What factors should you consider when choosing a daycare (Kita) spot?

Distance:

Many parents, of course, first look for a suitable daycare (Kita) place around their home. How far are you willing to drive to the daycare center? Is there possibly a care facility on the way to work?

Finances:

It usually depends on the federal states whether and how much subsidy you receive for a daycare (Kita) place. Additionally, costs for daycares can vary significantly even within a city.

Care hours:

Depending on whether you and your partner work full-time or want to pick up your child from care at midday, you should check the opening hours.

Care situation:

How large are the groups in the daycare and how many caregivers are employed?

Personal fit:

Ultimately your gut feeling decides whether you want to enroll your child in a particular daycare or not. After all, your child will spend a lot of time there. For this reason, the caregivers and the facility should appeal to you from the start.

Focus:

Childcare offerings range from musical, language-focused or integrative specializations to specific concepts such as Montessori or Waldorf. It's best to find out on site what each daycare focuses on.

How do we get a nursery or daycare (Kita) place? – our tips

Better early than late:

Exactly when you can submit an application varies between municipalities. However, most daycares want the application at the latest six months before the start of care. To allow enough time to find a suitable daycare and be placed on the waiting list, you should start earlier. A nursery spot can already be sought during pregnancy. A daycare (Kita) spot should be sought shortly after birth.

Use databases:

Especially in cities it's easy to lose track of the childcare options. Larger municipalities often provide collected information about publicly or privately run care facilities.

Keep several options open:

Often there are only one or two daycares that meet all your requirements. Depending on how urgent you need care for your child, you should also put yourself on the waiting list at others. How many lists you may be on at the same time varies from municipality to municipality.

Seamless transition:

Many care facilities combine nursery (Krippe) and daycare (Kita). If your child has already attended the nursery, there is often a seamless transition into the group with older children – which is also pleasant for your child.

Consider the daycare calendar:

When your child starts daycare often depends on the schedules at the care facilities. Usually new children are admitted only in August, since the older children start school then and the little ones can move up. Consider this if possible when planning parental leave and privately organized care.

Ask around:

Maybe friends or acquaintances already have experience with searching for nursery and daycare? You will certainly get valuable tips and pointers that can help you.

If nothing works – alternatives to a daycare spot

It can happen that despite the greatest efforts and the legal entitlement, there is initially no possibility of a nursery or daycare place. If you still rely on care for your child, you can fall back on alternative options. Often childminders (day mothers or fathers) can help in this case. The big advantage is flexibility. In addition, your child receives more intensive care in a small group.

Another alternative is a parents' initiative, a privately organized care offering. However, this often involves a very elaborate application process. In addition, strong parental commitment is required and you will have to help, for example, with cooking, cleaning, or small repair work.

Image credits

Female educator kneels on the floor and plays with children © Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.com

Child wearing a tank top sits on the floor and is surrounded by colored pencils © Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.com