Krippe, Kita, Kindergarten, Tagesmutter: what the terms mean
German childcare vocabulary is confusing. Here's what each term actually refers to:
Krippe (crèche / nursery) For children aged 0–3 years. Full or half-day care. This is the most competitive and hardest-to-get age bracket — demand far exceeds supply in cities. A Krippe place is usually the first thing parents start looking for.
Kindergarten For children aged 3–6 years (from the third birthday until school starts). More places available than Krippe. Attendance is sometimes part-day only — check hours carefully.
Kita (Kindertagesstätte) The umbrella term covering both Krippe and Kindergarten under one roof. Most modern childcare centres are called Kita and accept children from age 0 or 1 through 6. When people say "Kita," they usually mean any daycare/nursery setting.
Hort After-school care for school-age children (6–12 years). Separate from Kita; managed differently.
Tagesmutter / Tagesvater (childminder) A registered individual childminder who cares for up to 5 children in their own home. Often easier to get than a Kita place; regulated by the Jugendamt; similar Beitrag (fee) structure. Good option if Kita waiting lists are full.
Kinderbetreuung / Kinderbetreuungseinrichtung General terms for childcare institutions.
Your child's legal right to a place (Rechtsanspruch)
Every child in Germany aged 1 to 6 years has a statutory right to a daycare place (§ 24 SGB VIII). This means the municipality (Gemeinde/Stadt) is legally obligated to provide a place. If they fail to provide one, you can in theory claim damages for childcare costs you incurred.
However: having a legal right does not mean a place is immediately available. The gap between legal entitlement and actual supply is large — particularly for under-3s (Krippe) in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and other major cities. Waiting lists of 12–24 months are normal.
Practical implication: Start looking for a Kita place early — ideally during pregnancy, sometimes before birth in very competitive cities. Many Kitas allow you to register your child before birth.
Children aged 0–1: No legal right, but places exist (mostly Krippe or Tagesmutter). Children aged 1–3: Legal right since 2013. Children aged 3–6: Legal right (longer-standing).
When to apply — and why the waiting list starts at birth
Rule of thumb: apply as early as possible, ideally within days or weeks of birth — and in competitive cities (Berlin, Munich), start enquiring during pregnancy.
Why so early?
- Krippe places are allocated to children whose waiting list registration is oldest
- Many Kitas have informal waiting lists that start from birth registration (not from when you need care)
- Popular Kitas with specific philosophies (Waldorf, Montessori, bilingual) fill their lists years in advance
- Municipal Kita portals like Berlin's Kita-Navigator calculate priority partly based on registration date
Typical timelines by city:
- Berlin: Apply immediately at birth for Krippe. Even then, 12–18 months is common. Expect to apply to 8–15 places.
- Munich: Very competitive. Apply to the Stadtportal immediately at birth. Many parents also contact Kitas privately.
- Hamburg: Municipal portal (Kita-Gutschein system) — you need a Bedarfsfeststellung (needs assessment) from the Jugendamt first.
- Frankfurt / Köln / Stuttgart: Generally easier than Berlin/Munich but still competitive for Krippe.
- Smaller cities: Often easier — some places available on 2–3 months' notice.
Special circumstances that may improve priority:
- Both parents working full-time (documented)
- Single parent household
- Child with special needs
- Receiving Elterngeld and planning to return to work
- Each Kita and municipality sets its own priority criteria — ask directly
How to apply: kitafinder apps, direct applications, and Kitaplatzbörse
Step 1: Find Kitas near you
Use your city's official portal or one of these tools:
| Tool | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kita-Navigator (Berlin) | Berlin only | Official; integrated waiting list system |
| Kita.de | Nationwide | Directory; contact Kitas directly from listings |
| Kitafinder+ (Berlin) | Berlin | Same data as Kita-Navigator, better interface |
| München Stadtportal | Munich | Official; submit interest via municipal system |
| Kita-Gutschein (Hamburg) | Hamburg | Must get Gutschein from Jugendamt first |
| Kita-App / local Jugendamt | Your city | Search "[your city] Kita Anmeldung" |
| Google Maps | Nationwide | Search "Kita [your neighbourhood]" to find private Kitas not on municipal portals |
Step 2: Apply to multiple places simultaneously
There is no penalty for applying to many Kitas at once — this is expected. In competitive cities, applying to 10–20 Kitas is normal. Submit a short personal introduction (Anschreiben) with your preferred start date, your child's date of birth, and any relevant notes (full-time vs part-time care needed, your return-to-work date).
Step 3: Contact the Jugendamt
Your local Jugendamt (youth welfare office) administers childcare for your district. They can:
- Tell you the realistic waiting times in your area
- Advise on priority criteria
- Help you register for the municipal waiting list
- In some cities (Hamburg), issue a Kita-Gutschein (voucher) you need before applying
Step 4: Check the Kitaplatzbörse
Many cities maintain a Kitaplatzbörse — a live list of available places. In Berlin, this is at kita-navigator.org. Spots open irregularly (when families move, decline places, or start school) — check weekly and respond immediately.