Preschool and Daycare in Germany — Germany Simplified
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Know everything about preschool and daycare in Germany. If you are young parents and wish to get your kids admitted to a preschool or a daycare center, we are here to help you! If you are raising a kid in Germany, you would want to know about the education options you have in hand. You would also want to know how the education system for young kids works. Read further to know all about preschools and daycares in Germany.

Preschool

Germany is all about education and educational matters are taken up very seriously there. Kids ranging from age 3 to 6 have the legal right to be enrolled in kindergarten or a preschool. However, compulsory education for all children starts from the age of 6.

There are a few preschools that allow kids to start getting enrolled before the age of 3. Germany is very particular in matters concerning education and this practice is only allowed to make young children independent. Germans love the idea of early education for their children because that naturally inculcates values and habits which are good for the child’s future.

Types of Daycares and Preschools in Germany

Kinderkrippe

A kinderkrippe is a type of a daycare or a creche. These are designed for children under the age of 3. Parents are expected to leave their toddlers in the Kinderkrippe where they will be looked after by a daycare teacher. Kids are taught fun, educational games and activities while they are left at the Kinderkrippe. The cost for this kind of daycare may vary from region to region. It is not free of cost or owned by the government of Germany.

Parents can leave their young children at kinderkrippes and go for work in the mean time. Young children are always in good hands and you can trust them while you are at work.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten as we mentioned earlier, is for children between the ages 3–6. Children do not have a compulsion to study at that age. Kindergarten is just an option. Young children at kindergarten learn a lot of valuable and useful things which they will not get a chance to learn once they start going to school.

Kindergartens are German preschools which are usually run by churches, specially founded committees, local authorities or private institutions. They help children learn the skill of socializing and also prepare them for primary school.

Kindergarten is a preschool which does not run for long hours in the day like primary school. They usually start at 9 in the morning and end by afternoon.

Kitas

Kitas are typically a German preschool as well as a daycare centre. Kita is a short form for “kindertagesstatte”. These schools ply for children ranging between the ages of 3 to 5/6 years.

The Kita service that Germany provides for young children is absolutely free of cost. Parents have to pay nothing to get their child enrolled in a kita. The timing is kita also differ from a basic Kindergarten. Where a child in kindergarten is sent home by midday, kita services start at 7am in the morning and end at 5pm in the evening. However, parents get to choose the best suited 9-hour time slot for their child.

Parents are expected to send their kids with a lunch box and some snacks because this daycare does not provide kids with food. Make sure you send your kids lunch if they are enrolled in a kita daycare.

Schulhort

Schulhort services begin later in the day after children get done with primary school. These services are amazing for working parents. Kids can stay at the daycare services provided by Schulhorts after school and then get picked up by their parents in when they are done with work. This ensures that your child in in safe hands and is learning something new even during that time.

Kids can learn new activities and sports during this time and make the most of their time at Schulhorts.

If primary school ends at 2 pm in Germany, Sculhort services are provided by schools until 4pm in the day. An assistant teacher watches over the kids during this time and makes sure they are doing something productive in the 2 hours after school.

There are a few other childcare and daycare options available to parents in Germany. They are: -

Child Minders

Child minders are people who run daycare services in their own houses. The age group of the children they would like to take and the timings they are comfortable with entirely depends on the child minder. A child minder is hired to look after the child as a daycare teacher and also teach the child discipline. Child minders in Germany are known for teaching children good manners and habits for the longer run.

Baby sitters

You can have a babysitter come to your house to look after your child. This is a type of daycare service in your own house. The child will be right in front of your eyes, within the comfort of your home but managed by a babysitter. This kind of daycare service is provided by a single individual who teaches your child good values and etiquettes. Babysitters are hired on the basis of an agreement and they look children brilliantly in Germany.

Conclusion-

Managing kids while you are working is a very difficult task. However, Germany has a lot of options in store for your children if you are working parents. Select the best option considering your convenience and your child.

Read here to know more about Schooling in Germany.