Türkiye is a great place for kids, thanks to its incredibly child-friendly culture. Everywhere you turn, you'll find plenty of facilities and services tailored just for little ones.
Daycare options in Türkiye
In Türkiye, you will find various daycare options catering to the needs and preferences of families.
Kindergartens
Türkiye offers both public and private kindergartens for children aged 3-6 years. Public kindergartens, often part of the Turkish public education system, provide affordable options. However, they may have limited spaces and might not offer the same amenities as private kindergartens. Private kindergartens, on the other hand, tend to offer more in terms of educational programs, facilities, and additional services like language classes and extracurricular activities. They might be more expensive, but they are known for smaller class sizes and more personalized attention.
Daycare centers
Daycare centers (Gündüz Bakımevi): For parents looking for more than just education, daycare centers are a popular choice. These centers cater to a younger age group, starting from a few months old to preschoolers. They focus on providing a safe and nurturing environment, with activities designed to aid early childhood development. Many daycare centers in urban areas also offer additional services like meal plans, flexible hours to accommodate working parents, and pick-up and drop-off services.
Home-based daycare services
Some families opt for home-based daycare services, where a small group of children is cared for in a home setting. This option offers a more homely and personal atmosphere. Parents who choose this type of care often do so for the family-like environment and the potentially more flexible hours.
Nannies and babysitters
Hiring a nanny or a babysitter is a common practice among expatriate families in Türkiye. This option offers the most flexibility in terms of hours and care style. Many nannies also provide additional services like language tutoring, helping with a smooth transition for expat children into the Turkish culture and language.
International schools
In larger cities like Istanbul and Ankara, there are international daycares and preschools. These institutions cater to expatriate communities, offering curricula in English or other languages and embracing international education standards. They are ideal for families who want to maintain continuity with their home country's education system.
Other institutions
For parents interested in alternative educational philosophies, Türkiye has seen a growing number of Montessori and other progressive education schools. These institutions focus on child-led learning and holistic development.
Child healthcare services in Türkiye
Both government hospitals and private clinics will give you access to pediatricians and other specialists of infant and child health. The Hacettepe Children's Hospital, in Ankara, is recognised as the best facility in the country for children healthcare.
Good to know:
If you are insured under the National Social Security System (SGK), coverage automatically extends to your children under 18.
For supplies, many stores across the city offer mother- and baby-care products, some of them organic. Maternity and baby clothes can primarily be found in specialized shops, but many mainstream apparel brands now also have dedicated mother-and-child lines.
Entertainment for children in Turley
The country's main cities are home to countless cultural and entertainment facilities apt to capture children's interest.
In Istanbul, the Miniaturk, an open-air entertainment park, displays dozens of scale models of Turkish buildings of historical significance. Nearby, the Rahmi M Koc Museum, dedicated to the history of industry and transport, allows children to sit at the wheel of vintage vehicles or to conduct child-friendly scientific experiments. Still in Istanbul, the Toy Museum showcases a collection of thousands of toys, some of which are 300 years old.
For an adrenaline rush, many theme parks are dotted all over the country.
Major urban parks on the European bank of Istanbul include the sizeable Macka Park around Besiktas, Gülhane Park in the Eminonu district that was established more than 100 years ago, and the Emirgan Park in the Sariyer district with a fascinating Bosphorus view.
The Asian side tends to be globally greener and notably boasts a wide swath of grassed areas peppered with playgrounds on the sea-line of the Moda area. The Princes' Islands, which can be reached by a short ferry ride from mainland Istanbul, offer child-friendly outdoor entertainment, such as bicycle rentals in a green and natural setting.
For Ankara dwellers, children will find playgrounds and ample green spaces in the Genclik Amusement Park in Altındag or the Segmenler Park in the central district of Cankaya.
Finally, many shopping malls enclose entertainment centers, arcade game areas, playgrounds, or mini theme parks.
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