Infants (0-4 years)
Compulsory schooling begins in Zurich at the age of 4. Even in preschool age, however, there are various leisure and counseling offers.
Guide Parents & Children
We can only present some of the most important offers in Zurich for newcomers with small children. A comprehensive collection of all offers and contact points for families, structured according to various topics, can be found in the guide of the Department of Social Affairs:
Maternal and paternal counselling
The maternal counsellors are specialists who support parents of infants and toddlers up to kindergarten entry free of charge. They answer your questions about education, nutrition, care and development.
In the counselling centres, parents can seek advice without prior notice and weigh and measure their children. The mothers' and fathers' counselling service is present in all quarters on certain weekends.
More information (in 10 languages) and the address and opening hours of the counselling service in your neighbourhood can be found on the website of the Mothers and Fathers Counselling Service.
Tramuki
The Transcultural Mother-Child Group – a group offer for mothers with a migrant background and their children up to the age of three.
Leisure
In Zurich there are many leisure activities for children and their parents. Joint activities are also a good opportunity to get to know other parents. In this way, you can make new friends, build and expand a network and improve your German language skills.
Zurich Community Centres (GZ)
There are a total of 17 community centres in Zurich. The GZs are meeting places in the district for young and old. Each has its own character and different offers. What they all have in common is that many of the offers are aimed at children and their parents. The activities are often free or very cheap.
The current offers can be found on the respective website or in the GZ programs, which are published quarterly and can be subscribed to free of charge.
ELCH Centers
The six ELCH centres offer young families numerous contact, relief and leisure opportunities in their neighbourhood. They also offer young mothers and fathers the opportunity to work in the centre with a small paid workload.
GFZ Family Centres
In the three family centres, parents will find information and advice on the subject of children and families. The rooms are also available for playgroups with integration, language and movement promotion.
Events and activities online
On these two online platforms, current leisure activities for children can be found using search filters.
KIKUKA - Children's Culture Calendar
The brochure "Zurich with Children" summarises these and many other offers.