Every child from the age of one has a legal entitlement to support in a day care center (Kita) or day care. Before the first birthday, a child is entitled to support and care in a kindergarten or a day care center if parents cannot look after their child themselves because both parents are working, looking for work or are still in training. In addition, there is also a claim if the promotion is necessary for the development of the child. This is regulated by § 24 (1) of the Eighth Social Code (SGB VIII). How many hours the child can be cared for, depends on the individual needs.
There are many opportunities for childcare in Germany up to the age of three:
To participate in these childcare services, you must first register your children. Sometimes the places are scarce because of the large number of interested parents. It's best to ask for free places as early as possible. The youth welfare offices provide information about the available space in the local catchment area of the respective institutions.
Child care in Berlin:
From the first year of age, every child has a legal entitlement to part-time support (5 to 7 hours a day) in a day care center or child day care, regardless of whether there is a need for childcare. If the child care is needed for more than 7 hours, the requirement must be demonstrated. Also, for children under one year, the requirement for caring for the child must be demonstrated.
The scope of daily care is based on the needs. Depending on the individual needs, there is daily care for:
• 4-5 hours: half-day support
• 5-7 hours: part-time support
• 7-9 hours: all-day support
• over 9 hours: extended full-day support
The registration for the child day care takes place over a Kita-voucher. Parents get the Kita-voucher in the youth office of the respective residential district. It is also possible to apply online for registration (https://fms.verwalt-berlin.de/kita/frm/main?execution=e1s1).
The application can be applied at earliest nine months and at latest two months before the desired start of day care at the youth welfare office of your residential area.
General information for Berlin:
https://www.berlin.de/sen/jugend/familie-und-kinder/kindertagesbetreuung/
https://www.berlin.de/familie/de/informationen/umfang-der-kindertagesbetreuung-138
https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324873/
http://www.berlin.de/sen/jugend/familie-und-kinder/kindertagesbetreuung/anmeldung/
Child day care: https://www.berlin.de/sen/jugend/familie-und-kinder/kindertagesbetreuung/kindertagespflege/
Find child care center in Berlin: https://www.berlin.de/sen/jugend/familie-und-kinder/kindertagesbetreuung/kitas/verzeichnis/
Crèches in Berlin ordered by districts: http://www.kita.de/krippen/berlin
Kindergartens in Berlin ordered by districts: http://www.kita.de/kindergaerten/berlin