Family - Desire and reality differ when it comes to daycare times
Between the wishes of parents and the childcare offerings in Kindergartens (Kitas), there is a large gap. The Federal Institute for Population Research has calculated: In Hessen, 32.5 percent of all families with children under three years old have an additional childcare need of at least five weeks. For families with children over three years old, 47.8 percent in Hessen wish for longer childcare.
The demand and supply are further apart in Hessen than on average in Germany. Nationwide, 29 percent of all families with children under three years old have an additional childcare need of at least five weeks. For families with children over three years old, 37 percent wish for longer childcare.
Missing match not good for labor market shortage
According to the study authors, this missing match has social consequences: for children, for parents, and ultimately also for the labor market. They therefore recommend aligning opening hours more closely with the needs of families - especially due to the labor market shortage in Germany.
"Many parents cannot find an educational and childcare place for their child that meets their desired requirements under the current conditions," summarizes Katharina Spieß, Director of the Institute and co-author of the study. Childcare gaps should be closed - for example during lunchtime or at long closing times of institutions in the summer.
The study also shows that there are significant differences regionally between actual, desired, and contractually agreed childcare times. It requires nationwide standards, according to Spieß.
- To address the skills shortage in Germany, it's crucial to bridge the gap between family demands and Kindergarten (Kita) childcare offerings, as highlighted by Katharina Spieß from the Federal Institute for Population Research in Wiesbaden.
- In Hesse, particularly, there's a significant mismatch, with 32.5% of families with children under three years old needing additional childcare for at least five weeks, and 47.8% seeking longer childcare for those over three.
- This gap poses challenges for both children and parents, impacting their social affairs, and potentially exacerbating the labor market shortage in the region.
- In an effort to close these gaps, Spieß suggests aligning Kindergarten opening hours more closely with family needs, particularly during lunchtime and summer institutional closures.
- The study also emphasizes the need for nationwide standards in childcare, to ensure consistency across regions and better meet the demands and desires of families in Germany.
