CHILDREN

The average number of children per household is much lower than in the States and not as many amends are made for them in the day-to-day life. Highchairs or crayons with paper in the restaurants, play areas in department stores or fitness studios or just simple consideration or admiration for little ones is not so readily found in Germany.

However education is very important to Germans and is available everywhere with a very similar level of quality and virtually no cost. Most German children go to the public schools which are funded by federal taxes. The schools are still much safer and drugs and weapons are not as serious a threat as in the States. Children can graduate after 10 and after 13 years and then continue with a more practical education specific to their profession for two to four years. Children who graduate after 13 years receive the "Abitur", which entitles them to go to University. There are no colleges as we know them in the US.

In other aspects the children in Germany are similar to American kids, maybe still a little more disciplined and more educated on average but maybe also a little less sure of themselves.