Schools and Child Care Centers In Germany

German schools and preschools provide a great atmosphere for your children to learn and enjoy time with their peers. They are an important step in every child's life, which makes it vital to find out as much about the available options in Germany as possible. In this section, you can find out more information about the best child care providers, the typical costs, and the different options for schools.

Nursery Schools

For children below age three, a nursery school is a space where children can learn to play with others of the similar age, with the instruction of qualified Early Childhood Educators. These Early Childhood Educators are trained to guide your child through their early development and encourage them to learn life skills through play with others. These types of programs include age-appropriate meals, nap times, outdoor play, and most have flexible pick up and drop off times, which can be very useful for parents with busy schedules. Nursery schools can be facilitated by private agencies, as well as public and religious organizations. Prices can vary considerably depending on a few factors such as the parent's income or the type of facility that you choose. Availability can also vary greatly depending on the region or popularity of the organization.

Preschools

For children from the age of three to six, preschool, or kindergarten as it is called in German, is a school that focuses on preparing children for the next stage in their lives. Increasingly over the past few years, preschools have been focusing more on encouraging the inquisitiveness of young children. There is also a strong emphasis on providing them with lots of chances for physical activity.

Elementary games and simple lessons are used to educate them about the natural world and modern technology, which is also used as an opportunity to help develop thinking and language skills of children. The average preschool typically runs for half of the day, either starting in the morning or afternoon depending on the facility and administration. Preschools can be run by municipalities, religious organizations, associations, and other private agencies, and selecting the right one depends on your family's needs. Similar to nursery schools, prices and availability can vary a great deal. Some preschools have no fees, while some can cost a few hundred euros a year depending on the region and the parent's income.

In-Home Daycare Providers

For children of any age, In-Home Daycare Providers can provide care for children in their home, while the parents are away at work or otherwise occupied. In most cases, an In-Home Daycare Provider cares for other children at the same time, which means a child is ensured to be in touch with peers and has the opportunity to build social skills. Another option for childcare in Germany are Nannies, but unlike In-Home Daycare Providers, Nannies typically come to the parent's home to care for a child. It is not necessary for In-Home Daycare Providers and Nannies to be certified as Early Childhood Educators, but they do need to be approved by the Youth Welfare Office. In addition to this certification, most Nannies and In-Home Daycare Providers have a lot of experience working with children and are capable of provide excellent care. In a typical week, consisting of 20 hours of child care, you can expect that In-Home Daycare Providers will charge an average cost between 300 to 600 Euros per month.