Starting preschool

How places work

• Children are entitled to a preschool place from age one, and your municipality (kommun) must offer one, usually within about four months of applying.
• Apply through your kommun's e-service with BankID. You list several preferred preschools, in order.
• Queue date usually matters more than anything else — put your child in the queue early, even if you are unsure of the start month.
• Fees are capped (maxtaxa) and based on household income and how many children you have in care. From the autumn term the child turns three, a number of hours are free.

Inskolning: the settling-in period

Inskolning is a structured introduction, usually 1–3 weeks. Two common models:

• Traditional — short visits that get longer, with you stepping away for increasing periods.
• Parent-active (föräldraaktiv) — you stay for full days for about three days, doing everything with your child, then leave abruptly on day four.

Both work. Plan to be off work or on parental leave days for this period; it rarely fits around a normal work schedule.

What to pack

• Full change of clothes ×2, all labelled with your child's name.
• Outdoor gear for real Swedish weather: overall, rain suit, rubber boots, hat, mittens.
• Indoor shoes or non-slip socks.
• Nappies if needed, and a comfort item for naps.
• A pram if your child still naps outside — many preschools nap outdoors year round.

Illness rules and the first-year colds

The general rule is that a child should be well enough to take part in normal activities, including going outside. Fever means staying home, plus a fever-free day at home before returning; stomach bugs usually mean 48 hours after the last episode.

Expect a rough first autumn — constant colds are normal and do settle. You can use vab (temporary parental benefit) to stay home with a sick child, and it does not use up your 480 parental leave days.

If drop-off is hard

• Keep goodbyes short, warm and predictable — the same words, the same window wave.
• Never sneak out; it makes the next morning worse.
• Ask staff to text or send a photo once your child settles. Most do within minutes.
• Expect a wobble around week three, and again after holidays. It passes.

If your child does not speak Swedish yet, that is completely normal at förskola — staff are used to it and children usually pick it up within a few months. Ask about modersmålsstöd (mother-tongue support) in your kommun.

Questions worth asking on a visit

• How many children per adult in my child's group?
• How much time is spent outdoors, and where do children nap?
• How do you handle food, allergies and picky eating?
• How do you communicate with parents day to day?
• What does your inskolning look like, and how long is it?