Citizen in Denmark - Ny i Danmark

Children looked after outside the homeAs both parents work during the day, most small children are lookedafter in day care centre or facility. Many schoolchildren attend anafter-school care facility or an after-school centre. Parents stay inclose dialogue with the institutions that care for their children. In thisway they are able to influence the child’s childhood and upbringing- also when the child is not at home.You must apply for a placeIt is your job to contact the municipal authorities to book aplace for your child. If there are not any places immediatelyavailable, the child’s name will be placed on a waiting list.The earlier you put down the child’s name, the greater thechance of finding a place when you need it. If you wouldlike your child to be looked after in childminding facilities,you should put down its name immediately after birth.FAMILYChildminders, day care and nurseriesThe vast majority of children under the age of six are looked after bya childminder or at a day care centre or nursery every day. It is thetask of municipal authorities to provide day care facilities, and theoptions vary from authority to authority. The most common are:• Day care. This means that together with other children, thechild is looked after by a childminder approved by the municipalauthority. This is particularly aimed at children from 0-3.• Day nursery - for children from six months up to the age of two.• Crèche - for children aged three and up to school starting age.• Outdoor crèche - where children spend the day in the countrysideor the woods.• An integrated institution - for children aged six months and upto school starting age.• Private day care. Some municipal authorities award a grant toparents so their children can be put in private day care.61