💡 At the Kita you bring the child in the Bringzeit (arrival window, usually until nine); the educator (Erzieherin) greets you and asks how the night was.
💡 Wie war der Tag? is the standard question when picking up; the educator tells you about food (gegessen), sleep (geschlafen) and play (gespielt).
💡 At the Kita you bring Wechselkleidung (spare clothes), Hausschuhe (slippers), a Matschhose (waterproof trousers) and Gummistiefel (wellies); everything is labelled.
💡 In many Kitas children bring a Brotdose (lunch box); gesundes Frühstück is common: bread, fruit, vegetables, no sweets.
💡 Only persons on the list (Abholberechtigte) or with written permission may pick the child up; tell the educator about a new person in advance.
💡 Allergie is allergy, vertragen to tolerate, Unverträglichkeit intolerance; you report allergies both in writing and orally so the kitchen and educators know.
💡 If you are late bringing the child, phone the Kita: that way educators know whether to wait.
💡 In German Kitas there is a Mittagsschlaf or Ruhezeit (rest time) after lunch; older children may rest with books instead of sleeping.
💡 Educators report conflicts between children calmly: it is part of development; do not scold the child, but talk to it about rules and about using words instead of hands or teeth.
💡 A Brückentag is a day between a holiday and the weekend: the Kita may be closed; check the closing calendar (Schließtage) ahead and ask about Notbetreuung (emergency care).
💡 A sick child is not brought in; illness is reported in the morning by phone or app, often before eight.
💡 In many Kitas there is a rule that after a fever or vomiting the child stays home until at least a day has passed without symptoms; check your Kita's rules.
💡 Parents must inform the Kita about contagious diseases (lice, chickenpox, scarlet fever): the infection protection law requires it.
💡 Head lice (Läuse) must be reported to the Kita; the child comes back after treatment with a pharmacy product and a written confirmation from the parents; the treatment is repeated as the instructions say.
💡 With vomiting or diarrhoea the child is picked up at once; it usually returns two days after the last symptoms; check the exact rules in the contract.
💡 The Kita gives medicine only with the parents' written consent and the doctor's instructions: you need the form, the original packet, the dose and the time; ask the Kita about its rules.
💡 You look for a place via the city portal (Kita-Navigator) and submit several applications; there is often a waiting list, so don't delay.
💡 In the contract (Betreuungsvertrag) check the hours (Betreuungsumfang), fees (Gebühren), meals (Verpflegung) and closing days (Schließtage).
💡 Kita fees depend on the city and income (einkommensabhängig); meals (Essensgeld) are often separate. In some states Kitas are free.
💡 In many cities the Jugendamt issues the Betreuungsgutschein on application; you need the child's birth certificate and proof of registration; you hand the voucher in at the Kita.
💡 At an Tag der offenen Tür (open day) ask about the group, the schedule, food and language; places in a Kita are often scarce, so put your name on the waiting list (Warteliste) as early as possible.
💡 At the Aufnahmegespräch (admission talk) tell them about your child's habits: what it likes, what it eats, the language at home, any allergies; do not be shy that your child does not know German yet.
💡 Eingewöhnung is a gradual settling-in during which a parent is first in the group with the child; it usually lasts several weeks.
💡 To begin with: Hausschuhe (slippers), Wechselkleidung, a Kuscheltier (comfort toy), Schnuller (dummy) and Wickelsachen (nappies).
💡 Educators advise saying goodbye briefly and clearly; a prolonged goodbye usually makes tears worse. The child calms quickly once the parent is gone.
💡 The Eingewöhnung (settling-in) takes several weeks: time without the parents is increased gradually; stay nearby and reachable so that you can come quickly if needed.
💡 A Kuscheltier is a soft toy for comfort; beschriften means to label things: in a Kita everything gets the child's name on it, otherwise things get lost.
💡 The Elternabend is a parents' meeting, usually in the evening; parent representatives (Elternvertreter) are chosen and the schedule and festivities discussed.
💡 The Entwicklungsgespräch is a talk about the child's development, once or twice a year; the educator tells you about language, movement and interaction with other children.
💡 Elternvertreter are elected parents who pass wishes to the Kita and help with parties; you can help without that role too, and it is appreciated.
💡 Photos of children in a Kita are used only with the parents' written consent (Einverständniserklärung): you can allow only part, for example an internal portfolio without publication.
💡 At home it is best to speak the language you know best: it helps your child's development; it learns German in the Kita among the other children.
💡 In the Kita people often bring a cake or fruit for the group on a birthday; ask the educator what is allowed, particularly regarding allergies.
💡 The Laternenumzug (lantern procession) takes place in November for Saint Martin: children with lanterns sing songs and often eat a Weckmann (bun) afterwards.
💡 Fasching (or Karneval) is a party with costumes: in the Kita the children come dressed up; the costume should be comfortable, without weapons or sharp parts.
💡 On an outing the children take food, drink and sturdy shoes; parents sign a permission slip (Einverständnis) and pay a small contribution (Ausflugsgeld).
💡 Besides the Elternbeitrag (fee for the place) you often pay Essensgeld (meal money); in the transfer you give the child's name as the Verwendungszweck (reference).