Examples from Vienna
Small kindergarten group:
Kid's group (Kindergruppe)
The small Krabbelnest kindergarten in Vienna’s 8th district is a Kindergruppe (children's group) that consists of two groups, each with 14 children. The first group is for children aged 0 to 2 years, and the second group is for children aged 2 to 4 years. Due to the young age of the children, the staff includes 10 teachers and caregivers. Every day, a minimum of three teachers and caregivers work with each group to ensure attentive care.
The kindergarten is open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and provides three meals – breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack – prepared on-site in a specialized kitchen. Each children's group has access to two rooms: one for play, learning, and meals, and the other for rest and napping. The monthly fee for parents is €600.
All activities are conducted within the daily schedule, with no additional services offered by external providers. The kindergarten is located on the ground floor of a historic residential Viennese building with a spacious inner courtyard. Children are regularly taken outside for walks in the nearby park.
Krabbelnest is highly popular and in demand in Vienna, known for its early admission age and innovative educational approaches.
Small kindergarten group:
DayMother (Tagesmutter)
Schäfchenstube: Small Daycare (Tagesmutter) in Vienna’s 12th District
Schäfchenstube is a small, home-based daycare established in Vienna’s 12th district in 2020. It is owned and operated by Ricarda, who cares for children in her apartment, where she lives with her son and three cats. This type of daycare, known as Tagesmutter in Vienna, is popular for its personal approach, with one certified caregiver looking after up to five children aged 0 to 4 years. The daycare operates from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, providing children a cozy environment for play and learning in two rooms on the ground floor of a residential apartment building.
Ricarda is a certified caregiver in Vienna, not a kindergarten teacher, with a background as a nurse. She also prepares meals for the children, providing breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. After lunch, children have a nap.
What Ricarda Offers:
- Creative activities and drawing
- Book exploration and read-aloud sessions
- Nature discovery (play and activities with natural materials)
- Individual support and developmental assistance
- Year-round festivals and celebrations
- Music, singing, and dancing
- Outdoor playtime
- Visits to nearby playgrounds and parks
- Balanced and healthy meals
- Plenty of free play opportunities
Parents pay a monthly fee of approximately €55, plus food costs. The City of Vienna subsidizes the childcare places for children.
Children typically go outdoors to play at the nearest playground during the day.