About me
Hi, I'm Abigail Hattendorf
Parent Coach & Play-based Child Development Practitioner. I help international families with young children feel at home in Munich, through play, practical plans and an honest outside view.
For 10 years I have worked with children under eight in Munich: as an educator in bilingual Kitas and as a nanny for families who, like you, had just arrived. I have sat through countless Eingewöhnungen from the educator's side, and I know what helps a child let go of a parent's hand.
I studied child development in the UK and hold a BA in Childhood Studies and an MSc in Child and Youth Care. Attachment, play and the way children cope with change are at the heart of my work.
What I believe
Play is how children work things out
Young children rarely talk through a big change. They play it through. So that is where I start.
Parents are the experts on their child
I bring knowledge and an outside view; you bring everything else. Plans only work when they fit your family.
Small, steady steps
No overhauls. A few concrete changes, tried for a couple of weeks, then adjusted.
What I do, and what I do not do
I do
- Coach parents on routines, behaviour, transitions and bilingual development
- Support children's development through play
- Help you understand and work with Munich Kitas and schools
- Refer you on when something needs a specialist
I do not
- Diagnose or treat medical or psychological conditions
- No therapy, and no replacement for a doctor, psychotherapist or speech and language specialist
- Promise particular results; every child sets their own pace
If you are worried about your child's health or development, please speak to your paediatrician (Kinderarzt) first. In an emergency, call 112. In a mental health crisis, the Krisendienst (crisis line) answers day and night on 0800 655 3000; it is free and can bring in an interpreter. To talk through a hard day as a parent, the Elterntelefon (parents' helpline) is free and anonymous on 0800 111 0 550, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00 and until 19:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, in German.
Qualifications and commitments
- BA Childhood Studies
- MSc Child and Youth Care (UK)
- 10 years of practice in Munich Kitas and with international families
- Paediatric first aid
- Your data stays confidential and is handled under the GDPR
- Languages: English, German