In Berlin, kindergarten is called Kindertagesstätte (short: Kita) and is free of charge for children between approximately 1 and 6 years old. On this page, you can find information about searching for a kindergarten place, applying for a Kita voucher (Kitagutschein), and tips for registration.
Kindergarten Registration: Which Steps Are Important?
Do you want to register your child in a kindergarten? Then there are several steps you need to take: searching for a kindergarten, applying for the Kita voucher (Kitagutschein), signing a contract with the kindergarten, and the settling-in period. This process can take several months, so start early!
Searching: How Can I Find a Place?
In Berlin, there are different ways to find a place in a kindergarten, also called a Kita. You can use the Kita-Navigator Berlin to search online for all public Kitas near you. There, you can filter by language, age, or whether children with disabilities are accepted. You can also immediately see whether a Kita still has free places available.
In the Kita-Navigator, you can also find so-called “parent-initiative Kitas” (Elterninitiativ-Kitas (EKT)). These are a good option if you would like the Kita to feel like a community where parents actively help and take part in decisions. You can find more information from the umbrella association of Berlin childcare and pupil care centers (Dachverband Berliner Kinder- und Schülerläden (DaKS)).
If you would like your child to be cared for in particularly small groups, you can look for so-called “daycare” (Tagespflege). You can find more information about daycare for children on Kindertagespflege auf Berlin.de.
Tip: Try to contact your preferred Kita by email and also personally, for example by phone or through a personal visit! Kitas often accept new children after the summer holidays (August/September). Registration usually begins between January and March. However, there are many exceptions! Ask how places are assigned and how you can best stay in contact. Stay persistent!
What Do I Have to Pay for the Kindergarten?
The kindergarten is free of charge for all children living in Berlin. You contribute 23 euros per month towards meals. Some kindergartens offer additional activities, for example music or sports. In some cases, you may have to pay extra for these. It is best to ask the kindergarten directly whether there are additional costs and how high they are. Here you can find more information about the rules for additional costs in Berlin kindergartens Regeln für extra Kosten an Berliner Kitas (berlin.de).
Check now whether you can get the additional costs and meal costs reimbursed through the Education and Participation Package (Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket (BuT)).
What Is a Kita Voucher (Kitagutschein)?
For each child, you need a childcare voucher (also called a Kita voucher (Kitagutschein)) that shows how many hours your child is allowed to stay in kindergarten. You must apply for the voucher online or in person at the Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office) in your district. Every child from the age of 1 has the right to 5–7 hours of kindergarten per day. If both parents are employed, longer or more flexible childcare hours are available. The Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office) helps you find out which childcare hours are suitable for your situation. For example, you can receive flexible childcare for your child if you often work in the evenings or on weekends.
| Care level | Age | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day / part-time or full-day (4–9 hours daily) | 8 weeks to 1 year | Proof that both parents are working, studying, or in vocational training and are not on parental leave |
| Part-time (5–7 hours daily) | 1 year until school starts | No proof required – this is your right! |
| Full-day (7–9 hours daily) | 1 year until school starts | Proof that both parents are working, studying, or in vocational training |
| Flexible and mobile (e.g. evenings, weekends, at home) | 1 year until school starts | Proof of both parents’ special working hours |
Here you can find multilingual information about the Mobile Childcare Service for Parents with Special Working Hours: MoKiS.
Are you unsure which childcare hours are right for you?
Do you need help with your documents?
Get personal advice at the FamilienServiceBüro in your district or from the Stadtteilmütter!
How Do I Get the Kita Voucher?
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Apply online
- Click on Online beantragen “apply online”.
- Fill out the application form for the Kita voucher online.
- Print the completed form, sign it (both parents), and send it by post together with all required documents.
- Your Jugendamt will contact you by post.
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Apply in person
- Visit the FamilienServiceBüro in your district.
- Ask for the form there.
- If needed, the staff will help you and advise you in your language.
- Submit the application directly at the FamilienServiceBüro.
- Your Jugendamt will contact you by post.
You can apply for the Kita voucher online or in person at the Jugendamt. Find out here what your next steps are:
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Further Information
The Berliner Familienportal (Berlin Family Portal) provides official information, tips, and practical advice for everyday family life. Find more information here about kindergarten / Kita in Berlin.
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Guides
ElternMails are short guides tailored to your child’s different stages of development. You receive practical tips on parenting, health, education, and much more in English, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Polish.
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Financial Support
Do you receive Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit), Sozialhilfe (social aid), Kinderzuschlag (supplementary child allowance), Wohngeld (housing benefit), or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG)? Find out here how much financial support you can receive for your children through the Education and Participation Package (Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket (BuT)):
Beratung
Hast du noch Fragen? Hier findest du kostenlose und mehrsprachige Hilfe, die zu dir passt.
Finde passende Beratung im FamilienServiceBüro in deinem Bezirk:
Bei Fragen zum Integrationsstatus wende ich an den Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrischer Dienst (KJPD) und finde Beratungsangebote, zum Beispiel bei den Stadtteilmüttern in deiner Nähe:
Locations in this map
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Voltastr. 2
13629 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Rauchstr. 66
13587 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on mapKraepelinweg 13
13589 Berlin-Spandau
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around development, education and health of children (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Weverstraße 72
13595 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Spandau Mitte
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Kirchhofstraße 30
13585 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Brabanter Str. 18-20
10717 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Beethovenstr. 34
12247 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around development, education and health of children (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Viktoriastr. 8
12105 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Kranzer Straße 6 – 7
14199 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Götzstraße 24A
12099 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilmütter in Treptow-Köpenick
Show on map[DeepL:] District mothers advise, accompany and support families with children up to the age of 12 and provide information about the wide range of services for parents and families in all of Berlin's districts, including in family centers and daycare centers.
Offers:
- Outreach low-threshold family counseling around child development, education and health (home visits).
- Accompaniment of families to educational institutions, specialized agencies, offices (always in connection with the 10 topics of the home visits)
- Accompaniment to / if necessary implementation of parent events in daycare centers, schools, social institutions
- Referral counseling to specialized agencies and support services
Topics of the home visits:
- Basic knowledge about the development and needs of children from 0-6.
- Education
- Play is learning
- Language development - multilingualism - language promotion
- Day care and school system
- Health promotion
- Accident prevention, traffic education, environmental protection and sustainability
- Prevention in education
- Media education
- Rights of the child
Ortolfstr. 164
12524 Berlin
Germany
Stadtteilzentrum Familiengarten
Show on mapSupport in filling out applications, e.g. child benefit, unemployment benefit, child-raising benefit, housing benefit, GEZ), objections, cancellations of contracts and, if necessary, support you in making initial contact with further advice centres.
Oranienstr. 34 (HH)
10999 Berlin
Germany
Mondays: 15.00 to 18.00 (in Turkish, English, German)
Wednesdays: 10.00 to 13.00 (in Turkish, English and German)
Thursdays: 10:00 to 13:00 (in Turkish, English and German)
Fridays: 10:00 to 13:00 (in German)
Stadtteilzentrum Zukunftshaus Wedding
Show on map[DeepL:] * Senior:inside counseling
- General social counseling
- Migration counseling
- Legal counseling (social and family law)
Calendar of offers:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/…
Müllerstraße 56 - 58
13349 Berlin
Germany
