Cultural problems faced by Turkish preschool children living in Germany: Cologne example

Children of Turkish origin in Germany are growing up between two cultures and, as a result, carry traces of both cultures. Within the family, they learn their own cultural values such as language, religion, and traditions, while in German preschool, they encounter a new culture, language, and religion. This study aims to describe the cultural, linguistic, religious, and lifestyle issues faced by Turkish-origin children in preschool (Kita) in the Cologne-Chorweiler region of Germany. The study group consists of 72 Turkish families and 14 Turkish teachers residing in Germany/Cologne. This mixed-method research, surveys were administered to Turkish families, and a semi-structured interview forms were conducted with Turkish teachers working in different preschools during the 2022/2023 academic year to obtain more comprehensive information aligned with the research objectives. Thus, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study. The data obtained from the surveys conducted with Turkish families were analyzed using descriptive analysis method with SPSS program, and the data obtained from the interviews with Turkish teachers were evaluated using content analysis method. The collected data from the study were presented in tables, and as a result of the research, the cultural issues faced by preschool Turkish children living in Cologne, Germany, were examined in detail, and recommendations were presented based on the evaluated results.