The first weeks at förskola
Getting a place, the schooling-in, and the drop-off conversations that follow — from the queue letter to the day your child runs in without looking back.
Every child in Sweden has the right to a förskola place from age one, and the municipality must offer one within four months of your application. What follows is 'inskolning': one to two weeks where a parent stays, then leaves for longer and longer stretches. This deck follows a family from the offer letter to the first ordinary drop-off — the questions staff ask, the sentences you need at the hallway, and how to talk about a crying child without panic.
- 1
Vi har blivit erbjudna en plats på Solgläntan.
We've been offered a place at Solgläntan.
Tip: 'bli erbjuden' = be offered.
- 2
Ni måste tacka ja inom en vecka.
You have to accept within a week.
Tip: 'tacka ja' = accept; miss it and you lose the place.
- 3
När börjar inskolningen?
When does the schooling-in start?
Tip: You're asking the preschool, not the municipality.
- 4
Vi skulle vilja börja den femtonde augusti.
We'd like to start on the 15th of August.
Tip: 'skulle vilja' = would like to.
- 5
En förälder är med hela första veckan.
One parent stays for the whole first week.
Tip: 'vara med' = be present/along.
- 6
Hej, vi är Nours föräldrar.
Hi, we're Nour's parents.
Tip: Genitive -s on names: Nours.
- 7
Välkommen! Jag heter Anna och jag blir Nours kontaktperson.
Welcome! I'm Anna, I'll be Nour's main contact.
Tip: 'kontaktperson' = the assigned staff member.
- 8
Har hon några allergier?
Does she have any allergies?
Tip: Asked on day one, always.
- 9
Nej, men hon äter inte fläsk.
No, but she doesn't eat pork.
Tip: 'fläsk' = pork; preschools handle this routinely.
- 10
Sover hon fortfarande på dagen?
Does she still nap during the day?
Tip: 'sova på dagen' = nap.
- 11
Ja, ungefär en timme efter lunch.
Yes, about an hour after lunch.
Tip: Matches 'vilan' at most preschools.
- 12
Idag är ni med hela tiden.
Today you stay the whole time.
Tip: 'hela tiden' = the whole time.
- 13
Imorgon går ni och tar en kaffe i en halvtimme.
Tomorrow you go and get a coffee for half an hour.
Tip: 'ta en kaffe' = have a coffee — the standard step two.
- 14
Säg alltid hej då — smit aldrig iväg.
Always say goodbye — never sneak out.
Tip: 'smita iväg' = sneak off; the golden rule.
- 15
Hon grät lite, men det gick över snabbt.
She cried a bit, but it passed quickly.
Tip: 'gå över' = pass (of tears, fevers).
- 16
Hej! Hur går det?
Hi! How's it going?
Tip: The morning greeting in the hallway.
- 17
Hon är lite trött idag — hon vaknade klockan fem.
She's a bit tired today — she woke up at five.
Tip: 'vakna' = wake up (intransitive).
- 18
Noterat, vi håller ett öga på henne.
Noted, we'll keep an eye on her.
Tip: 'hålla ett öga på' = keep an eye on.
- 19
Finns det ett helt ombyte i hennes fack?
Is there a full set of spare clothes in her cubby?
Tip: 'ett ombyte' = a change of clothes.
- 20
Jag tar med mer imorgon.
I'll bring more tomorrow.
Tip: 'ta med' = bring.
- 21
Kom ihåg regnkläderna — vi ska till skogen.
Remember the rain gear — we're going to the forest.
Tip: 'kom ihåg' = remember.
- 22
Vem hämtar idag?
Who's picking up today?
Tip: They need to know — safety.
- 23
Hennes mormor, vid fyra.
Her grandmother, around four.
Tip: mormor = mother's mother; farmor = father's mother.
- 24
Står hon på hämtningslistan?
Is she on the pick-up list?
Tip: 'stå på listan' = be on the list.
- 25
Jag lägger till henne i appen.
I'll add her in the app.
Tip: Most municipalities use an app (Tempus, Tyra…).
- 26
Hur har det gått idag?
How did it go today?
Tip: The pick-up question.
- 27
Hon åt bra och lekte ute hela eftermiddagen.
She ate well and played outside all afternoon.
Tip: 'leka' = play (children); 'spela' is for games/sports.
- 28
Hon är lite snorig.
She has a bit of a runny nose.
Tip: 'snorig' = snotty; not a reason to stay home.
- 29
Hon behöver vara feberfri i ett dygn innan hon kommer tillbaka.
She needs to be fever-free for 24 hours before she comes back.
Tip: 'ett dygn' = 24 hours; the rule everywhere.
- 30
Hon sprang rakt in utan att titta tillbaka.
She ran straight in without looking back.
Tip: The moment inskolning is over.