We'll answer your daycare questions

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, 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 care for plants.
Daily nature experiences are an integral part of life at Stadtküken. When outdoor activities are not possible, we bring nature indoors through themed activities and the use of natural materials.
Stadtküken daycare centers also regularly organize nature excursions. Sometimes the children visit a nearby park or forest; other times, as part of special projects, they explore organic farms in the region. There, they discover where vegetables come from, observe animals up close, and develop a deeper understanding of the environment.
Nature thus becomes an extended learning space. These experiences support the children’s motor development and health, spark their curiosity, and help them develop an appreciation for the natural world.

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.

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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 everyday life at Stadtküken. They regularly have a say in what’s on the menu. At the table, they serve themselves whenever possible and decide at their own pace what and how much they’d like to eat. This encourages self-determination and a sense of belonging.
Rituals accompany every meal. We say a short grace before eating, set the table together, and invite children to take on small tasks if they wish. These shared responsibilities foster reliability and strengthen 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 at Stadtküken because children develop best when families and educators work together. From the very beginning, our teachers encourage open and warm communication. During drop-off and pick-up, parents can have brief conversations with the team about how their child is doing, important events, or impressions from the day.

Regular parent meetings provide updates on group activities, field trips, and educational priorities. Stadtküken also offers convenient digital communication through the CARE parent app, where parents can stay informed about daily life at daycare through photos of activities, brief updates, and schedules, all paperless and up to date.

Our teachers are also available for developmental meetings to discuss each child’s progress in greater detail, 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.

Families can also participate in celebrations and projects, whether it’s a summer party, a garden workday, or a field trip where parent volunteers are welcome.

This close partnership, built on mutual respect and shared responsibility, helps families feel welcome and 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 stay home from daycare to protect their health and prevent the spread of illness. If your child is clearly unwell, for example, has a fever, is vomiting, or is recovering from a contagious illness, they should remain at home until they have recovered.
When in doubt, your child’s well-being comes first. Give them time to rest and inform the daycare center of their absence due to illness.
Your child may return to daycare once they meet the center’s health requirements. Please refer to your orientation materials for the exact guidelines on when your child can return.

Absolutely, and in a way that’s fun and close to nature! We encourage children’s natural curiosity by using nature as a learning environment, giving them plenty of opportunities to explore, experiment, try new things, and learn through discovery.

Through regular nature projects, such as gardening in the daycare’s raised garden beds and exploring topics like water, electricity, nutrition, and heat, we support children’s development. We also offer a wide range of activities, from mindfulness yoga and dance to language and music games, to encourage learning in different areas.

Participation is always a priority. Children are encouraged to help shape their daily routines and take on small responsibilities, which helps build their confidence and independence.

During their final year at daycare, our older “Stadtküken” join a small preschool group as part of the transition year. Through selected activities, they develop a love of learning through play and prepare gently for the transition to school.

A typical day at Stadtküken begins with a warm welcome and a healthy breakfast shared with the group. This is often followed by a morning circle or another group activity to get the day started.

The children then have time to play, do crafts, take part in exciting projects, or explore nature outdoors. Our spacious outdoor areas invite them to run around, discover new things, and enjoy fresh air every day.

At lunchtime, the children share a balanced, hot meal. Afterward, the younger children take a nap, while the older ones relax in a quiet atmosphere or enjoy peaceful activities.

In the afternoon, the children can choose between free play and small-group activities, both indoors and outdoors. A delicious afternoon snack gives them energy for the rest of the day.

Until pickup time, the day winds down in a relaxed and caring atmosphere, ensuring that every “Stadtküken” heads home with wonderful memories.

If a child feels uncomfortable at daycare, that’s perfectly normal, especially during the adjustment period. Our teachers carefully observe the child’s behavior and communicate openly with the parents. Together, they consider whether changes to the daily routine, group setting, or pace of the adjustment period might help. The child’s emotional well-being always comes first.

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.