: About us
Hands for Kids Daycare & After-School Care draws on over 20 years of experience in childcare education. We offer bilingual and German-speaking groups, with the primary goal of preparing children as best as possible for kindergarten.
Our Centre
At our centre, the child is at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to provide a place where children feel secure and can develop their social, emotional, and language skills within a group setting. Respecting individuality is a key aspect of our approach. We are guided by Pestalozzi’s principle:
"Holistic education occurs through heart, mind, and hand, and we strive to provide children with the optimal balance of these three elements."
Providing the right impulses at the right time is one of our greatest challenges. Each day includes a variety of activities such as painting, singing, crafting, and walking. A significant part of our programme is fostering ecological awareness through our small garden, where children can learn where basic food comes from and develop respect for the environment and the world around them.
Allowing children to gain experiences is essential to building a foundation for healthy self-confidence and responsibility. Many factors come together to support this process.
Nutrition
We focus on a balanced diet for healthy development. Menus with fresh vegetables and salads are prepared daily, and organic products are used whenever possible. We take into account the special needs of the children and follow the children’s food pyramid as a guide.
Movement, Walks & Nature
It is equally important to us to provide plenty of opportunities for physical activity. In addition to movement rooms, we go outside every day (courtyard, forest, playgrounds, excursions). We also encourage respectful interaction with nature and organise forest days.
Music
In addition to physical activities, we also place great importance on the arts. Music plays an essential role in children’s development and is introduced at an early age. Singing is part of our daily routine and often signals the start of the next activity. It also supports the development of language skills and rhythm.
Who is our team?
Monica Glanze
Management
My name is Monica Glanze and I have been working in the procurement and development of childcare services for families and schools since 2009. I am currently also on the management board of the Little People crèche association, which has 4 locations in the canton of Zurich. I am a mother of three and understand the importance of finding an optimal childcare place in order to reconcile work and family life. My professional background is in business administration and Waldorf education.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to build and expand daycare centres and after-school care services from the ground up. I have also worked with property managers to design and develop daycare centres in residential areas.
Since January 2022, I have had the privilege of taking over and further developing the “Hands-On Kids International Preschool” as part of the succession plan. The Hands-On Kids International Preschool has been dedicated to early childhood education since 2002 and was led by Judith Ravas for over 10 years, with a primary focus on promoting bilingualism in English and German. I am very excited to continue developing the “Hands for Kids Daycare & After-School Care” alongside Judith Ravas and the existing staff, some of whom have been with us since 2015.
Judith
I am Judith Ravas, and I have been working in childcare here in Switzerland since 2002. I am currently the group leader of the bilingual Koala group at Hands for Kids. As a mother of two, I have always had a deep passion for being with children and working with them. I hold a Master's degree in Public Health with a focus on health education and communication.
Over the past 22 years, I have gained valuable experience both as a group leader working directly with children and in management as the director of a childcare facility. During this time, I have learned a great deal from the children, as well as from the wonderful people and colleagues with whom I have had the privilege of working.
I am more committed than ever and look forward to continuing to work with the children in our groups while also supporting Monica and our diverse, talented team in managing the Hands for Kids Daycare & After-School Care.
Nina
My name is Nina Srkulj, and I am the group leader of the German-speaking group at Hands for Kids, joining the team in October 2023. I completed my training as a childcare professional in 2019 and have been working in the daycare sector since then. Through targeted further education and courses, I have been able to deepen my knowledge and apply it in everyday daycare practice.
Holistic childcare is especially important to me in order to prepare children as best as possible for the next stage of their lives. Children have always been a gateway to a different world for me, and I look forward to fostering and supporting them with my team every day. I personally value nature highly and believe it is an important aspect that we must pass on to our children.
The training of our apprentices is something I care deeply about, as they represent the future of our daycare world, and I aim to pass on as much knowledge and dedication as possible to them as part of my role as vocational training manager.
Michelle
My name is Michelle Unternährer, and I completed my training as a childcare professional in the summer of 2023. After that, I completed my vocational high school diploma in Social Studies, which I successfully finished in the summer of 2024. I have been working in the after-school care at Hands for Kids since mid-September and will be supporting the team until 13th March 2025.
My strengths include being reliable and patient. I place great importance on good communication and a respectful relationship with the team, the children, and the parents.
Marisel
My name is Marisel Gutierrez, and I have been supporting our various groups in the daycare and after-school care since 2013. I am a mother and have completed my training in hotel and restaurant management.
Although I work with children of different age groups, I particularly enjoy working with babies and toddlers. It is completely natural for me to help others and step in wherever I am most needed. This is one of my strengths, which I bring to my work with our team at Hands for Kids every day.
Sinda
My name is Sinda Essifi, and I have been part of the Hands for Kids team since August 2022. I am a creative, helpful, and open person, and all these qualities can be found within the Hands for Kids team. I chose to work at Hands for Kids because the daily routine in the daycare is very varied. Additionally, the children are supported and encouraged in different areas. I am looking forward to accompanying the children on their journey.
Subangi
My name is Subangi Manoharan, and I have been completing my apprenticeship at Hands for Kids since August 2022. I am an empathetic and patient person who joyfully and creatively shapes the daily routine in the daycare.
What I particularly appreciate about Hands for Kids is the individual support provided in the development of each child.
Lara
My name is Lara Hazimé, and I have been completing my apprenticeship at Hands for Kids since 2023. I am a very reliable and patient person. I am also organised, and I really enjoy shaping the children's daily routine with creative activities.
Maryam
My name is Maryam Sherif, and I started my apprenticeship at Hands for Kids in the summer of 2024. I consider myself a positive, creative, and approachable person who loves bringing new ideas and adventures into the daily activities of our daycare and after-school programmes. I am passionate about supporting the development of your children, which is a top priority at Hands for Kids. Our goal is to achieve this through fun activities and engaging programmes that promote growth and learning.
We are open to the following partnerships. And you?
Would you like to continue your professional journey, or simply give your child the opportunity to develop socially, emotionally, and linguistically in an age-appropriate way with other children? We are here for you. We offer long-term care, as our daycare cares for children from 3 months to 4 years old. After that, we are happy to continue caring for them in our After-School Care, from kindergarten through to 2nd grade. This long-term care is designed to ease the child’s transition into school. The already established relationship with our caregivers and the support of familiar adults aim to make this process easier for the child, especially as it is associated with many changes. Pickup and transport services can be booked by arrangement. Our After-School Care places are prioritised for our daycare children when registering. Additionally, we are open nearly all year round to provide more flexibility for you. We only close between Christmas and New Year's (24th December to 2nd January) and on public holidays. Our qualified caregivers take care of your child’s well-being. At our ideally located site, surrounded by greenery, in bright and child-friendly rooms, we enable children to have age-appropriate developmental opportunities. In this process, the experience itself is just as important as the outcome. This allows them to grow freely and develop into independent individuals.
Would you like to entrust your daycare to reliable hands?
with all existing staff. Of course, we handle your inquiry confidentially and discreetly. We look forward to hearing from you.
Do you rent out commercial or residential premises and could you imagine a daycare center in your neighborhood to make the area more attractive?
- We have experience with this and look forward to hearing from you.
- As more and more parents are working, the availability of childcare has become an important factor when searching for housing. We look forward to hearing from you.
Subsidised Places
The prerequisite for a harmonious environment for the child is the dialog between the crèche and the parents’ home, which is why cooperation with the parents is fundamental for us. As a partner of the municipalities, we offer subsidized places in order to be able to offer parents with low incomes a childcare option. Our supervisory and control body is the local authority’s crèche inspectorate.
