Day care costs: berlin parents pay the least nationwide, berlin newspaper

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Kita-cost : Berlin parents pay the least nationwide

28.05.18, 05:39 a.m.

A childcare worker reads a book with children. (Icon)

In a nationwide comparison, parents in Berlin have the lowest cost of attending their children’s daycare center.

They spend an average of 1.8 percent of their household net income monthly, like a study by Bertelsmann-Foundation, endowment revealed. For comparison: In Schleswig-Holstein at the other end of the scale, this value is 9.0 percent.

Although certain contributions are based on income, the study found that poorer families spend more of their earnings on childcare than better-off parents.

Nevertheless, the range of costs ascertained in Berlin, which is between 0.3 and 5.9 percent of income, is smaller here than in all other federal states. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it fluctuates between 0.4 percent and 23.1 percent.

Brandenburg parents almost always have to pay for daycare

Brandenburg’s parents of small children most often have to pay money to look after their children in a daycare center across Germany. In Brandenburg, 98 percent of those surveyed pay mothers and fathers money for childcare. Brandenburg wants to offer more free care. From August 1st, parents should no longer have to pay any money in the last year of daycare. A corresponding bill has been submitted to the state parliament this week.

According to the foundation, the study is based on a nationwide survey of 10,491 parents last autumn. In Berlin, 586 parents were involved, although not all answered all questions. 58 percent said they contributed to the kindergarden to pay. 42 percent were exempt from such payments.

All places in Berlin free of charge from August

In Berlin, more than 160,000 children are currently attending a daycare or day care facility. The classic daycare fees have been gradually abolished in recent years. At the moment, they only apply to children under the age of one. From August all places are free of charge. In addition, parents pay 23 euros a month for their little ones’ lunches.

Many daycare centers also charge additional contributions, for example for handicraft material, excursions, hygiene items, special organic food or additional music lessons. In individual cases, up to € 500 a month can come together. From August 1st, these additional payments will be limited to a maximum of 90 euros per month.

In a statement on the study, Federal Minister of Family Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) said: "Early childhood education is a topic of the future for all of Germany." One is aware that high parental contributions can be a hurdle for attending daycare or day care. "Care and early support shouldn’t depend on the parents’ wallet," said Giffey. She recalled that € 3.5 billion will go to daycare for children during this parliamentary term. (AP)