Child day care refers to the simultaneous care of one to a maximum of five children by a day carer (childminder). A "child day care permit" from the youth welfare office is required to be able to look after children in child day care. Childcare is provided in close coordination with the parents and usually takes place in the childminder's home.

Childcare can also take place in the child's parents' home or in other suitable rooms.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, it is also possible for two to three childminders to join together in a group (large-scale daycare) and care for up to nine children at the same time.

For detailed information on childcare, please visit the following websites:

Early childhood education is a central component of child day care

Child day carers in North Rhine-Westphalia are qualified to educate, care for and raise children. They accompany the children in their development. They offer a wide range of educational opportunities that also promote the children's social and linguistic development in a holistic way. They plan educational activities and enable children to make their own experiences and get to know the world. In child day care, individual support and encouragement according to the inclinations and abilities of the individual child are combined in a special way with joint education and upbringing in a small group.

In the kindergarten year 2024/2025, around 72,000 childcare places were registered in daycare in North Rhine-Westphalia.

How to find a daycare place for your child

Parents can search for a daycare provider via the local youth welfare office. The placement office at the youth welfare office will help you to find a suitable daycare place for your child.

Each youth welfare office district in North Rhine-Westphalia has at least one specialist advice and placement office for child daycare. Here you can find out what options are available to you and receive help in finding a suitable day care center. During the consultation, your childcare needs will be discussed and the placement process will be explained.

You can find out exactly where the nearest specialist advice and placement center for child day care is here via the alphabetical list of youth welfare offices or by contacting your local youth welfare office directly.

The youth welfare office search makes it easier for you to find the right contact person for child day care places in your area. The online service provides you with information about your local youth welfare office and the number of available child day care places as well as the contact details of the relevant specialist advice and placement office for child day care.