All You Need to Know to Understand and Find Childcare in Germany: An Interview with Sandra Hinrichs

If you don't mind, it would be wonderful if you could tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

 My name is Sandra Hinrichs, I am 44 years old and the mother* of 3 children, ages 4, 7 and 9. Together with my husband, I currently live and am raising our kids in Frankfurt am Main. I was born in the Rhineland--between Düsseldorf and Cologne--and lived and worked in that area until I moved to Hessen in 2010. In 2020 I founded Main(e) Familienagentur to support expats, pregnant women*, new and working parents as well as new families in Frankfurt to organize their everyday family life.

One of the things that you do is to help international families better understand the systems and resources in Germany, including options for childcare. Many international families have a lot of confusion around finding and accessing childcare in Germany. Could you give us a little bit of an overview of what the options are that parents can consider for their young kids?

For the very youngest children (3 months to 3 years) there are two options for care, namely the childminder (Tagesmutter) or the crèche (Krippe). For the slightly older children (ages 3 to 6), the Kindergarten is the main childcare option.

The Tagesmutter (childminder) looks after a maximum of 5 children at a time in their own home or a rented space. Childcare can be possible from the age of 8 weeks but will depend on the preferences and capacity of the childminder. The care times depend on what the childminder offers and the care needs of the family. Individually adapted care times are possible. Childminders have official permission from the Jugendamt (Child/Youth Welfare Office) or equivalent government institution, which certifies their qualification and the suitability of the location. Care through a childminder might feel homey and warm because of the personal relationship with him/her, but parents should also be aware that this is a job and that childminders also go on holiday for about 6 weeks during the year. These are usually planned and parents are informed well in advance about the times in which they will be closed. Childminders do not require a substitute when they are sick, so you will need to find alternative solutions while they are away or sick.

The Krippe (crèche) is a bigger facility often with several groups in which staff look after children in groups of a maximum of 12 children with at least one caregiver for every 5 children. The aim of the crèche is to get your child used to socializing with other children from a young age; children learn to get along with others and develop communication skills. In theory, children are admitted from the age of 8 weeks, but as a rule, children must be at least 6 or 10 months old. Once a crèche place has been found, the child is usually looked after every day between 7 am and 5 pm (depending on the facility) until his or her third birthday. Depending on when a Kindergarten spot is found, the care period can also be extended by half a year without any problems. 

The Kindergarten (nursery/daycare/pre-school) is intended for all children from the age of 3 years (or at least from the age of 2 years and 10 months) until they start school. Most children in Germany attend Kindergarten. A maximum of 21 children are assigned to a mixed-age group. In most Kindergärten there is a variety of project work. These aim to give the children the opportunity to explore their own bodies, the environment, creativity and social relationships in depth. In this way, the children gain experience and expand their knowledge in a playful way. Examples of this are language, art or forest projects and much more. There are also special projects for the ‘pre-school’ children (i.e. the children who will start school in the next school year) in preparation for primary school.

If you are interested in more details about child care and especially how it works in Frankfurt, please read my blog article that also describes afternoon care for school kids.

While the process is variable depending on where you are, could you tell us a few general things about how a family might go about getting a child registered for childcare?

To look for local daycare services, check your area’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) and the city specific registration rules. Ask friends, neighbors, and colleagues for recommendations. With little children you can go to the park and look out for childminders and watch them playing with their children. Furthermore, due to limited childcare spots for young children, it is important to be persistent as you pursue childcare options. It is helpful to attend all the information meetings and make sure that your presence is noted. Write regular emails and send, for example, a holiday greeting with a photo of the child. Don't necessarily call, as the facility managers are often tied up in operations. E-mails are therefore a good way to keep your family in mind. It might feel strange to be this persistent but it really does pay off!

Entrusting your child to another person can be scary. What types of questions or considerations do you recommend that parents have been deciding whether a childcare provider is a good fit?

When choosing where to apply, consider the location, the child-to-adult ratio, whether any staff speak English, what the opening hours are, whether food is available, and whether the facility has its own outdoor space. Information and viewing appointments are often offered and these points can serve as a guide for a discussion. One personal tip on choosing a facility: always rely on your gut feeling. Regardless of the geographical advantages of the facilities, I would always let my gut feeling decide. Because nothing is more important - also from a professional point of view - than knowing that your child is in good hands.

 You also help families find and register for services such as childcare through your business--Main(e) Familienagentur. In your work, what unique needs do international families have when trying to get connected to things like childcare and other services here in Germany?

Often adjusting to everyday life in a new country is quite tough in the beginning. Lot’s of people speak English in Germany but this isn’t the case in every setting. When it comes to finding childcare or making doctor’s appointments, etc. it can feel very daunting especially when staff speak little or no English. Furthermore, the research into options available is quite difficult due to the fact that many websites are only available in German and, therefore, cannot be found when doing a basic internet search.

In general, international families find a lot of support by getting connected to other families and the broader international community.That’s how they hear of insider tips and can get recommendations. As a mother* of three, I know exactly what everyday family life is like and how much time it takes to inform oneself about the various activities for children and families. Tailored advice from a service like mine or informally through members of the international community can help to get connected to things like childcare options and to integrate into one’s new life in Germany more generally.