable activities for every age group and interest.
A particular focus this year is on the implementation of the Full-Day Education Act (GaFöG). With the legal right to full-day care for elementary school children being phased in starting this school year, vacation programs are becoming increasingly important as supplementary care and educational components. The city of Idar-Oberstein therefore began early on to incorporate the vacation programs into its plans for implementing the GaFöG.
As a result, summer programs will in the future be viewed not only as recreational activities, but also as important settings for education, support, and care. Children are given the opportunity to further develop their social skills, discover new areas of learning, and build on their individual abilities. At the same time, parents benefit from reliable care during school breaks.
A key component is the full-day program, which is held at one of the city’s elementary schools each week. During the first week of the fall break, from October 5 to 9, 2026, the program will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oberstein Elementary School; during the second week, it will be held at Algenrodt Elementary School. The program is supervised by school social workers and childcare staff and is initially aimed at first-grade students.
This program is supplemented by the daycare social work department’s summer vacation program, which is also carried out as part of the implementation of the GaFöG. Here, children are cared for in an educationally supervised environment and have the opportunity to participate in age-appropriate play, physical activity, and creative programs. This creates additional childcare spots and family-friendly support services during the school break.
A Strong Partner Under the GaFöG: Lebenshilfe Obere Nahe
A key component of this year’s fall break program is the offering from the Family Support Service (FuD) of Lebenshilfe Obere Nahe. For many years, the FuD has been supporting children, adolescents, and families with a wide range of support and recreational activities, thereby making an important contribution to inclusion, participation, and providing relief for families.
Under the motto “Cooking, crafts, field trips—there’s something for everyone!” Lebenshilfe is offering a varied after-school program for elementary school children from October 5 to 9, 2026. The program will take place daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FuD facilities in Oberstein.
The inclusive nature of the program deserves special mention. Through its “Open Support” programs, Lebenshilfe Obere Nahe aims to enable children and families to participate in recreational, educational, and community activities, regardless of their individual circumstances. These programs are tailored to the children’s needs and create spaces for shared learning, experiences, and growth.
An Important Contribution to Family-Friendliness
For families, these vacation programs provide a noticeable relief. Especially during school vacations, many parents face the challenge of balancing work and child care. The GaFöG programs offered by the city of Idar-Oberstein create reliable structures in this area while also providing children with engaging vacation experiences. The fall vacation program therefore serves as an exemplary model of how the goals of the All-Day Support Act can be implemented locally: reliable care, high-quality education, and a diverse range of educational and recreational activities go hand in hand. The city of Idar-Oberstein is thus making an important contribution to family-friendliness and to the support of elementary school-aged children.
The vacation programs offer far more than just supervision. They encourage creativity, physical activity, social interaction, and independent learning. Children can discover new hobbies, explore their talents, and share exciting vacation experiences with their peers. This holistic approach aligns with the objectives of the All-Day Education Act and strengthens the educational landscape in Idar-Oberstein in the long term. The City Youth Welfare Office cordially invites all families to take advantage of the diverse opportunities offered by the fall break program and to enjoy exciting vacation days together.
Info and registration
All information regarding fall break activities, eligibility requirements, age groups, event times, and available spots is available on the City of Idar-Oberstein’s vacation portal. At www.idar-oberstein.ferienprogramm-online.de, parents can conveniently register their children online as usual and find out about current program offerings. More information about the GaFöG is available on the city’s website at www.idar-oberstein.de/gafoeg.