Family and Children Childcare
Children under the age of six in Heidelberg have the option of being looked after by a childminder, in a crèche, a daycare center or a kindergarten. Heidelberg University provides a comprehensive range of childcare services for the children of international scholars.
Daycare for Babies and Toddles (Children under 3 years of age)
If you are coming to Heidelberg with children, we strongly advise that you contact the Children´s Centre (Service für Familien / Kinderhaus) well ahead of time to organize childcare during your stay in Heidelberg. The Children's Centre is part of UNIFY - Unit for Family, Diversity & Equality and serves as the first point of contact for information on childcare facilities and all family-related topics.
The university crèche offers day care for children aged between two months and three years and is located at Humboldtstraße 17. It is easily accessible for university employees due to its close proximity to the campus. The childcare hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. are coordinated with parents' working hours.
Should you wish to look outside the University of Heidelberg for child care or should there be no availability at the University centres, you can find information about other child care facilities in Heidelberg in the right column.
Preschool
Many children between the ages of 3 and 6 years go to preschool; however, attendance is not mandatory. In Germany there are three types of preschools – government-funded preschools, private preschools, and church-run preschools. In Heidelberg, the demand for preschool spots is very often greater than the supply and many preschools have waiting lists.
Therefore, visiting scholars should contact directly the Children’s Centre or the Welcome Centre as early as possible before coming to Germany. Preschool fees are generally based on the parents’ income(s). It is possible to obtain morning-only, afternoon-only or full-time preschool care. Many preschools provide a warm midday meal and some also provide breakfast.
Childcare program at Heidelberg University
The KidsClub is a special facility for children of international academics. At Heidelberg University's KidsClub, children between the ages of one and six have a place where they can spend time and make friends. The KidsClub also offers day care for children between 08:30 and 16:00.
In addition to regular childcare, Heidelberg University offers flexible childcare for university members.