Learn Hardcore German: Wir berücksichtigen zuerst die Kinder, denn das hat höchste Priorität. - We take the children into account first, because that has top priority.

Because berücksichtigen is a transitive verb that takes a direct object in the accusative. The accusative plural of Kind is die Kinder (same form as nominative plural).

Correct: Wir berücksichtigen die Kinder. (Akkusativ)
Dative would be used with verbs like helfen: Wir helfen den Kindern.

Where can zuerst go in the sentence? Are there alternatives?

Zuerst is an adverb and is quite flexible:

Midfield: Wir berücksichtigen zuerst die Kinder.
Fronted (then invert subject/verb): Zuerst berücksichtigen wir die Kinder.
End position (more focus on the object): Wir berücksichtigen die Kinder zuerst.

All are correct; word order slightly affects emphasis, not meaning.

What’s the difference between denn and weil?

Both introduce a reason, but:

denn is a coordinating conjunction; it links two main clauses and keeps normal verb-second order: ..., denn das hat höchste Priorität.
weil is subordinating; it sends the verb to the end: ..., weil das höchste Priorität hat.

Nuance: denn often feels a bit more written/explanatory; weil is the neutral, all-purpose “because.”

What does das refer to in denn das hat höchste Priorität? Could I use es or dies?

Here das is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that (fact).” It points to the whole idea of giving priority to the children.

das = slightly emphatic/demonstrative: “because that has top priority.”
es = more neutral placeholder: denn es hat … (also possible).
dies is more formal/literary here. Das is the most natural.

Why is there a comma before denn?

Because denn connects two independent clauses. German requires a comma before coordinating conjunctions like aber, sondern, denn (and often before und, oder when they join full clauses).

Is berücksichtigen separable? How is it conjugated?

berücksichtigen is inseparable (prefix be- is inseparable). It’s a regular verb:

Present: ich berücksichtige, du berücksichtigst, er berücksichtigt, wir berücksichtigen, ihr berücksichtigt, sie berücksichtigen
Perfekt participle: berücksichtigt (no “ge-” because of inseparable prefix)
Perfekt: wir haben die Kinder berücksichtigt

Why is it höchste Priorität (with -e)? What ending is that?

It’s the superlative adjective höchst- before a noun, with a strong ending -e because there’s no article and the noun is accusative feminine singular: höchste Priorität.
Note: With no article, adjectives take strong endings; for fem. acc. sg., the ending is -e.

Could I say die höchste Priorität instead of just höchste Priorität?

Yes.

das hat höchste Priorität = “that has top priority” (general/top-tier).
das hat die höchste Priorität = “that has the highest priority (of all)”—more explicitly superlative/definite. Both are common; the version without the article is slightly more general.

Is oberste Priorität also correct? Any difference from höchste Priorität?

Yes, oberste Priorität is very common and near-synonymous with höchste Priorität. oberste often feels like “topmost/number one” in practical terms; höchste is the regular superlative of “hoch.” In most contexts they’re interchangeable.

zuerst vs erst vs zunächst vs als Erstes — which should I use?

zuerst = first (in sequence), first of all. Safest general choice.
erst often means “only/not until” (Ich komme erst um 8) and only sometimes “first” in colloquial sequences—can be ambiguous.
zunächst = initially, at first (slightly more formal).
als Erstes = “as the first thing” (stylistic variant of zuerst).

Can I use dann instead of denn?

No.

denn = because/for (reason).
dann = then/after that (time sequence).
They are not interchangeable.

Can I start the sentence with Denn… to mean “Because…”?

Denn does not introduce a subordinate clause and normally doesn’t front the reason the way English “Because” can. Use weil if you want the reason first:

Weil das höchste Priorität hat, berücksichtigen wir zuerst die Kinder.
With denn, keep it as a second clause: Wir …, denn …

das vs dass — why is it das here?

Here it’s das (single s) as a demonstrative pronoun (“that”). dass (double s) is a subordinating conjunction (“that” introducing a clause).

Correct: …, denn das hat …
Not: …, denn dass hat …

What’s the gender and plural of Kind?

Singular: das Kind (neuter)
Plural: die Kinder
In the sentence, die Kinder is accusative plural (same form as nominative plural).

Is berücksichtigen reflexive?

No. It’s a normal transitive verb: jemanden/etwas berücksichtigen (“to take someone/something into account”). No reflexive pronoun is needed.

Any pronunciation tips for berücksichtigen and höchste?

ü in berücksichtigen: round your lips as for “oo” but say “ee” (fronted vowel).
ö in höchste: round your lips as for “o” but say “e” (as in “bed,” but rounded).
ch after front vowels (ü/ö/i/ä, and in “ich”): the soft “ich”-sound [ç], not the hard “ach”-sound.

Is the adverb zuerst required, or could I express the idea differently?

You can vary the phrasing:

Wir berücksichtigen die Kinder zuerst.
Zunächst berücksichtigen wir die Kinder.
Als Erstes berücksichtigen wir die Kinder.
Or use a verb like priorisieren or bevorzugen (slightly different meanings). The original with zuerst is clear and idiomatic.