Bringing Up Toddlers in Cyprus

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Bringing Up Toddlers in Cyprus

As time is in short supply for most parents of young children, below is some information to guide the way through life in Cyprus with a young child.

Infant and Child Healthcare 

Child health care in Cyprus is provided by the governmental medical services as well as the private medical sector. The governmental health services are administered through the Ministry of Health. Public health services are provided free of charge or at reduced fees to parents who can provide a Medical Identity Card. Medical Identity Cards are issued to citizens of the Cyprus Republic and EU citizens who are permanent residents of Cyprus. 

• For a list from the Cyprus Yellow Pages of paediatricians in Cyprus: Click here
• For more information on the Cypriot healthcare system, see the INFOrmation Page, Health Insurance in Cyprus

Healthcare centers for mothers and babies (Κεντρα Προστασιας Μητροτητας και Ευημεριας Παιδιου) offer a wide range of preventive medical services related to the physical and psychosocial development of infants and children. They also provide educational programs for mothers. 

• For a list from the Ministry of Health of the centres and the services provided: Click here
• For information about giving birth in Cyprus, see the INFOrmation Page, Having a Baby in Cyprus

Child benefits

Child benefit is available to all families residing in Cyprus for each single minor child living in the household. Parents may request child benefit from the Ministry of Finance after the birth of the child. The application form for the child benefit (αιτηση για επιδομα τεκνου/aitisi gia epidoma teknou) is available online.

• For the application form for the child benefit: Click here

Educational Childcare

Educational childcare in Cyprus is organised into three main categories:

1. Public kindergartens (δημοσια νηπιαγωγια/ dimosia nipiagogia) are sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture and Parents Association. Children are accepted from the age of three years to the age of five years and eight months. Parents should present the child’s birth certificate when registering. All children attending public kindergarten are taught Greek language as part of the program.
2. Communal kindergartens (κοινοτικα νηπιαγωγια/ kinotika nipiagogia) are non-profit organisations and operated through community and parental involvement
3. Private kindergartens (ιδιωτικα νηπιαγωγια/ idiotika nipiagogia) have an Ministry of Education and Culture approved educational program. Some of these kindergartens have programs in the Greek language while some are specific to other ethnicities such as English, French, Swedish, Armenian and others.

Other available forms of childcare include: children's clubs, infant care centers, afternoon kindergarten and day-care kindergarten. These institutions only accept children up to five years of age and do not provide educational activities.

• A list of kindergartens and nurseries is available from the Cyprus Yellow Pages: Click here
• A list of childcare centers and their services is available from the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance: Click here (in Greek)

The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance oversees the quality of childcare in Cyprus and is responsible for the registration of childcare centers and private childcare givers.

Strong family ties are typical in Cyprus and it is common that grandmothers take care of their grandchildren. Working couples also entrust the care of young children to home carers. A relatively small percentage of children from newborn to three years of age attend some kind of formal day care.

Informal childcare is common in Cyprus and those wanting to find a nanny or au pair may find one through an employment agency, classified ads or the Internet. However, a structured informal care system does not exist in Cyprus.

Toddler Playgroups

Toddler playgroups are not common in Cyprus though mothers may find informal playgroups in their local areas through newspaper adverts or through the Internet. The following websites have information on English-speaking groups and activities for children in Cyprus:

• I Heart Cyprus.com: a local Paphos group for mothers and toddlers
• Motion Art Studio: provides movement and dance classes for toddlers and parents in Nicosia
• Mums in Cyprus.com: a schedule of playgroups and their location

Entertainment places for toddlers

All towns in Cyprus have play parks that are sponsored and maintained by the local municipalities. 

All nature parks have playgrounds where toddlers can play in a safe environment under the supervision of their caregivers. The playgrounds are equipped with diverse facilities which aim to entertain kids of all ages.

There are theme parks in major towns, providing a variety of activities, such as carousel and playground with games.

Indoor play centers have sections with toys and various activities for toddlers.

The magazine KidCulture has information for parents, especially for foreign families aiming to adapt to life in Cyprus. The magazine lists toddler playgroups and their activities. It also includes a description and the addresses of major parks and kid friendly places in Cyprus.

Further Information

• See the INFOrmation Page, Health Insurance in Cyprus
• See the INFOrmation Page, Having a Baby in Cyprus
• Cyprus Ministry of Health

• Cyprus Ministry of Finance

• Website New Au Pair lists child carers in Cyprus

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