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Child care

General information

You can send your child to a day nursery or an independent day care professional from the ages of 0 to 3. Once your child has turned one year old, you have a legal right to child care. Day care centers (“Kitas”) typically offer supervision for children under three as well as for children over three. However, each day care center sets its own minimum age requirements for children under three.

If you want your child to be cared for in a small group (3 to 5 children), we recommend an independent day care professional (Tagesmutter); you can find one privately or ask youth services (the Jugendamt) to help you.

The monthly fees for day care in Potsdam and Berlin are based on the parent’s income.

Employed parents, as well as parents who are in professional training or are enrolled in university (for studies or doctoral studies), can claim a legal entitlement to day care for children under one year of age.


Day care entitlement & Day care voucher

Despite the existence of several kindergartens and day care centers, demand for these placements is very heavy in Potsdam and Berlin. Please contact us in a timely manner if you need our support. Applications are always handled directly with the day care professional or day care center.

Potsdam:

To be able to avail yourself of a day care placement in Potsdam in the following cases, you must first submit in advance an application for an “entitlement” at the city’s Kita Tipp:

  • for children up to the age of 3
  • for children over the age of 3 who need more than six hours of daily care
  • for children in the 1st to 4th grades who need more than four hours of daily care
  • for children in the 5th and 6th grades
  • for children who will be cared for in other communities or Berlin.

The application (see the download box) should be turned in to the Kita Tipp six to eight weeks before you want to begin sending your child to day care, at the latest. 

Berlin:

To be able to avail yourself of a day care placement in Berlin, you must first apply for a day care voucher at the Youth Office in your residential district. You can find the application form and additional information on the day care voucher here. A directory of all of the day care options in Berlin is available here (in German only).


Day care options

Kindergartens at Scientific Institutions

  • klEinstein (Kaiser-Friedrich-Strasse 135, 14469 Potsdam, Director: Ms. Christin Neugebauer, Phone +49 331 505 45 42)
  • Fröbelkita Springfrosch (Zum Mühlenteich 8, 14476 Potsdam, Director: Mr. Christian Polansky, Phone +49 331 647 58 494)
  • Geolino (Hoffbauer GmbH, Telegrafenberg, Building 33, 14473 Potsdam, Director: Ms. Mann, Phone +49 331 288 28 00)

Kindergartens with Special Features

Babysitters and Flexible Child Care

If you are looking for a babysitter for a few hours in the afternoon or evening, you can find tips and information from friends, colleagues, the daily newspapers, notices, or an agency.

For people affiliated with the University of Potsdam, flexible child care can be arranged if needed (for example, if you need someone to watch your child while you attend or teach a course, yet cannot find anyone to watch your child). Please contact the university's Family Service (website in German only but English contact is possible).