Munich - Childcare and Baby-sitting
The German government has very good incentives for women to spend a number of years off work until their child is old enough to go to school.
In addition to maternity leave, there is an 'Erziehungspause' (time off work to raise the children). This can go for 3 to 6 years. The woman's work-based health-care benefits continue during this time, and she is guaranteed her job at the end of the Erziehungspause.
However, there are times when even stay-at-home mums and dads need someone to look after their children. Many gyms and language schools offer child-minding services while you are using the facilities.
There is a variety of childcare options for mothers or fathers wishing to both return to full-time work before the child goes to school. There are nurseries for younger children and Kindergartens for children aged three years and over.
However, vacancies are difficult to come by and finding a Kindergarten place can take more than three years! Nannies, housekeepers and 'day mothers' are other options for childcare. While you have to pay for childcare and Kindergarten attendance, schools are free (apart from private institutions).
Childcare facilities
Bear in mind too that children pick up languages very quickly, so don't feel you should limit your child to care by people speaking your native language.
English-speaking child care facilities
- A.O.G. Agentur ohne Grenzen
Mauerkirchestr 8
Munich
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 29 9900/+ 49 (0) 89 9810 5900
German-speakingchild care facilities
- Münchner Kindl
Burgstr 6
Munich
80331
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 24 23 1600
website: http://www.muenchnerkindlgruppe.de/ - Kleinkindergesstaetten e.V.
Einsteinstr 111
Munich
81675
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 470 2309
Nurseries (Kindertagesstätte, Kinderkrippe)
There are just over 100 nurseries in Munich, varying from municipal-run institutions to private ventures to cooperatives. Despite the large number of institutions, places are very limited.
Most nurseries are open only from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. There is short-term care from 7:30am to 1:30pm (4 - 6 hours per day), or long-term care from 6:30am to 5pm (6 - 10.5 hours per day). It is possible to arrange for shorter periods of care within the opening hours of the particular institution, but not longer. Some nurseries, but not all, allow two children to share the one place.
Some useful phone numbers, and internet addresses are below.
- Stadtjugendamt
Abteilung Kindertagesbetreuung (Department of child daycare)
St.-Martin-Straße 34a
Munich
81541
Germany - Abteilungsleiterin S-II-KT/L (Head of department)
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20100
Fax: + 49 (0) 89 233 20190 - Bereich Kinderkrippen S-II-KT/K (Creches/nurseries)
Tel: +49 (0) 89 233 20102
Fax : + 49 (0) 89 233 20190 - Bereich Kooperationseinrichtungen S-II-KT/Koop (Cooperative institutions)
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20101
Fax : +49 (0) 89 233 20194 - Bereich Kindertagespflege in Familien S-II-KT/T (Daycare in families)
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20157
Fax: + 49 (0) 89 233 20180 - Bereich Eltern-Kind-Initiativen S-II-KT/EKI (Parent-child-initiative)
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 20155
Fax: + 49 (0) 89 233 20194
website: www.muenchen.de/kindertagesbetreuung
email: [email protected] - Stadtjugendamt
Abteilung Erziehungsangebote (Department of household and child-rearing help)
Wirtschaftliche Hilfen F 1
Orleansplatz 11
Munich
81667
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 22611 - Schul und Kultusreferat
Fachabteilung 5
Kindertagestätten und Tagesheime (Department of child daycare)
Neuhauser Straße 39
Munich
80331
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 233 217 11/+ 49 (0) 89 233 26605
website: http://www.musin.de/kita/
BABY-SITTING
There are many different ways to find a babysitter. As an expat you obviously do not have grandparents at hand to look after your children. If you belong to a church group or know teenagers in your area, it may be useful to approach them directly. Babysitting rates are roughly 10 to 15 euros per hour, depending on whether you require just babysitting, or some additional housework.
A more formal channel to organise babysitting and childcare is through the Familienservice München.
- Familienservice München
Lindwurmstraße 35
Munich
80337
Tel: +49 (0)89 544 7940
Fax: +49 (0) 89 544 79 435
email: [email protected]
website: http://www.familienservice.de
If you require childcare on an ongoing basis, it may be worth advertising for a nanny "Kindermädchen", au-pair or housekeeper "Haushälterin/Wirtschafterin" in the employment section of the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Saturdays.
