We'll answer your questions about daycare

The Stadtküken daycare centers care for children from about 1 year old until they start school (approx. 6 years old). As a rule, children start at 12 months —in some cases, admission as early as about 10–11 months is possible, provided the circumstances are right. The nursery cares for the little ones until around their 3rd birthday, after which they move on to the elementary program (kindergarten group) for 3- to 6-year-olds. At Stadtküken, both age groups are available at the various locations; in addition, there is a preschool group is offered for the oldest children, one year before they start school. The daycare period ends no later than the transition to first grade. Stadtküken thus covers the entire early childhood care and education phase, from infancy through school entry.

Most “Stadtküken” daycare centers are not designated integration centers that reserve specific spots for children with disabilities. Only the Johann’s Garten Daycare Center in Groß Borstel reserves a few spots for children with special needs. An official inclusion group requires additional, specially trained staff, which is why this option is not available at all daycare centers. Nevertheless: Every child is considered on an individual basis. If a child has special needs, the Stadtküken work with the parents to determine whether and how care can be provided within the limits of available staff. However, the topics of inclusion and integration are an integral part of daily life at all Stadtküken daycare centers. In this way, Stadtküken promotes tolerance and acceptance, so that all children learn from and with one another.

The group size depends on the available space at the facility. Typically, a nursery group (ages 0–3) has up to 15 children, while a preschool group (ages 3 to school entry) has between 20 and 25 children .
The educational team is assembled according to the individual care needs within the group. As a general guideline: In a nursery group, three qualified staff members typically support the children’s daily routines—usually two full-time and one part-time. An elementary group is usually lovingly cared for by two qualified staff members.

The groups receive additional support, for example, from temporary staff, in-house substitutes, and dedicated trainees, who enrich the team’s day-to-day work and flexibly pitch in wherever needed.

The Stadtküken daycare centers are generally open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. . Depending on the location and the needs of local families, there may be slight variations—but one thing is certain: Daily care for up to 10 hours is available at all locations.

To ensure that all children can take part in our thoughtfully designed rituals, projects, and activities, we have a fixed core hours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. During this time, the children participate in morning circle, shared meals, creative projects, free play, and restful quiet time—a valuable time for interaction, personal growth, and connection.

Our approach combines nature, mindfulness, and genuine participation in children’s everyday lives. At Stadtküken, children not only experience a sense of security and structured routines, but also discover just how vibrant learning can be—outdoors in nature, using all their senses, and at their own pace. In doing so, we naturally also adhere to the educational guidelines of the City of Hamburg, which provide us with an important framework for the holistic support and guidance of the children.

Our early childhood educators provide sensitive guidance to the children, offer stability through clear routines, and strengthen each child’s sense of self-efficacy—for example, when children contribute ideas for projects, participate in decision-making, or take on responsibilities in their daily lives.

This creates a place where children are not only cared for, but also thrive—curious, self-confident, and connected to themselves and their surroundings.

Each facility has its own green outdoor area, often featuring a garden, a sandbox, and climbing and balancing structures, where children can play safely and explore nature. The groups go outside in (almost) any weather—whether to run around in the fresh air, observe insects, or water and tend to plants. Daily nature experiences are an integral part of everyday life at Stadtküken. If spending time outdoors isn’t possible, we bring nature indoors (through themed activities and/or using natural materials). In addition, the Stadtküken daycare centers regularly take field trips into nature: Sometimes we go to a nearby park or forest; other times, as part of projects, the children visit organic farms in the region. There, they learn, for example, where vegetables come from, get to experience animals up close, and gain an even deeper understanding of the environment. Nature thus becomes an extended learning space. These experiences in nature not only promote the children’s motor development and health but also spark their curiosity and foster an understanding of the environment.

A good start to daycare begins with trust—and we take the time for that. Our settling-in is divided into three gentle phases: Arriving, Being there and Taking part. Every child is welcome to arrive at their own pace, accompanied by a trusted adult and a sensitive team.

Before we begin: Before settling-in starts, we hold a personal intake meeting. We want to get to know your child and you as a family better: What does your child need, what is good for them, what matters to you? You will also receive an information pack with all key details about the daily routine, equipment and educational everyday life—so the start is well prepared.

Arriving: In the first phase, a trusted adult stays in the group together with the child. The child can observe calmly, gather first impressions and build trust step by step—in the environment, in the educator and in the other children.

Being there: When the child feels more secure, the “being there” phase begins. They move around the room more independently and start to take part in activities, while the trusted adult remains present. During this time, we also begin with short separations, which we organise very gently.

A special companion in this phase is our Care App—an app for parent communication through which we send you photos or short messages from daycare life. This helps you approach the first steps of separation with a good feeling and see how your child is gaining their first experiences without you.

Participation: In the final phase, your child becomes an increasingly integral part of the group. They actively participate in daily life, find their bearings through recurring rituals, and build strong relationships. Separation times are gradually extended until the child feels secure and settled.
We tailor the adjustment period to each child’s needs, approaching it with care and in close collaboration with you. No child is rushed, and no goodbye goes unaccompanied. Because a secure start is the foundation for a trusting time at daycare—and that’s exactly why we’re here.

More on this topic here.

For the Stadtküken, eating is more than just filling your stomach—it’s a moment of community, participation, and mindful togetherness.
The children start the day with a breakfast together, at lunchtime there’s a hot meal from our regional partner, Porschke Menümanufaktur, and in the afternoon we round out the day with a small, healthy snack .
Most of the ingredients in the lunch menu are organic; meat and fish are each served only once a week— carefully and prepared with children in mind. Instead of a sweet dessert, we serve fresh fruit—seasonal and always lovingly arranged.

Children help shape things here: They get to have a say in what’s on the menu on a regular basis. At the table, the children serve themselves—whenever possible—and decide at their own pace what and how much they’d like to eat. In doing so, they experience self-determination and a sense of belonging.
Rituals accompany every meal: We say short grace before meals, set the table together, and anyone who’d like to can take on small tasks—this fosters reliability and strengthens our sense of community.

Even in cases of food intolerances or special dietary needs, we work together with families to find suitable solutions—openly, flexibly, and through constructive dialogue.
In this way, every meal becomes a loving part of the day—nourishing the body, the heart, and our community.

A close partnership with parents is essential for the Stadtküken, because a child can only develop optimally as part of a team. From the very beginning, the teachers foster an open, warm exchange: During drop-off and pick-up times, there are brief conversations about how the child is doing, important events, or impressions from the day. In addition, there are regular parent meetings are held to provide information on group topics, field trips, or educational priorities. A special advantage at Stadtküken is digital communication: Through a parent app (the so-called CARE app) , parents insights into daily life at the daycare —for example, photos of activities, brief updates, or schedules—all paperless and up-to-date. Of course, the teachers are also available for developmental meetings to discuss the child’s progress at length (usually once or twice a year, or more often if needed). Parents are welcome to contact the team at any time with questions or concerns. Parents are also involved in celebrations and projects—whether it’s a summer party, a garden work day, or field trips where volunteers are welcome. This partnership in education on equal footing ensures that families feel completely at home at Stadtküken.

Yes, preschoolers are gently prepared for the transition to school— in a playful and age-appropriate way. In their daily routines, the Stadtküken foster skills that are important for school: For example, the children practice concentrating (during picture book sessions or small projects), expand their vocabulary and ability to express themselves, and learn to resolve conflicts on their own. In addition, there are special programs for the older children that align with the Hamburg educational guidelines for preschoolers. In the preschool group, 5- to 6-year-olds receive targeted support in an age-homogeneous group. As a rule, the preschoolers meet several times a week for preschool activities: playful exercises involving numbers and quantities, language games, early experiments, or field trips to exciting learning destinations in Hamburg. It is important to the Stadtküken to instill in the children instill a love of learning and to build their self-confidence. This ensures that the soon-to-be schoolchildren enter this new phase of life well-prepared and full of curiosity.

An automatic entitlement for siblings does not exist under the law, but many daycare centers try to accommodate siblings. If an older child is already enrolled at the center, daycare directors often make an effort to secure a spot for younger siblings as well, to make parents’ daily lives easier. However, this cannot be guaranteed, as placement depends on availability. It is advisable to register siblings early as well and to mention the existing connection to the daycare center.

At Stadtküken, trained professionals care for the children. Our educators have completed vocational training as state-certified educators or hold a comparable educational qualification (social pedagogy, early childhood education, etc.). This means they are specifically trained to work with children and bring expertise, experience, and a great deal of empathy to their work. The team of professionals is supported by temporary staff, apprentices, students, and others. We also place great importance on our team regularly participating in continuing education and being passionate about their work—this is how we ensure loving, competent care in line with our mindful approach.

The Stadtküken daycare centers have very few scheduled closures. During summer break, there is usually a short two-week closure period, but even then we offer care provided by our own team if needed. The daycare center is generally closed on federal holidays; parents are, of course, notified of these dates well in advance. In addition, the daycare center is closed four days a year for internal professional development days. In general, we strive to keep closure periods as short as possible to ensure reliable care for your children.

Sick children should not attend daycare—out of consideration for their own health and that of others. If your child is clearly sick (e.g., has a fever, is vomiting, or is recovering from a contagious illness), they should stay home until they are healthy and well again. When in doubt, the child’s well-being comes first—it’s better to let your child rest at home for a day and inform the daycare center if your child is absent due to illness. Your child may return to daycare only after being symptom-free for several hours (please refer to your orientation materials for the exact requirements).

Absolutely—and in a way that’s fun and close to nature! We encourage children’s natural curiosity and use nature as a place of learning , and give them plenty of space to try things out, explore, experiment, and learn. Through regular nature projects (e.g., gardening together in the daycare’s raised garden bed or projects on topics such as water, electricity, nutrition, and heat) and a wide range of activities—from mindfulness yoga and dance to language and music games—we support the children’s holistic development. We also always prioritize participation—that is, the children’s genuine involvement: The children are allowed to actively help shape their daily routine and take on small tasks, which builds their self-confidence. In their final year at the daycare center (the “transition year”), our older “Stadtküken” also experience a small preschool group with selected activities that foster a love of learning through play and gently prepare them for the transition to school.

A typical day at Stadtküken begins in the morning with a warm welcome and a healthy breakfast shared as a group. This is often followed by a morning circle or another starting activity before the children play, do crafts, or go on discovery tours outdoors in nature as part of exciting projects—our large outdoor areas invite them to run around and explore every day. At lunchtime, all the children eat a balanced, hot meal together, and afterward, the younger children take a nap, while the older ones rest in a quiet atmosphere or engage in quiet activities. In the afternoon, the schedule includes free play or small group activities indoors and outdoors, and there’s a delicious afternoon snack to replenish their energy. Until pickup time, the day winds down in a relaxed, loving atmosphere—so every “Stadtküken” goes home with many wonderful memories.

If a child feels uncomfortable at daycare, that’s perfectly normal at first—especially during the adjustment period. The teachers closely observe the child’s behavior and reach out to the parents. Together, they consider whether adjustments to the daily routine, the group, or the pace of the adjustment period would be helpful. The child’s emotional well-being is always the top priority.

Nursery school usually ends with the child’s third birthday . After that, the children move on to kindergarten or the elementary program at the daycare center. Many facilities offer both programs under one roof, allowing for a smooth transition. The exact timing of the transition is determined in consultation with the parents.