The first childhood education courses were established at German universities 20 years ago. The profession of childhood educator focuses on family and public education, upbringing and care in childhood, the living environments, cultures and living conditions of children and their families as well as cooperation with families.

Since 2009, students at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences have been able to study childhood education and graduate with a degree in childhood education with state recognition.

The 20th anniversary of the childhood education degree courses was celebrated together with childhood education practitioners, educational policy stakeholders, graduates, students, specialists/teachers working in training and further education and university representatives on September 19 - 20, 2024 at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin. The conference was organized by the Studiengangstag Pädagogik der Kindheit, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit e.V., the Kommission Pädagogik der frühen Kindheit der DGfE (PdfK) and the Deutsche Berufsverband für Kindheitspädagogik. Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Andrea G. Eckhardt (PdfK) was involved in the scientific management of the conference.

On May 30, 2024, the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Dresden, the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida, the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, the University of Leipzig and the University of Cooperative Education Breitenbrunn celebrated the anniversary of childhood education courses in Saxony in a joint event of the Saxony regional group of the Study Course Day.