Hello Everyone,

I wonder if anyone out there can give me some advice or help me out. I will be moving to Hamburg in about three weeks to take up a new job and will be moving with my boyfriend and my 18 month old son. I will be working full time and I am having difficulty in finding full time childcare. I will be trying to get my son into an international kindergarten eventually but I could really do with some intial childcare while we get settled in and find out feet in the city. Does anyone know of a nanny or au pair or even a student who is looking for summer work that might be interested in work like this?

Would really appreciate any guidance - either regarding short or long term child care solutions in Hamburg.

Many thanks to you all!

Rachel

There was another thread that might help you.

Can't help you with June-July, but just yesterday I spoke to a Singaporean lady that I know, she told me she wanted to work shorter hours cos she had been working her arse off for three for the last 8 years in a hotel in Hamburg, but her boss wouldn't let her go on a 6 hours day, so she quit. She speaks very good English and German. She said she'd do some travelling for a while now, but from August on, she'd be looking for a job, and she'd quite fancy something that's better for her back than waitressing (=carrying heavy trays...).
Could ask her if she's interested. Just let me know.

I'm an Au Pair (not looking for anywhere unfortunately). I came here through http://www.aupair-world.net/ which has lots of potential Au Pairs, and I found it the best source for information regarding laws and visas.

Good luck with the search.

Hi Horizon73
I am currently living in Hamburg and am not only a fully qualified kindergarten teacher from Australia, but a very experienced nanny.
I am would be happy to email you my resume and written references if you are interested. I moved here 6 months ago with my boyfriend, as he got a job here, but I am not working. I am also an artist and have been working on my artwork and bookbinding thus far...so would be available anytime.
I am not looking for full time work, but would be happy to cover the gap while you find your son a place at a kindergarten and would then be available part time or occasionally to babysit if required. Do you know what area you will be living in?
Hope to hear from you soon.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for your posts and your advice. It is invaluable having advice or offers of help from people in situ. It's so difficult to sort things out from here.

Anyway, it looks like I might have a few options on the childcare front to at leats get me through the initial period, so thanks lots!

Ten days to go til we arrive in Hamburg properly! Very exciting and yet still lots to do!

Take care!!

Hello.

Does anyone out there know of an english speaking childminder/tagesmutter in Hamburg? We have just moved to the Harvestude/Rotherbaum area and need full time care for our 18 month old. We would look for a nanny or aupair but we need the little one out of the apartment during the day as I quite often work from home and doing conference calls etc with a baby in the background is a little difficult.
Does anyone have any suggestions? We would also consider a nanny share if there are any available. Basically, we need childcare from 8.30am until 6pm each day with some flexibility if possible.

Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Topics merged by admin

Maybe you could also consider a German speaking Tagesmutter - that gives your kid the opportunity to grow up bilingually (suppose at the age of 18 months he/she doesn't talk much yet).
As long as the Tagesmutter speaks basic English so that she can communicate with you and can speak a little English with your kid as well...

Just an idea

Hi Hammonia,

We definitely want our child to grow up bilingually but I have heard mixed stories about starting them too early. I have had several friends go abroad while their children were small and many of them had trouble learning to speak either language - both english and their adopted language. I guess the theory is that until the first language is established it can be too confusing for little ones to try and learn two separate languages at the same time. One of my friends had a little boy who didn't speak at all until he was four and another friend had a daughter who struggled to construct good sentences in either language until she was almost eight.
Maybe we are being over cautious but we thought we would try and keep english as the main language until our child was at least two and then we would start a kindergarten and start introducing german in a bigger way - hence, we'd prefer english speaking childcare for now. But thanks for your suggestion anyway...

I can totally understand your worries.

The following is not to convince you, just a positive story: Friends of us (she German, he Irish) have a two year old daughter who speaks (and understands) three languages!
He left Ireland when he was quite young, his family (incl. his ex wife with his other kids) live in Denmark, and they visit every other week, so the little girl heard English, German and Danish right from the beginning. I've just seen her the other week and was amazed how she switches between Danish and English when she talks to her sister and her mother. I spoke German with her (out of curiousity) and she perfectly understood and spoke that too.
I suppose if one lets it happen naturally, most of the kids cope quite well.

edit: was just thinking: if the kid starts in English, and then all of a sudden has to go to German Kindergarten where nobody speaks English, I imagine that would be harder... Just my two pence.

Children that are emerged in more than 1 language start speaking later but use the multiple languages just as naturally as if it would have been one.

This concept of over burdening the child is just coming from parents who cant even get there shopping done on a weekday!

As a Child-minder myself and having a lifetime experience with children including teaching english/spanish as a second language I have to say that each child is different, some learn fast and good, some need more time, some find it a bit more of a challenge than others. There's no guarantee one way or the other will work better, you can only (as a mother) do as you feel best for your child.

I am currently a tagsmutter for a 3 year old Dannish boy. I speak to him in English, and his parents in Dannish. It is true that his sentences are not as complicated as other german children who speak only 1 language; BUT! he is aware that there are two languages already, aka, switching from english to dannish depending who he adresses. I've also worked the alphabet with him, and he can read all 26 letters (in english), so we know his mind is quite keen. I'd say in another year he will be able to talk normally in both languages without any problem.

Besides, we understand his baby talk quite fine, and of course encourage his speech by replying in complete sentences in either language.

On the other hand, his sister spoke only Dannish until she was 3, when she then brought to Germany. She went to a german kindergarten and learned quite a bit of German (she has lost most of it now) and was later put, at 5, in the International School, where she learned english in less than half a year. She now speaks Dannish and English perfectly.

Either way works, I believe.

Hi, Just wondering how much does one get paid per hour as a babysitter? Any advice?

Totally disagree about 'first langueage being established' theory.

My girl is tri-lingual (Russian, English, German), yes, she does make mistakes, sometimes she is using German/English word in Russian sentence or she's asking me the meaning of the words. What I see is that kids are like sponges and they absorb information (including languages) intuitevly, but they definitely need a bit of help from parents. If I don't know the translation of the word, then we look it up in the dictionary.

By the way, it's still unclear what's her first language, she is pretty good in all three. I just got her first school notes and it's amazing! Makes me so proud, I can only hope my son can keep up with her

Hello,
I am a 24-year-old Australian au pair/babysitter. Up until now I have been caring for children from 2 families in Hamburg. Unfortunately one of them has returned to Australia so I am very keen to find more work as a babysitter! I am flexible with my time and can start straight away.
I would love to hear from anyone who would like to arrange a meeting with me'! I can be contacted on the e-mail: mickeyw_2000@hotmail.com

Many thanks!
Michaella