What is a daycare family?

Daycare families are a recognized and well-established childcare concept in Switzerland, offering a family orientated form of childcare. This unique form of childcare involves trained and certified caregivers providing personalized care in small groups of up to five children in their own homes. Daycare families present themselves as a family orientated, individual, and flexible childcare solution.

Daycare families are led by a caregiver, known as a “day mother” (Tagesmutter) or a “day father” (Tagesvater). They open their homes to look after a mixed group of babies, toddlers, and children attending kindergarten or primary school (up to sixth grade), adopting an extended family philosophy. Children are often cared for together with the family’s children, called daycare family siblings (Tagesgeschwister).

Is there a typical daycare family profile?

There are lots of loving families who welcome children into their homes, but there is no typical family profile. Daycare families could be couples without children of their own, families with one child who would like to look after more, or families who love the idea of creating a big and lively family environment. Daycare families can also be couples whose own children are older or have moved out, or retired couples happy to look after small children. Most children stay in a daycare family for multiple years. They often build a strong relationship with their daycare family caregivers and daycare family siblings.

Daycare families aim to create an environment that nurtures each child’s individual development. They makes them feel part of the family. We have learned from other families that these family-like settings can help parents find a better and less stressful balance between family and career.

Are you considering finding a daycare family?

Have a look at this short documentary (in German) from a Zürich daycare family organization on YouTube to get a better idea of this concept:

Daycare family organizations (Tagesfamilienorganisationen; TFO)

Almost all daycare families in Switzerland are affiliated with a local or regional daycare family organization (Tagesfamilienorganisation; TFO). These organizations play an important role in providing support, advice, and information to both daycare family caregivers and parents.

• In Basel-Stadt, the daycare family organization Waisehuus (Bürgerliches Waisenhaus Basel, Tagesfamilien BS)provides advice and facilitates placements.
  
  You can find more information here: https://www.waisehuus.ch/tagesfamilien-bs/
  
  
• In Basel-Landschaft, local organizations are in charge. Some municipalities have their own organizations; smaller municipalities might coordinate childcare in daycare families with neighboring villages.
  
  
• In Zürich, the daycare family organizations GFZ (Gemeinnützige Frauen Zürich)and Nidino AG provide advice and facilitates placements.
  
  You can find more information here: gfz-zh.ch/tagesfamilien/
  
  or here: https://www.nidino.com/
  
  

If you have any further questions about daycare families in Switzerland, please feel free to reach out to our team.

We are here to support families every step of the way on their journey to finding the best childcare solution in Basel, Zürich, and Geneva.

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Related: What should you consider when choosing a new school in Switzerland?