Hundreds of thousands of places are missing: The daycare crisis – what's wrong with childcare and what that's doing to parents and employees

Heike Beddig would like to work again as a geriatric nurse. Her three-year-old already goes to daycare nearby, and she also registered her second daughter there. Settlement should begin in October 2022. The family received a confirmation – but only for almost a year and a half after the desired date. The city administration said there were no places available at the moment and 24 children were on the waiting list. A financial disaster for the family, which relies on two incomes. Frustration for the mother, who has been wanting to go back to work for over a year.

The case shows the consequences for society when there are too few daycare places.

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