AN AIR FORCE-DEVELOPED APP IS HELPING THOUSANDS OF MILITARY FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE NEEDS

The life of an Airman is filled with routine yet built on unpredictability. From taking up temporary duty (TDY), to receiving travel orders, or even taking a vacation, there are a lot of moving pieces. When you factor in child care, it can be a lot. Kinderspot helps military families by providing affordable flexibility. Instead of paying for care you can’t use and other children going without, the Kinderspot app is an innovative, safe solution that has already won over thousands of families.

What Is Kinderspot?

Kinderspot is a groundbreaking app designed to meet the evolving child care needs of military families.

Created by Maj. Jacque Vasta, the app allows Air Force parents with children enrolled in child development centers (CDCs) to temporarily rent out their unused child care slots.

This means families headed out on TDY or vacation can offer their spot to others in need, saving money and supporting fellow service members in the process.

The Kinderspot app connects verified renters and spot holders through a secure, user-friendly platform. Even families not currently enrolled in a CDC can join once approved, expanding access across the community.

With thousands of successful bookings already, the app is redefining how military families manage child care.

“Kinderspot has been a major win when it comes to supporting our members and their families with child care in the Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Tyler Hough.

How The App Helps Air Force Families

Finding affordable, flexible child care options may seem too good to be true, particularly during times like these.

However, the foundation of the app affords military families with the options they deserve. Here’s how the Kinderspot app works:

• If your child is enrolled in an Air Force CDC and you’re going on leave or temporary duty, you typically still have to pay to hold their spot, even if you’re not using it.
• That’s where Kinderspot comes in. The app lets you “sublet” your unused child care slot to another eligible military family who needs short-term care.
• If someone books your spot, you get a credit toward your account.
• It’s a win-win—your spot doesn’t sit empty, and another family gets the child care they need.
• The renter pays the CDC directly based on their own income tier, and their child must be in the same age group as yours. Families not already enrolled in a CDC just need to get verified before renting a spot.

Families looking to get in on the program can do so simply by downloading the app on Apple or Android, and after getting approved through their base CDC.

Available, Affordable Child Care: A Growing Need

Finding child care in the military isn’t easy, especially when you’re paying for a spot you can’t use. Which is exactly why Maj. Vasta created Kinderspot in the first place.

Since its Air Force-wide launch, over 12,000 families have used the app to sublet or rent short-term child care spots, opening up nearly 22,500 weeks of availability.

With staffing shortages and hiring freezes straining centers like Hill AFB, Kinderspot offers a smart, community-powered solution to help military families stay mission-ready.

Leadership continues to warn families that the disruptions to operations during this transformative period in our government are negatively impacting child care in the military.

Air Force families can benefit from apps like Kinderspot, which can provide flexibility and access to those who need them the most.

Kinderspot May Not Expand to Other Military Branches

Despite the success of Kinderspot and rising child care issues for all branches of the military, for now, it seems Airmen may be the only ones taking care of this innovative approach.

Kinderspot is not available in other military branches, and there doesn’t seem to be any plan to bring the app on board any time soon.

Other branches, including the Navy, have worked with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to curtail child care issues.

Nevertheless, the Kinderspot app remains a viable solution for the Air Force and could find further use among other branches down the line.