When deciding who will be looking after your child, many questions come to mind. Sometimes, so many that you end up confused to the point of forgetting each and every important one! I remember when I was making the decision for the first time and visiting a number of different places. I didn't ask half the questions that I later thought of!
Berlin has a number of Kita (nursery/daycare) options as well as Tagesmütter (childminder) spread across the city. The amount of children in each group can differ widely, as can the size of the Kita (or apartment for the Tagesmutter) and deciding which one suits your own child's needs, and your wishes, best can be hard. With this in mind, I thought I'd compile a list of useful things to consider when contemplating your childcare of choice and possible questions to ask. Some are only really relevant for Kita, but others are worth considering for both Kita and Tagesmutter visits.
If you can think of any other useful points/questions to consider, feel free to mention them in the comments section below...
Berlin has a number of Kita (nursery/daycare) options as well as Tagesmütter (childminder) spread across the city. The amount of children in each group can differ widely, as can the size of the Kita (or apartment for the Tagesmutter) and deciding which one suits your own child's needs, and your wishes, best can be hard. With this in mind, I thought I'd compile a list of useful things to consider when contemplating your childcare of choice and possible questions to ask. Some are only really relevant for Kita, but others are worth considering for both Kita and Tagesmutter visits.
If you can think of any other useful points/questions to consider, feel free to mention them in the comments section below...
Group Size & Type
The group sizes for Kitas / Tagesmutter can vary, so it is worth asking about how many children there are in the groups and also ask if this stays consistent as the children grow older. Some Kitas, and generally Tagesmutter, have groups with mixed ages, so it can be fruitful to ask what kind of age ranges are put together in the groups.
Opening Hours
This can also vary greatly, so make sure to find out what their opening hours are and make sure they fit your needs.
Child to carer ratio
Something very important to consider is the child to carer ratio. This can vary in the different age groups at Kitas so make sure to ask if the ratio would be once your child is older too.
Outside space / use of local playgrounds
Does the Kita have it's own outdoor grounds for the children to play on or do they make the use of local playgrounds for outdoor time? If so, how much time per day do they usually spend there?
Rules regarding illness
My sons Kita has a rule that children who have had a fever, must see a doctor and receive a letter from the doctor saying they are healthy to go back to Kita before they are allowed back. Check if yours has anything similar.
Holiday Closing
Many Kitas (and perhaps Tagesmutter) close at some point during the school summer holidays. Some don't close in this period and others close at other times. Make sure to ask if yours closes over the summer or during other periods and if they provide an alternative childcare for the parents who can't take the time off work (again, some do, some don't.)
Alternative Carers (Tagesmutter specific)
Does the Tagesmutter have someone who covers for when she is ill/away?
Extra Costs
Some Kitas have additional costs on top of the standard state costs. These can be for extras such as -
Kita Trips
Some Kitas organise annual Kita trips (Kita- or Kinderladenreise) for the older children. If this interests you, it is worth asking if the kita you are considering offers this.
Food
There are lots of things that can be considered regarding food at Kita. Some will provide lunch but expect you to bring a self-made packed breakfast and/or snack box. Some serve meat, others are vegetarian. Some serve just organic food (often at extra cost) and others not.
Regular closing days
My sons Kita closes early once a month for a team meeting and also has roughly 3 training days per year, during which the Kita is closed. Find out if yours has anything similar and if they provide any alternative care options when they do.
Clothing
Depending on your country of origin, it is possible that your idea of what your child should wear in the warm and cold months may differ from what the Kita carers or Tagesmutter expects. This came as quite a cultural shock for me, coming from the UK, where children can be seen wearing T Shirts in Winter and where they hardly ever seem to wear hats. My son's Kita carers have very strong views on what is ''appropriate'' clothing at certain times of year. You likely won't be able to change their views on this, but it's worth knowing ahead of time, what is expected clothing-wise. Also, my son's Kita expects children to have slippers (Hausschuehe), so find out if there are any specific items need such as these.
Nap Time
What is the policy for nap time? Some Kitas/Tagemutter expect you to bring (and then wash at the weekend) the bedsheets, others will provide them (mine does). For those who have a bit older children starting at a Kita/Tagesmutter, it might be worth asking their policy with regards to children who no longer nap. Do they have an alternative place to go and play quietly or are all children expected to nap?
So there you have it. I think this list is pretty thorough but there will undoubtably be other recommendations of considerations. If you think of any, let me know and it might be added to the list...
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The group sizes for Kitas / Tagesmutter can vary, so it is worth asking about how many children there are in the groups and also ask if this stays consistent as the children grow older. Some Kitas, and generally Tagesmutter, have groups with mixed ages, so it can be fruitful to ask what kind of age ranges are put together in the groups.
Opening Hours
This can also vary greatly, so make sure to find out what their opening hours are and make sure they fit your needs.
Child to carer ratio
Something very important to consider is the child to carer ratio. This can vary in the different age groups at Kitas so make sure to ask if the ratio would be once your child is older too.
Outside space / use of local playgrounds
Does the Kita have it's own outdoor grounds for the children to play on or do they make the use of local playgrounds for outdoor time? If so, how much time per day do they usually spend there?
Rules regarding illness
My sons Kita has a rule that children who have had a fever, must see a doctor and receive a letter from the doctor saying they are healthy to go back to Kita before they are allowed back. Check if yours has anything similar.
Holiday Closing
Many Kitas (and perhaps Tagesmutter) close at some point during the school summer holidays. Some don't close in this period and others close at other times. Make sure to ask if yours closes over the summer or during other periods and if they provide an alternative childcare for the parents who can't take the time off work (again, some do, some don't.)
Alternative Carers (Tagesmutter specific)
Does the Tagesmutter have someone who covers for when she is ill/away?
Extra Costs
Some Kitas have additional costs on top of the standard state costs. These can be for extras such as -
- organic food
- music or sports activities (sometimes tutors are brought in to the kita or the children go somewhere for this)
- English language support (for bilingual kitas)
- special trips
Kita Trips
Some Kitas organise annual Kita trips (Kita- or Kinderladenreise) for the older children. If this interests you, it is worth asking if the kita you are considering offers this.
Food
There are lots of things that can be considered regarding food at Kita. Some will provide lunch but expect you to bring a self-made packed breakfast and/or snack box. Some serve meat, others are vegetarian. Some serve just organic food (often at extra cost) and others not.
Regular closing days
My sons Kita closes early once a month for a team meeting and also has roughly 3 training days per year, during which the Kita is closed. Find out if yours has anything similar and if they provide any alternative care options when they do.
Clothing
Depending on your country of origin, it is possible that your idea of what your child should wear in the warm and cold months may differ from what the Kita carers or Tagesmutter expects. This came as quite a cultural shock for me, coming from the UK, where children can be seen wearing T Shirts in Winter and where they hardly ever seem to wear hats. My son's Kita carers have very strong views on what is ''appropriate'' clothing at certain times of year. You likely won't be able to change their views on this, but it's worth knowing ahead of time, what is expected clothing-wise. Also, my son's Kita expects children to have slippers (Hausschuehe), so find out if there are any specific items need such as these.
Nap Time
What is the policy for nap time? Some Kitas/Tagemutter expect you to bring (and then wash at the weekend) the bedsheets, others will provide them (mine does). For those who have a bit older children starting at a Kita/Tagesmutter, it might be worth asking their policy with regards to children who no longer nap. Do they have an alternative place to go and play quietly or are all children expected to nap?
So there you have it. I think this list is pretty thorough but there will undoubtably be other recommendations of considerations. If you think of any, let me know and it might be added to the list...
Never miss a listings or any other posts on Berlin for all the Family, by receiving my weekly newsletter direct to your email inbox. Full of tips, the latest posts and much more. You can sign up to the BFATF email newsletter here.
Berlin for all the Family can also be found on:
