Choosing The Right Childcare
Choosing a childcare centre can be a stressful and emotionally charged process.
Making your final decision is momentous and then handing your precious bundle into the care of virtual strangers takes strength and courage.
That said, doing careful due diligence on the childcare options in your area will go a long way towards giving you peace-of-mind about your final choice. Childcare should be a special place where children are nurtured and where their healthy growth, development and learning are supported and encouraged.
Research tells us that early childhood is a time of significant growth and development and that a quality early education lays the foundation for a child to develop their potential. The skills that a child learns between the ages of 0-5 have a direct impact on their successful futures at ‘big’ school and beyond.
The experiences that young children have in childcare and early learning environments have a profound influence on their development and overall wellbeing. It’s during these formative years that they start learning critical skills including language, numeracy, problem-solving and other intellectual skills as well as physical, social and emotional skills. These early learning environments are also key to children developing a love of learning.
When you start investigating your options, it’s worthwhile taking time to understand how the centre goes about their business and to learn a bit about the people into whose care you’re entrusting your little one. Having your questions answered and any concerns addressed will reassure you that you’ve found the right spot.
Finding a quality childcare centre
Before you start your research, it’s worthwhile spending some time identifying your expectations from a childcare centre. This will give you a reference point when you make appointments to visit the different centres.
The following list is a starting point and you can always add items depending on your own needs and priorities:
Is location a deal-breaker, or are you prepared to travel to find the right centre?
Do you have any specific requirements to accommodate your lifestyle or daily routine eg extended hours, flexible pick-up times etc?
Is there a specific approach to early education that you value? For example, some centres are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, others follow the Montessori model and if you have a preference, it will help to focus your research.
It’s a good idea to visit several service providers to get a real feel for the place. First impressions count and if the place feels warm and welcoming and the children look happy, settled and engaged, that’s a great start!
When visiting a childcare centre, you may want to consider the following:
Does it feel like ‘home from home’?
What is the daily routine at the centre?
Are the children getting plenty of sensory stimulation?
Is the centre well-resourced with a variety of materials and activities which encourage exploration, engagement and discovery?
Is the centre safe and secure, and do you get an immediate sense that it operates under high standards of hygiene and cleanliness?
What are the professional qualifications of the educators and how experienced is the centre’s team?
What is the ratio of educators to children?
Will my child’s unique needs and abilities be fully supported?
How often will I get feedback about my child?
Does the centre have an open-door policy and are they transparent about all their policies and procedures?
You may also want to address other aspects such as health and safety, nutrition, nappies, nap times, policies regarding behaviour management, communication with parents and caregivers, emergency procedures and so on. You also may want to find out about any extracurricular activities or services on offer such as yoga, music classes, language classes and sports incursions.
Cost is another consideration and you’ll find that there can be quite a disparity in what the various childcare services charge. It’s a good idea to establish your budget and take things from there.
Another good way of gathering information about a particular centre is to look at their online reviews. You may also want to chat to other parents before making a decision. Don’t hold back on questions – even the tough ones. This is a big move for you and your child, so it’s really important to make an informed decision.
Ultimately, you want what every concerned parent wants – the best start in life for your little one. And you’ll get that when you make the right choice in terms of childcare, so do your research thoroughly, take the time to visit the various centres in person, ask questions and trust your instincts.