Cologne – September 11, 2026 -- German broadcaster WDR has produced a second batch of 1,000 free "Maus" school-start packages for first-grade classrooms in North Rhine-Westphalia after the initial run sold out within days.
The free kits, tied to the long-running children's show Die Sendung mit der Maus, are designed to ease the transition into elementary school and introduce young children to responsible media use.
Demand exhausted two full print runs in days
The first 1,000 packages were claimed by teachers almost immediately after launch. WDR responded by printing 1,000 more, but those were also fully requested by educators shortly after.
WDR Director General Dr. Katrin Vernau said the response shows strong demand for reliable, child-friendly educational materials, and that the broadcaster plans to expand the program further in 2027.
Each package bundles print materials for classroom and home use
Contents include a teacher's guide, a classroom poster, stickers, and a Maus-branded stamp. Children and parents also receive informational and activity materials featuring the Maus and the Elephant characters.
Materials are printed in six languages to reach more families
Beyond German, the information materials are available in Turkish, Arabic, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, aimed at reaching families regardless of their native language.
A companion website adds ad-free films and games
The printed kits are supplemented by a free digital platform offering films, games, factual stories, puzzles, and craft ideas. Topics covered include language, democracy, artificial intelligence, friendship, emotions, and programming, adapted for young audiences.