Understanding the German system is the first step in arranging childcare. The categories below reflect how the archived guide laid it out for international families.
The stages
Under three. Options include the crèche or Kindertagesstätte, known by names such as Krabbelstube, Krippe or Kita, as well as a childminder (Tagesmutter) and the smaller mini-kindergarten.
Roughly three to six. Children attend kindergarten, which is similar to preschool.
From six. Primary school (Grundschule) covers roughly the ages of six to ten. After that come secondary options, including Gymnasium and Gesamtschule, up to about age nineteen.
Finding a place in Frankfurt
The city has many crèches, Kitas and kindergartens, some of which accept both younger and older children. Getting a place depends on timing and persistence. Facilities can be public or private, and fees vary widely and may relate to household income.
Frankfurt operates a centralised online service called Kindernet to help families register their interest, and the Taunus region has its own equivalent. As new centres open while the family population grows, the archive advised asking the city council about both existing and planned facilities, since newly built ones may have shorter waiting lists.
Advice from parents
- Start early and plan ahead, but do not give up.
- At the time of writing, Hesse had no legal obligation to provide a place before a child turned six, though the authorities were working towards that aim.
- Ask each setting about its policies. One contributor noted that cloth nappies were generally not encouraged and that potty training is often left to parents.
Related pages
See the directory overview for childcare and education.