Munich Kids

The  ZENTRUM FÜR KINDLICHE MEHRSPRACHIGKEIT München offers information for parents or anyone interested in multilingual education and childrearing.
 
Website: http://zkm-muenchen.de

Like most cities, Munich has a government bureau for children and families.  It is part of the “Sozialreferat”, or social department.  They offer many services and information for parents, children, and families.  The website is very thorough.  For example, there is information on: cultural events for young people, child care and after-school activities for children, holiday programs, protection for children, social welfare, and many, many more topics. If you have good command of German, or a lot of patience, you can navigate the site and obtain a lot of useful information. 

Website:  http://www.muenchen.de/Rathaus/soz/themen/147017/index.html#kinderundjugend 

The Kinder Branchenbuch is a wonderful resource for parents.  It is an on-line yellow pages (print version also available) for every conceivable topic related to children.  Examples include everything from  baby swimming classes, clowns, parent-children’s play groups, secondhand clothing shops, to yoga. 

Information is provided for address, phone, and links to websites, when available. 

The print version has a very complete section on kindergartens (age 3-6) and kinderkrippes (0-3).  It provides a listing of all of the kindergartens and kinderkrippe by district.  This can be a huge help if you’re in the midst of searching out a spot for your young child.  For some reason, the online version is much less complete for this and some other topics. 

You can order your own print copy by following the link to “Buch bestellen”, from the home page.  The website is in German, but is pretty easy to navigate, especially if you’re using a German-English Dictionary for key category search words.

Phone:  (08161) 88 33 26

Website: http://www.kibra-bayern.de/

A list of English-speaking doctors and dentists in Munich can be obtained from the website for the U.S. Consulate.  Follow this link to the website for the U.S. Consulate in Munich: http://munich.usconsulate.gov/munich/index.html .  In the search box, type “doctors”.  One of the search results is a downloadable .pdf file listing doctors and dentists by speciality and district, along with addresses and phone numbers.

The consulate for your country can assist you with various citizen services, such as: obtaining passports; birth certificates and other vital records; voter registration; international adoptions; security and travel; judicial assistance; and notarial services.  A listing of consulates in Munich, with addresses, phone numbers, and opening times is given on the following website.  http://www.mrlodge.de/englisch/consulates.htm

The following is a list of English-language schools in Munich and the surrounding areas.  The list was obtained by looking through ads in Munich Found and on Toytown Munich. It is probably incomplete.  Also, I have not had any personal experience to provide regarding any of the schools.  Please add comments or additional schools if you know of any.

• Munich International School; “Provides an international learning environment for students 4-18″; Schloss Buchhof, 82319 Starnberg; 08151/366-120; http://www.mis-munich.de
• Bavarian International School; International school for preschool through grade 12; Schloss Haimhausen, Hauptstrasse 1, D 85778 Haimhausen;  089/8133 917-0; http://www.bis-school.com/cms/
• International Montessori Kindergarten Munich; “A bilingual German/English kindergarten for ages 3-6″ and International Montessori School Munich; “A bilingual German/English for 1st - 4th grades;   Espenstrasse 1a, Munich; 3541 752 or 1595 975; http://www.montessori-ami-edu.de
• Rainbow Preschool; “English Montessori Environment” Josef-Retzer-Strasse 46, 81241 Munich, 089/82 97 90 03; http://www.rainbowpreschool.de
• Chocolate Butterflies, “English-German Kindergarten”, Gaissacherstrasse 21, 81371 Munich; 089/74 60 700;  http://www.chocolate-butterflies.de
• English Montessori Preschool; “Preschool Montessori Education in English for children aged 2.5 to 7 years”;  Perhamerstrasse 49, 80687 Munich; 089/546 08 55
• Treehouse e.v.,  parents’ initiative;  ”An English-German daycare & kindergarten located in Schwabing. For children between the ages of 18 months - 6 years. Opening on a limited basis in May 2007. Fully operational in September 2007″; Schleißheimer Str. 53, 80797 Munich (Schwabing); Website:  http://www.treehouse-kids.de; Email: info@treehouse-kids.de
• Mouse-Montessori Kinderhaus; Herzogstrasse 41, 80796 Munich; 089/ 30 88 90 0; Email: info@preschool-munich.com

• International Kids Campus; Bilingual school for children ages 3-6 in the center of Munich; Expected to open in 2007; 089/ 85 85 36 99; E-Mail: Info@InternationalKidsCampus.com;  Website:  http://www.internationalkidscampus.com/index.html

• International Montessori English-Speaking Preschool e.V.,   Asamastrasse 11, 81541, Munich;  089/ 54 071 028; E-Mail:  info@preschool.de ; Website:  http://www.preschool.de

• Busy Bees International Preschool - English-speaking private Montessori Preschool to open in Gauting, South of Munich in September 2007; Email: info@busybees-preschool.de  Website:  http://www.busybees-preschool.de 
• International Kindergarten, a new international preschool/nursery for children ages 1 to 6, opening in September 2007.  Website:  http://www.internationalkindergarten.de  
• Kinderhaus Laterne — English–speaking private preschool/nursery for children ages 1 to 6, established 2001. Balanstraße 136, 81539 Munich; 089/ 411 527 73; Website: http://www.kinderhaus-laterne.de Email: info@kinderhaus-laterne.de
• Elly & Stoffl - Bilingual day care and kindergarten for 3 months to 6 years. Schwanthaler Strasse 111, 80339 München, Germany, info@ellyundstoffl.de

Toytown Munich is a chat forum and web resource for English-speakers in Munich, and throughout Germany.  It is a great site to get answers to most of your questions about living in  or moving to Munich.  Chat forums on multiple themes, including politics, family life, and entertainment are available.  The classified section is a great way to sell your stuff, find a babysitter or handyman, look for a job, or even pick something up for free.  We managed to sell many of our baby accessories - crib, strollers, car seats, etc., in a matter of days.

Website:  http://www.toytowngermany.com/munich/