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.
Day care in Brandenburg:
Children from the first year of their age (after the birthday) to the fifth grade have a legal right to day care in the state of Brandenburg. Until enrollment, the entitlement covers at least six hours of care, and for primary school children at least four hours. If the family situation requires it (for example, parental employment), the children are entitled to extended care periods.
Children under the age of one and fifth and sixth grade children also have a legal entitlement if the family situation requires child day care.
Daycare center are:
• day nursery (nursery/crèche) for children up to three years,
• kindergarten for children from the age of three until school enrollment,
• care for schoolchildren up to grade 6 for care before and especially after lessons and during school holidays
• Age-mixed facilities and other needs-based services, such as parent-child groups.
Directory of day care center in Brandenburg: https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/kinder-und-jugend/kindertagesbetreuung/kita-verzeichnis.html?einrichtungen=all
Child day care is an alternative to care in the crèche. In most cases, the children are looked after in the household of the day care worker or in other suitable rooms. Child day care can be offered by the local community office or the youth welfare office.
Parents who are looking for a child day care place for their child, can register their need with the local carrier of the public youth welfare service (municipal office or youth welfare office). The local youth welfare service arranges free places in child day care or parents can look for a suitable free place in a day care for children themselves.
Parent-child groups are educational and meeting opportunities for children and their parents who are open on weekdays. They offer a variety of educational opportunities for the children and the opportunity to contact and exchange with other parents and children, as well as their own commitment. Parent-child groups are accompanied by a pedagogical expert and are an offer for parents who do not want to bring their children to the kindergarten or to the childminder and bring in the parent-child group support, relief and encouragement for education or with want to meet other families.
Parent-child groups in Brandenburg: https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/media_fast/6288/ekg_internet_okt2017.pdf
General information:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Brandenburg:
https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/kinder-und-jugend/kindertagesbetreuung.html and https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/sixcms/detail.php/lbm1.c.258355.de
Parent Information flyer: https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/kinder-und-jugend/kindertagesbetreuung/eltern-informations-flyer.html