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With 8 to 12 weeks you can normally pick up kittens, by then they've already learned enough from their mother and are independent enough. You shouldn't take them away before that because they still benefit from nursing and learn important social skills. Some breeders also wait until the 16th week, which is actually even better. If you want to adopt a kitten, I'd just clarify with the breeder or the shelter when it's ready.
Kittens should ideally leave their mother at no earlier than 8 weeks, but preferably at 12 weeks, because they still have a lot to learn from their mother before that and their digestion isn't stable yet. Before that, they're just too small and need their mother for important social behavior and nutrition. By 8-12 weeks, they've also already had their first vaccinations.
Honestly, I'd say a lot of people do it too early. Kittens should stay with their mother for at least 8 to 10 weeks, ideally 12 weeks, because they're still learning important social skills from her and their immune system develops better that way. If you separate them earlier, the little ones often end up with behavioral problems and get sick more easily. My advice: give them the full time with their mother, and you'll have a much more balanced kitten.
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