Daycare centers in the Prignitz district are on the verge of extinction: resistance is stirring!

Daycare centers in the Prignitz district are on the verge of extinction: resistance is stirring!

In the last few days, an important forecast for child care in the Prignitz district has been causing discussions. The district is experiencing a Germany-wide decline in birth rates that is reaching worrying proportions. Loud Northern Courier Between 2024 and 2030, there will be a decline in the number of children of childcare age (1 to under 11 years) by almost 13%. In total, around 757 fewer children will need to be looked after in daycare centers or after-school care centers by 2030.

The current situation shows that, as of June 1, 2025, there are almost 6,000 childcare places in the Prignitz district. But that number could soon fall below 5,000. Children under the age of three are particularly affected, whose numbers could fall from 971 to just over 800 in the same period. This is a clear challenge for the regional daycare centers, which now have to react to the changed circumstances.

Specific measures and changes

The forecasts determine the district's strategies. Proposals to close three daycare centers have already been put on the table, including the “Flitzpiepen” daycare center in Pirow, which could close from 2029. The “Demerthiner Rübchen” daycare center in Gumtow, on the other hand, is scheduled to accept children from the “Dorfspatzen” daycare center from 2027. In Gumtow, they have also responded to the declining number of children: the daycare center in Demerthin will be used as an after-school care center from August 2024.

Although the closure of some daycare centers is planned, the district is not planning any measures against existing facilities in Pirow and Weisen in other regions. The number of births here fluctuates greatly, which is why the “Flitzpiepen” daycare center remains open for the time being. There are also considerations for modernizing the daycare center in Weisen as soon as the necessary budget funds are available. Currently 24 of 40 places are occupied.

The reasons for the decline

Behind these numbers are some fundamental changes in the population: The “turning point”, i.e. the low birth rate after 1990, is now pushing into childbearing age. Experts predict births in the county will fall from 418 in 2024 to about 340 in 2035, a decline of almost 20%. It is a development that not only affects the Prignitz district, but is also noticed in many regions of Germany.

An interesting aspect, however, is the influx of refugees, especially in Wittenberge, where an increase in the number of children has been recorded. This phenomenon will lead to a growing need for after-school care places by 2030. An increase in the age group of daycare children is also expected in the Meyenburg district, which may help to at least partially offset the negative balance in other regions.

In these uncertain times, when life in many cities and districts is characterized by sudden changes, it remains exciting to see how those responsible will overcome the challenges of childcare. The need for childcare places is at the center of public interest and is an issue that directly affects many families.