Childcare (Kita)
- Legal right to a childcare place from the child's 1st birthday (§24 SGB VIII) — enforceable against the municipality, but places are scarce in cities.
- Register early: many parents register during pregnancy. Use your city's online Kita portal, and contact Kitas directly (personal visits help).
- Some cities issue a Kita-Gutschein (voucher) you must apply for before you look for a place — e.g. Berlin and Hamburg.
- Fees vary hugely by state: free in Berlin, largely free in Rhineland-Palatinate and others; income-based elsewhere. Meals are usually charged extra.
- Tagesmutter / Tagesvater (registered childminder, max. 5 children) is an alternative for under-3s and counts towards the legal right.
- Measles vaccination proof is mandatory for Kita and school.
School
- Compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) from about age 6 (the cut-off date varies by state), for all children living in Germany. Home-schooling is not allowed.
- Grundschule (primary school): grades 1–4 (1–6 in Berlin and Brandenburg). Afterwards, school recommendations lead to Gymnasium (to Abitur, university entrance), Realschule, Gesamtschule or similar, depending on the state. Moving between tracks is possible.
- New arrivals without German: registration via the Schulamt (education authority). Children often start in welcome or preparation classes (Willkommensklassen/Vorbereitungsklassen) before switching to regular classes.
- School supplies are bought by parents (lists given before term). The first school day comes with a Schultüte (cone of sweets and supplies) — a big tradition.
- All-day care: from August 2026, first-graders have a legal right to all-day care (Ganztagsbetreuung) at primary school, extending one grade per year until 2029.
- Holidays differ by state — check your state's calendar before booking trips. Taking children out of school for holidays without permission can be fined.
Health checks
Children's check-ups U1–U9 (paediatrician) are free and in some states mandatory or monitored. Keep the yellow U-Heft booklet — Kitas and schools may ask for it.