December 19, 2020
Useful Swedish Childcare Information for International Students Who Have Children
It is well-known that Nordics are welfare states. The Nordic model of childcare is one of the most prominent aspects. This blog presents some aspects of childcare in Sweden which may be new and surprising for some people from other parts of the world, especially for international students who take their children with them to Sweden.
Something in daily life
If you are in Sweden, it is obvious for you to note that there are various children playgrounds located in different parts of cities and even villages. There are also child-friendly areas in many public or private institutions, such as libraries, museums, airports, shopping malls, and even second hand stores. Some institutions also irregularly hold child-related activities such as exhibitions, language teaching, and culture share as there are lots of non-Swedish new comers.
a children playground in Norrköping center
a child-friendly area in a second hand store
In Norrköping City Library, there is a long-term activity called Svenska med baby (Swedish with baby) Norrköping, aiming at creating new meetings between children and parents from different residential areas, and with origins from all over the world. The organization is held once a week. It is free and no registration required. The organization Svenska med baby tries to break segregation, build new bridges, and practice Swedish. They keep a good tone and show respect for each other. Here is the website http://svenskamedbaby.se/. If you are international students who take kids with you as new comers to Sweden, it is advisable for you to learn Swedish with your kids in this activities.
Preschool care for children
The preschool (förskola/dagvård) care for children in Sweden is convenient and beneficial for parents who are away working or studying, or if the children need the special care. The staff in preschool departments consists of preschool teachers , babysitters and possibly special educators and other support staff. Parents have the right to place their children in preschool from the age of one. Nowadays, around 80 percent of children from age 1 to 5 attend preschool in Sweden, which is much higher that the international standard. The most contributing factor is that the childcare in Sweden is affordable for everyone. Fees are around SEK 1,500 per month, calculated according to family income and low-income families or international students pay nothing for their children preschool fees.
If you are international students studying in Sweden and want to send your kids to preschool, you’d better contact the local municipality (kommun) and register. Here is the related information in Norrköpings kommun (https://www.norrkoping.se/skola-och-forskola/forskola-och-annan-barnomsorg). Usually you need to fill a form and then apply. The kommun will help register and allocate kids. If you do not have a Swedish personal number, you should go to the kommun in person and the staff will help guide you.
