Elterngeld is money that parents receive when they take time off work to take care of their new baby. Just like how you get pocket money from your parents, new moms and dads also get some money from the government.
When a baby is born, their primary caregiver (usually the mom or dad) can take time off from their job to take care of the baby. During that time, the government gives them Elterngeld to ensure that they can still afford to pay for things the baby needs, like food, clothes, and diapers.
Elterngeld is also designed to help parents spend more time with their baby during its first year of life. This is because studies show that children who have more time with their parents during their first year are happier and healthier in the long term.
So, in summary, Elterngeld is money that the government gives to parents to help them take care of their new baby and to encourage them to spend more time with their child during its first year of life.