{"id":9056,"date":"2025-09-01T11:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T11:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/faq\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T01:11:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T01:11:35","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"9056\" class=\"elementor elementor-9056 elementor-3144\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true}}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-48abfc43 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"48abfc43\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d93f3f5\" data-id=\"3d93f3f5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a55afe2 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a55afe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:700,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>OUR DAYCARE FAQ \u2014 EVERYTHING YOU&#8217;D LIKE TO KNOW<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a523b23  ui-split-animate ui-splitby-chars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a523b23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ui_animate_split&quot;:&quot;ui-split-animate&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:100,&quot;ui_animate_split_by&quot;:&quot;chars&quot;,&quot;ui_animate_split_style&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">We'll answer your questions about daycare  <\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac92529 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac92529\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_mobile&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Childcare in Germany\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-003ab6c ui-e-animation-acc-expand ui-e-animation-ico-fade elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-uicore-accordion\" data-id=\"003ab6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;accordion_animation&quot;:&quot;ui-e-animation-acc-expand&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300,&quot;collapsible&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;active_hash&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"uicore-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ui-e-accordion\" >\n\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item ui-open\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-1\" id=\"ui-e-at-what-age-are-children-eligible-for-a-spot-in-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        At what age are children eligible for a spot in daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-at-what-age-are-children-eligible-for-a-spot-in-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-1\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Germany, every child is legally entitled to early childhood care starting on their first birthday\u2014initially for <\/span><b>5 hours a day, including lunch<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Many children start attending daycare (care for children under 3) around age 1. In exceptional cases, some facilities also accept younger children, starting at about 6\u201312 months of age, but the legal entitlement generally applies starting at 12 months. At age 3, children transition to kindergarten (elementary level) until they start school, which is usually at age 6.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-2\" id=\"ui-e-what-is-the-difference-between-a-nursery-a-kindergarten-and-a-daycare-center\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What is the difference between a nursery, a kindergarten, and a daycare center?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-is-the-difference-between-a-nursery-a-kindergarten-and-a-daycare-center\" id=\"ui-e-acc-2\">\n                        <p><b>Nativity scene<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>preschool<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> usually refer to separate age groups within child day care. A nursery cares for babies and toddlers (approximately ages 0 to 3), while a kindergarten cares for children from age 3 until they start school. <\/span><b>Daycare<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> stands for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">child care center<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and is an umbrella term that can include both a nursery and a kindergarten. Nursery and kindergarten groups are often located under one roof\u2014in which case the facility is generally referred to as a \u201cKita.\u201d Regardless of the term used, all such facilities fulfill the mission of early childhood education, care, and upbringing in accordance with statutory educational plans.<\/span><\/p><p>More on this topic <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/unterschied-kita-kindergarten\/\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-3\" id=\"ui-e-how-do-i-find-a-spot-in-daycare-and-when-should-i-register-my-child\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How do I find a spot in daycare, and when should I register my child?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-do-i-find-a-spot-in-daycare-and-when-should-i-register-my-child\" id=\"ui-e-acc-3\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finding a spot at your preferred daycare center requires <\/span><b>planning ahead<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Parents should <\/span><b>as early as possible<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2014in cities, often as early as during pregnancy or, at the latest, immediately after birth. It\u2019s advisable to contact several daycare centers, as spots are limited. Since the allocation of spots isn\u2019t centralized everywhere in Germany, taking the initiative is important. As soon as it\u2019s clear when childcare will be needed, registration should take place to increase the chances of securing a suitable spot.<\/span><\/p><p> <\/p><p>More on this topic:  <\/p><p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">How far in advance do you need to start looking for daycare?<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/finding-a-daycare-place-in-hamburg-10-practical-tips-for-your-kita-search\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Finding a Daycare Spot in Hamburg: 10 Tips<\/span><\/a><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3f3279 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b3f3279\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Law &amp; Legislation\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d004a7b ui-e-animation-acc-expand ui-e-animation-ico-fade elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-uicore-accordion\" data-id=\"d004a7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;accordion_animation&quot;:&quot;ui-e-animation-acc-expand&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300,&quot;collapsible&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;active_hash&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"uicore-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ui-e-accordion\" >\n\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item ui-open\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-1\" id=\"ui-e-is-there-a-legal-right-to-a-spot-in-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Is there a legal right to a spot in daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-is-there-a-legal-right-to-a-spot-in-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-1\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, every child in Germany has a <\/span><b>legal right to early childhood education and care at a daycare center or in a family daycare setting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Section 24 of Book VIII of the Social Code). This right applies regardless of whether the parents work or not. The local government is required to provide a sufficient number of spots. In practice, however, it is advisable to apply for a spot early, as demand often exceeds supply in many places. Especially if you have a preferred daycare center in mind, it is advisable to start planning well in advance.<\/span><\/p><p>More on this topic <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/wie-frueh-muss-man-sich-um-die-kita-kuemmern\/\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-2\" id=\"ui-e-when-does-the-legal-right-to-a-daycare-spot-take-effect\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        When does the legal right to a daycare spot take effect?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-when-does-the-legal-right-to-a-daycare-spot-take-effect\" id=\"ui-e-acc-2\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The legal entitlement takes effect as of the <\/span><b>child\u2019s first birthday<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . Parents are then free to decide whether they want their child to attend childcare. Before the child\u2019s first birthday, entitlement to childcare is limited to special circumstances. The entitlement lasts until the child starts school, which is generally at age six.<br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/is-daycare-at-2-years-too-early\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-3\" id=\"ui-e-what-can-i-do-if-i-cant-find-a-spot-in-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What can I do if I can&#039;t find a spot in daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-can-i-do-if-i-cant-find-a-spot-in-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-3\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If no space is available even though a child is eligible, parents should contact the <\/span><b>responsible youth welfare office<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . There, they can assert what is known as a \u201csubstitute claim.\u201d If the city fails to fulfill its obligation, parents may even be able to claim damages under certain circumstances\u2014for example, for lost income.<br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/finding-a-daycare-place-in-hamburg-10-practical-tips-for-your-kita-search\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-4\" id=\"ui-e-is-daycare-mandatory-in-germany\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Is daycare mandatory in Germany?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-is-daycare-mandatory-in-germany\" id=\"ui-e-acc-4\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No, in Germany there is <b>no requirement<\/b> to enroll a child in daycare. It is a voluntary program for early childhood education and care. However, participation is strongly recommended, as children acquire important social, language, and emotional skills there. Compulsory schooling begins at around age 6, but not before.   <br><br>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/warum-kita-vorteile-fruehkindliche-bildung\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-5\" id=\"ui-e-are-children-with-disabilities-allowed-to-attend-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Are children with disabilities allowed to attend daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-are-children-with-disabilities-allowed-to-attend-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-5\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, children with disabilities or special educational needs have <\/span><b>the same legal right<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to early childhood education as all other children. Many facilities offer integrative or inclusive groups with additional specialized staff. It\u2019s a good idea to talk to your preferred daycare center or the youth welfare office early on about suitable care options.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2086fd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2086fd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Daycare System in Hamburg<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-838de0f ui-e-animation-acc-expand ui-e-animation-ico-fade elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-uicore-accordion\" data-id=\"838de0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;accordion_animation&quot;:&quot;ui-e-animation-acc-expand&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300,&quot;collapsible&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;active_hash&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"uicore-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ui-e-accordion\" >\n\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item ui-open\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-1\" id=\"ui-e-how-does-the-daycare-voucher-system-work-in-hamburg\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How does the daycare voucher system work in Hamburg?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-does-the-daycare-voucher-system-work-in-hamburg\" id=\"ui-e-acc-1\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Hamburg, child care is funded through the <\/span><b>daycare voucher system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . Parents apply for a daycare voucher at their district\u2019s Youth Welfare Office (which can now be done conveniently online) and specify the desired amount of care. The voucher specifies how many hours of care per day have been approved\u2014options include 5, 6, 8, 10, or 12 hours daily. <\/span> <b>5 hours per day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are generally <\/span><b>free of charge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (including lunch). If more hours are needed, the city continues to cover a large portion of the costs, but parents then pay an <\/span><b>income-based co-payment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for the additional hours. This parental contribution is socially tiered and capped\u2014for example, full-day care of 10\u201312 hours costs a maximum of approximately <\/span> <b>204 \u20ac per month<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for higher-income families, and correspondingly less for those with lower incomes. Families with very low incomes or receiving government benefits are completely exempt from fees. The daycare voucher system thus ensures that <\/span> <b>all children have access to high-quality daycare<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> without the costs becoming a barrier for parents.<\/span>   <\/p><p>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/kita-gutschein-hamburg-erklaert\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-2\" id=\"ui-e-who-is-eligible-for-a-daycare-voucher-in-hamburg\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Who is eligible for a daycare voucher in Hamburg?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-who-is-eligible-for-a-daycare-voucher-in-hamburg\" id=\"ui-e-acc-2\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every family in Hamburg with a child aged 1 or older is generally entitled to a daycare voucher for <\/span><b>5 hours of care per day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. All children are eligible for this voucher until they start school\u2014regardless of whether their parents are employed or not. If parents need <\/span><b>work, vocational training, or college<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (e.g., 6, 8, 10, or 12 hours a day), they can indicate this on their application. The Youth Welfare Office assesses the need and approves a voucher for additional hours accordingly. Special circumstances, such as an impending disability of the child or cases of social hardship, may also justify a claim for extended childcare hours. Important: Even with vouchers for longer hours, the basic 5-hour care remains free for everyone\u2014parents pay only a co-payment for the additional hours, which is income-based.<br \/><br \/>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/kita-gutschein-hamburg-erklaert\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-3\" id=\"ui-e-how-and-where-do-i-apply-for-the-daycare-voucher\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How and where do I apply for the daycare voucher?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-and-where-do-i-apply-for-the-daycare-voucher\" id=\"ui-e-acc-3\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can apply for the daycare voucher at the <\/span><b>City of Hamburg Youth Welfare Office<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">; the easiest way is <\/span><b>online<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> via the city\u2019s service portal. The application should be submitted no later than <\/span><b>three months before childcare begins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , as processing can take several weeks. The online form asks for information about the child, the legal guardians, and the childcare needs; you must also submit proof of income, as the parent contribution is calculated based on this. After submitting the application, parents will receive written confirmation of receipt. Once the application has been reviewed, the Youth Welfare Office will issue the voucher, which you then submit to the daycare center. <\/span><b>Tip:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Parents can also submit the application initially without a confirmed daycare spot\u2014it\u2019s important to have the voucher in hand in time if a spot is accepted. If you have any questions, the parent counseling offices at the Youth Welfare Office will be happy to assist you.<br \/><br \/>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/kita-gutschein-hamburg-erklaert\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-4\" id=\"ui-e-how-much-does-a-daycare-spot-cost-in-hamburg-with-a-voucher\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How much does a daycare spot cost in Hamburg with a voucher?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-much-does-a-daycare-spot-cost-in-hamburg-with-a-voucher\" id=\"ui-e-acc-4\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thanks to the voucher system, the <\/span><b>costs for a daycare spot in Hamburg<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are manageable. Childcare for up to 5 hours a day is <\/span> <b>completely free<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for parents\u2014the city covers all associated costs. For longer care hours, a monthly <\/span> <b>parental fee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that is based on income. As a rough guide: for 6 hours of care, the maximum amount is about \u20ac115 per month; for 8 hours, about \u20ac191; and for 10 to 12 hours, a maximum of about \u20ac204. If parents earn less, this amount is reduced accordingly; families with very low incomes often pay nothing at all. In addition, parents who receive, for example, basic income support or welfare are exempt from co-payments. The exact parental contribution is calculated by the Youth Welfare Office based on proof of income. <\/span> <b>Important:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In Hamburg, the fee already includes a <\/span><b>hot lunch <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014the child\u2019s basic meals do not cost extra. Overall, the funding system is designed so that no child is excluded from attending daycare due to financial factors.<\/span>   <\/p><p>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/kita-gutschein-hamburg-erklaert\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6aceb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f6aceb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stadtk\u00fcken Daycare Center\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66a3d50 ui-e-animation-acc-expand ui-e-animation-ico-fade elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-uicore-accordion\" data-id=\"66a3d50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;accordion_animation&quot;:&quot;ui-e-animation-acc-expand&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300,&quot;collapsible&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;active_hash&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"uicore-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ui-e-accordion\" >\n\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item ui-open\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-1\" id=\"ui-e-how-do-i-get-a-spot-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-how-does-the-registration-process-work\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How do I get a spot at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center? How does the registration process work?                         <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-do-i-get-a-spot-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-how-does-the-registration-process-work\" id=\"ui-e-acc-1\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To secure a spot at a Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center, parents are advised to submit a <\/span><b>submit a request for a spot via the website<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. At www.stadtkueken.de, there is an online form titled \u201cRequest a Daycare Spot\u201d where you can enter your preferred location and start date. The central administration reviews the request and will contact you as soon as a suitable spot becomes available. Usually, an appointment is then scheduled for a personal meeting and a tour of the daycare center. Parents and the child can tour the facilities and meet the director and staff in person. If everything works out for both sides and a spot is available, a childcare contract is signed, and the child can begin the adjustment period on the agreed-upon date. Important: Since demand is high, it\u2019s worth       <\/span><b>Apply early<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and, if necessary, be flexible regarding the location or start date.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-2\" id=\"ui-e-from-what-age-and-until-when-are-children-cared-for-at-stadtkuken\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        From what age and until when are children cared for at Stadtk\u00fcken?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-from-what-age-and-until-when-are-children-cared-for-at-stadtkuken\" id=\"ui-e-acc-2\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers care for children <\/span><b>from about 1 year old until they start school<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (approx. 6 years old). As a rule, children <\/span><b>start at 12 months<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2014in some cases, admission as early as about 10\u201311 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 Stadtk\u00fcken, both age groups are available at the various locations; in addition, there is a <\/span><b>preschool group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is offered for the oldest children, one year before they start school. The daycare period ends no later than the transition to first grade. Stadtk\u00fcken thus covers the entire early childhood care and education phase, from infancy through school entry.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-3\" id=\"ui-e-do-the-stadtkuken-also-offer-inclusive-spots-for-children-with-special-needs\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Do the Stadtk\u00fcken also offer inclusive spots for children with special needs?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-do-the-stadtkuken-also-offer-inclusive-spots-for-children-with-special-needs\" id=\"ui-e-acc-3\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most &#8220;Stadtk\u00fcken&#8221; daycare centers are not designated integration centers that reserve specific spots for children with disabilities. Only the   <\/span><b>Johann\u2019s Garten Daycare Center in Gro\u00df Borstel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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: <\/span> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> child is considered on an individual basis. If a child has special needs, the Stadtk\u00fcken 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 Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers. In this way, Stadtk\u00fcken promotes tolerance and acceptance, so that all children learn from and with one another.<\/span> <\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-4\" id=\"ui-e-how-big-are-the-groups-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How big are the groups at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-big-are-the-groups-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\" id=\"ui-e-acc-4\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The group size depends on the available space at the facility. Typically, a <\/span><b>nursery group (ages 0\u20133) has up to 15 children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, while a <\/span><b>preschool group (ages 3 to school entry)<\/b> <b>has between<\/b> <b>20 and 25 children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> .<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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\u2019s daily routines\u2014usually two full-time and one part-time. An elementary group is usually lovingly cared for by two qualified staff members.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The groups receive additional support, for example, from temporary staff, in-house substitutes, and dedicated trainees, who enrich the team\u2019s day-to-day work and flexibly pitch in wherever needed.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-5\" id=\"ui-e-what-are-the-hours-of-operation-for-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What are the hours of operation for the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-are-the-hours-of-operation-for-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\" id=\"ui-e-acc-5\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers are generally open from <\/span><b>7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . Depending on the location and the needs of local families, there may be slight variations\u2014but one thing is certain: Daily care for <\/span><b>up to 10 hours is available at all locations.<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To ensure that all children can take part in our thoughtfully designed rituals, projects, and activities, we have a <\/span><b>fixed core hours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. During this time, the children participate in morning circle, shared meals, creative projects, free play, and restful quiet time\u2014a valuable time for interaction, personal growth, and connection.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-6\" id=\"ui-e-what-is-the-educational-philosophy-of-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-what-makes-it-special\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What is the educational philosophy of the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center? What makes it special?                         <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-is-the-educational-philosophy-of-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-what-makes-it-special\" id=\"ui-e-acc-6\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our approach combines <\/span><b>nature, mindfulness,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><b>genuine participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in children\u2019s everyday lives. At Stadtk\u00fcken, children not only experience a sense of security and structured routines, but also discover just how vibrant learning can be\u2014outdoors in nature, using all their senses, and at their own pace. In doing so, we naturally also adhere to the <\/span><b>educational guidelines of the City of Hamburg<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which provide us with an important framework for the holistic support and guidance of the children.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our early childhood educators provide sensitive guidance to the children, offer stability through clear routines, and strengthen each child\u2019s sense of self-efficacy\u2014for example, when children contribute ideas for projects, participate in decision-making, or take on responsibilities in their daily lives.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This creates a place where children are not only cared for, but also thrive\u2014curious, self-confident, and connected to themselves and their surroundings.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-7\" id=\"ui-e-do-the-children-spend-time-outdoors-every-day\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Do the children spend time outdoors every day?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-do-the-children-spend-time-outdoors-every-day\" id=\"ui-e-acc-7\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each facility has its own <\/span><b>green outdoor area<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, 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\u2014whether to run around in the fresh air, observe insects, or water and tend to plants. <\/span> <b>Daily nature experiences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are an integral part of everyday life at Stadtk\u00fcken. If spending time outdoors isn\u2019t possible, we bring nature indoors (through themed activities and\/or using natural materials). In addition, the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers regularly take <\/span> <b>field trips into nature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 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\u2019s motor development and health but also spark their curiosity and foster an understanding of the environment. <\/span>   <\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-8\" id=\"ui-e-how-is-the-adjustment-period-handled-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How is the adjustment period handled at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-is-the-adjustment-period-handled-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\" id=\"ui-e-acc-8\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A good start to daycare begins with trust\u2014and we take the time for that. Our settling-in is divided into three gentle phases: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arriving<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being there<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking part<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Every child is welcome to arrive at their own pace, accompanied by a trusted adult and a sensitive team.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Before we begin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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\u2014so the start is well prepared.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Arriving:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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\u2014in the environment, in the educator and in the other children.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Being there:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When the child feels more secure, the \u201cbeing there\u201d 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.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A special companion in this phase is our Care App\u2014an 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. <\/span><\/p><p><b>Participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We tailor the adjustment period to each child\u2019s 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\u2014and that\u2019s exactly why we\u2019re here.<br \/><br \/>More on this topic <a href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/kita-eingewoehnung-tipps-eltern-kind\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-9\" id=\"ui-e-how-are-the-children-fed-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How are the children fed at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-are-the-children-fed-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-centers\" id=\"ui-e-acc-9\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the Stadtk\u00fcken, eating is more than just filling your stomach\u2014it\u2019s a moment of community, participation, and mindful togetherness.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The children start the day with a <\/span><b>breakfast together<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><b>at lunchtime<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> there\u2019s a <\/span><b>hot meal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from our <\/span><b>regional partner, Porschke Men\u00fcmanufaktur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and in the <\/span><b>afternoon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> we round out the day with a <\/span><b>small, healthy<\/b> <b>snack<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> .<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Most of the ingredients in the lunch menu are organic; meat and fish are each served only once a week\u2014 <\/span><b>carefully<\/b> <b>and prepared with children in mind<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Instead of a sweet dessert, we serve fresh fruit\u2014seasonal and always lovingly arranged.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Children help shape things here<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: They get to have a say in what\u2019s on the menu on a regular basis. At the table, the children serve themselves\u2014whenever possible\u2014and decide at their own pace what and how much they\u2019d like to eat. In doing so, they experience self-determination and a sense of belonging.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/><\/span><b>Rituals accompany every meal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: We say short grace before meals, set the table together, and anyone who\u2019d like to can take on small tasks\u2014this fosters reliability and strengthens our sense of community.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even in cases of food intolerances or special dietary needs, we work together with families to find suitable solutions\u2014openly, flexibly, and through constructive dialogue.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this way, every meal becomes a loving part of the day\u2014nourishing the body, the heart, and our community.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-10\" id=\"ui-e-how-are-parents-involved-and-kept-informed-at-stadtkuken\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How are parents involved and kept informed at Stadtk\u00fcken?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-are-parents-involved-and-kept-informed-at-stadtkuken\" id=\"ui-e-acc-10\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><b>close partnership with parents<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is essential for the Stadtk\u00fcken, 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 <\/span> <b>parent meetings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are held to provide information on group topics, field trips, or educational priorities. A special advantage at Stadtk\u00fcken is digital communication: Through a <\/span> <b>parent app (the so-called CARE app)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , parents <\/span><b>insights into daily life at the daycare <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014for example, photos of activities, brief updates, or schedules\u2014all paperless and up-to-date. Of course, the teachers are also available for developmental meetings to discuss the child\u2019s 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\u2014whether it\u2019s a summer party, a garden work day, or field trips where volunteers are welcome. This <\/span> <b>partnership in education on equal footing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> ensures that families feel completely at home at Stadtk\u00fcken.<\/span>   <\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-11\" id=\"ui-e-are-the-children-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-prepared-for-school\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Are the children at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center prepared for school?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-are-the-children-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-prepared-for-school\" id=\"ui-e-acc-11\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, preschoolers are gently prepared for the transition to school\u2014 <\/span><b>in a playful and age-appropriate way<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. In their daily routines, the Stadtk\u00fcken 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 <\/span> <b>Hamburg educational guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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 Stadtk\u00fcken to instill in the children <\/span> <b>instill a love of learning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 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.<\/span>  <\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-12\" id=\"ui-e-is-a-sibling-automatically-entitled-to-a-spot-in-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Is a sibling automatically entitled to a spot in daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-is-a-sibling-automatically-entitled-to-a-spot-in-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-12\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An <\/span><b>automatic entitlement for siblings<\/b> <b>does not exist under the law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, 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\u2019 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.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-13\" id=\"ui-e-what-qualifications-do-the-teachers-at-stadtkuken-have\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What qualifications do the teachers at Stadtk\u00fcken have?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-qualifications-do-the-teachers-at-stadtkuken-have\" id=\"ui-e-acc-13\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At Stadtk\u00fcken, 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\u2014this is how we ensure loving, competent care in line with our mindful approach.   <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-14\" id=\"ui-e-does-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-have-any-holidays-or-closure-periods\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Does the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center have any holidays or closure periods?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-does-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-have-any-holidays-or-closure-periods\" id=\"ui-e-acc-14\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Stadtk\u00fcken 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.    <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-15\" id=\"ui-e-can-my-child-attend-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-if-he-or-she-is-sick\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Can my child attend the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center if he or she is sick?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-can-my-child-attend-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-if-he-or-she-is-sick\" id=\"ui-e-acc-15\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sick children should not attend daycare\u2014out 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\u2019s well-being comes first\u2014it\u2019s 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).   <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-16\" id=\"ui-e-do-the-children-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-learn-anything-and-how-are-they-supported\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        Do the children at the Stadtk\u00fcken Daycare Center learn anything, and how are they supported?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-do-the-children-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center-learn-anything-and-how-are-they-supported\" id=\"ui-e-acc-16\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Absolutely\u2014and in a way that\u2019s fun and close to nature! We encourage children\u2019s natural curiosity and use <\/span><b>nature as a place of learning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , 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\u2019s raised garden bed or projects on topics such as water, electricity, nutrition, and heat) and a wide range of activities\u2014from mindfulness yoga and dance to language and music games\u2014we support the children\u2019s holistic development. We also always prioritize <\/span><b>participation\u2014that is, the children\u2019s genuine involvement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 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 \u201ctransition year\u201d), our older \u201cStadtk\u00fcken\u201d 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.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-17\" id=\"ui-e-what-is-a-typical-day-like-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What is a typical day like at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare center?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-is-a-typical-day-like-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-center\" id=\"ui-e-acc-17\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A typical day at Stadtk\u00fcken 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\u2014our 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\u2019s a delicious afternoon snack to replenish their energy. Until pickup time, the day winds down in a relaxed, loving atmosphere\u2014so every \u201cStadtk\u00fcken\u201d goes home with many wonderful memories.    <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-18\" id=\"ui-e-what-happens-if-my-child-isnt-feeling-well\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What happens if my child isn&#039;t feeling well?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-happens-if-my-child-isnt-feeling-well\" id=\"ui-e-acc-18\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If a child feels uncomfortable at daycare, that\u2019s perfectly normal at first\u2014especially during the adjustment period. The teachers closely observe the child\u2019s 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\u2019s emotional well-being is always the top priority.   <\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-19\" id=\"ui-e-how-long-can-a-child-stay-at-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How long can a child stay at daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-long-can-a-child-stay-at-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-19\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nursery school usually ends with the <\/span><b>child\u2019s third birthday<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . 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.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dd0193 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8dd0193\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Cost of City Chicks\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-555879f ui-e-animation-acc-expand ui-e-animation-ico-fade elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-uicore-accordion\" data-id=\"555879f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;accordion_animation&quot;:&quot;ui-e-animation-acc-expand&quot;,&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300,&quot;collapsible&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;active_hash&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"uicore-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ui-e-accordion\" >\n\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item ui-open\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-1\" id=\"ui-e-how-much-does-a-spot-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-cost-and-who-pays-for-the-care\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How much does a spot at the Stadtk\u00fcken daycare cost, and who pays for the care?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-much-does-a-spot-at-the-stadtkuken-daycare-cost-and-who-pays-for-the-care\" id=\"ui-e-acc-1\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thanks to Hamburg&#8217;s <\/span><b>daycare voucher system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> , childcare costs at our Stadtk\u00fcken daycare centers are kept at an affordable level. Five hours of care per day are generally provided free of charge to parents. For longer care periods (6, 8, 10, or 12 hours a day), an income-based parental contribution is required; however, this is capped at a maximum of approximately \u20ac204 per month for a full-day spot. Low-income families (or those receiving government benefits) are exempt from this parental contribution. <\/span> <\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-2\" id=\"ui-e-how-is-the-parent-fee-calculated\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        How is the parent fee calculated?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-how-is-the-parent-fee-calculated\" id=\"ui-e-acc-2\">\n                        <p> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In most municipalities, the parental contribution is based on the <\/span><b>parents&#8217; net income<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the <\/span><b>extent of childcare<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (e.g., 5, 6, 8, or 10 hours), and the number of children in the household. There are sliding scales or tables from which the monthly fee can be determined. Many cities and municipalities offer online calculators. In addition, sibling discounts or fee exemptions may apply to low-income families.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br><\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-item ui-e-item\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ui-e-acc-3\" id=\"ui-e-what-happens-if-i-cant-afford-daycare\">\n\n                    <h5 class=\"ui-e-accordion-title ui-e-title ui-right\">\n\n                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon ui-e-icon ui-e-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\n                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-closed\">\n                                    <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-plus\"><\/i>                                <\/span>\n\n                                                                    <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-icon-opened\">\n                                        <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ti ti-minus\"><\/i>                                    <\/span>\n                                \n                            <\/span>\n                        \n                                                <span class=\"ui-e-accordion-title-text ui-e-title-text\" >\n                                                        What happens if I can&#039;t afford daycare?                        <\/span>\n\n                    <\/h5>\n\n                    <div class=\"ui-e-accordion-content ui-e-content\" style=\"display:none;\" aria-labelledby=\"ui-e-what-happens-if-i-cant-afford-daycare\" id=\"ui-e-acc-3\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the cost of care exceeds one\u2019s financial means, it is possible to apply to the Youth Welfare Office for <\/span><b>to have the costs covered under Section 90 of SGB VIII<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> . Depending on income and family circumstances, parental contributions are covered in full or in part. Families receiving basic income support, housing assistance, or welfare are also often entitled to full exemption from costs. No one should have to forgo a daycare spot for financial reasons. As a general rule, every family can afford 5 hours of childcare, as this is fully subsidized and therefore paid for by the city.<\/span><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OUR DAYCARE FAQ \u2014 EVERYTHING YOU&#8217;D LIKE TO KNOW We&#8217;ll answer your questions about daycare Childcare in Germany At what age are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9056","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How much does daycare cost per child? What&#039;s the best age to start daycare?... We&#039;ll answer these and many other questions for you.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How much does daycare cost per child? What&#039;s the best age to start daycare?... We&#039;ll answer these and many other questions for you.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Stadtk\u00fcken\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-01T01:11:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CTA_Stadtkueken-scaled.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1657\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/en\\\/?page_id=9056\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/en\\\/?page_id=9056\",\"name\":\"Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-01T11:39:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-01T01:11:35+00:00\",\"description\":\"How much does daycare cost per child? What's the best age to start daycare?... We'll answer these and many other questions for you.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/en\\\/?page_id=9056#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/en\\\/?page_id=9056\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/en\\\/?page_id=9056#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"FAQ\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stadtk\u00fcken\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/stadtkueken.de\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare","description":"How much does daycare cost per child? What's the best age to start daycare?... We'll answer these and many other questions for you.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare","og_description":"How much does daycare cost per child? What's the best age to start daycare?... We'll answer these and many other questions for you.","og_url":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056","og_site_name":"Stadtk\u00fcken","article_modified_time":"2026-09-01T01:11:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1657,"url":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CTA_Stadtkueken-scaled.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"23 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056","url":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056","name":"Answers to Your Questions About Preschool and Daycare","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-09-01T11:39:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-01T01:11:35+00:00","description":"How much does daycare cost per child? What's the best age to start daycare?... We'll answer these and many other questions for you.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/?page_id=9056#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"FAQ"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/","name":"Stadtk\u00fcken","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9056"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9058,"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9056\/revisions\/9058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stadtkueken.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}