Children, young people and Croatian language in Germany
Children growing up in Germany with Croatian roots often live in two linguistic and cultural environments at the same time. German is essential for daycare, school, education and everyday life, while Croatian helps children communicate with their family, understand their background and maintain a connection with Croatia. For parents, language is therefore not only about what is spoken at home, but also about education, development and a child's sense of identity.
This section brings together content for children with Croatian roots who live or attend school in Germany. It covers the German school system, language adjustment after moving, maintaining the Croatian language, bilingual upbringing, children's relationship with Croatia and the challenge of combining successful integration in Germany with the preservation of family language and identity.
What matters for children growing up between Croatia and Germany?
- Schools and Education in Germany – an overview of the German education system and guides covering Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, FOS, BOS, vocational training and university;
- The School System in Germany – from Grundschule to university – a useful starting point for parents who want to understand the different school types, transitions and educational paths available to their children;
- Integration and identity – for broader questions about belonging, growing up between two cultures and maintaining a connection with Croatia while building a life in Germany;
- Family and support – for practical family topics such as Kindergeld, other benefits, health insurance, family reunification, childcare and rights affecting parents and children.
Strong German skills are important for success at school, particularly school vocabulary and understanding written tasks. This does not mean that Croatian has to be pushed aside. Family conversations, reading, books, music, contact with relatives and time spent in Croatia can help Croatian remain an actively used language rather than becoming a language a child understands but rarely speaks.
Every family has a different starting point. A child born in Germany has a different language experience from a child who moves to Germany during their school years, and children's needs also change as they grow older. It is therefore useful to consider German language skills, school, Croatian, family environment and sense of belonging as connected parts of the same development.
Continue below to explore content about children, education, language and growing up between Croatia and Germany.