KidsLife will be out of office on monday 29/5 and exceptionnally on Friday 2/6.

My child is starting pre-school

Ready for the next chapter in your child's life? Pre-school awaits! Another big step for your little one that warrants an additional financial boost.  
What is the toddler allowance? 

What is the toddler allowance? 

All 3-year-old children who are timely enrolled in Dutch-language education, and children aged 4 years who remain enrolled and attend school frequently enough, receive the toddler allowance140,72 euros per year.  

The allowance forms part of the Growth Package and therefore only applies to toddlers who turn 3 or 4 years of age on or after 1/1/2019. 

What is meant by ‘timely enrolment’? 

You must enrol your child in pre-school within 2 months of their third birthday at the latest. You will subsequently receive the toddler allowance in the month that immediately follows the month in which the child benefit payment provider received their enrolment details; in the month following their third birthday at the earliest.  

You will also receive the toddler allowance for 4-year-old children in the month following their fourth birthday at the earliest. Again, this is on condition that the child benefit payment provider has received the necessary information pertaining to enrolment and attendance from the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training.

How do you obtain the toddler allowance? 

Do you live in Flanders? Then you needn’t do anything. The toddler allowance is paid automatically as soon as the Ministry of Education and Training sends the enrolment information to the child benefit payment provider.  

Please note: if you live in Brussels or Wallonia - and your child attends a Dutch-language school in Flanders or Brussels-capital - this does not happen automatically and you must actively request the toddler allowance.

Apply for the Toddler Allowance

Tips for helping your little one settle in at school

The first school day is fast approaching. Is your toddler keen to discover new things and make new friends? Or are they feeling anxious about this new step? We provide a number of tips that aim to make the next phase as worry-free as possible.

  • Do you have the opportunity to pay a visit to your child's classroom and meet their teacher in advance? Then take advantage of this! Many schools organise just such an introduction at the end of the holidays.
  • Talk to your child about what to expect, but keep the conversation light. Reassure them that you will ‘come back’ to collect them at the end of the day.
  • Go and purchase a satchel, together with your child. Make a fun occasion of it. Link the satchel to a positive experience.
  • Prepare the satchel the evening before, together with your child. That way they know what’s inside it. And fill it with a number of familiar items.
  • Pay close attention to what you provide your child in the way of food. Planning to give your child fruit? Then cut it into small, bite-sized chunks and make sure it’s a fruit that your child enjoys. That way it’s nice and familiar, and one less thing for your child to worry about.
  • Don’t drag out your goodbyes at the school gate. Say ‘goodbye’ firmly and clearly. Also assure your child that you will be back shortly. And that there’s always a teacher on hand to dry any tears.
  • Don’t overwhelm your child with questions when picking them up from school. The first day is a flood of impressions and they will be pretty tired. Give your little one the time and space they need and allow them to determine for themselves how much they wish to reveal about their day.
  • Did their first day at school not go very well? Is your child reluctant to return the following day? Be patient!
  • Give it some time. If their reluctance persists, then discuss it with their teacher.
I'm pregnant

I'm pregnant

You’re pregnant! Congratulations! Perhaps you already have children and know what to expect? Or perhaps this is your first baby? One thing’s for sure: you’ve got 9 emotionally-charged months ahead of you. KidsLife is happy to assist you throughout your journey, right from the very onset of your pregnancy. And our handy tips will ensure that you don’t miss out on any benefits during ‘Project Baby.’
I'm pregnant
Gynaecologist or midwife: who does what?

Gynaecologist or midwife: who does what?

When you are pregnant, it is important to keep a close eye on your health and that of your baby. But who takes care of this monitoring? A gynaecologist or a midwife? Who does what? Who can you share your concerns with? And are these appointments reimbursed? These are all important questions for the parents-to-be.
Gynaecologist or midwife: who does what?
Time credit with or without a justified reason: everything you need to know.

Time credit with or without a justified reason: everything you need to know.

A break from work? Everybody needs it from time to time. Here, you'll find the answer to questions like: What are the conditions for taking time credit? Can I get time credit benefits? Are the rules different if I work in Education? 
Time credit with or without a justified reason: everything you need to know.

Not a customer of KidsLife yet?

 

Apply for Child Benefits