Childcare Centres
Choosing the right Child Care Service - An Important Choice
What are my options?
Each center, be it private or government based, differs, as does each child. Different centers will offer different program formats and different policies such as operational hours and fee structures.
Different centers may care for different ages of children, a consideration that becomes especially important when you are seeking care for your infant. Child care centers usually provide meals and snacks where appropriate but menu plans may vary.
Facilities and staff ratios can vary from center to center, so make sure to check out a number of centers before making a decision.
It is the parents’ right to select a Center of their choice - just as it is their duty to ensure that the Center of their choice is going to provide their own special little person with the care and nurturing they deserve. A good first step in selecting a childcare center is to visit it yourself.
Feel free to visit as many Centers as you wish, at whatever time of the day is convenient to you. Don’t be shy - show your interest as a concerned and active parent.
But what do you look for? First impressions count. Look and observe for yourself the Center routines and happenings. Watch children attending the Center and ‘feel’ the atmosphere provided.
A quality child care center should be clean, hygienic and child-safe… and happy children and a pleasant staff is a good sign. Staff ratios are important to look out for.
Safety counts too and indoor play areas should include toys chosen with safety in mind. Outdoor play should be supervised, and there should be an area for children to keep their things.
- Choosing the right childcare center is a big responsibility and it’s important for parents to ask the right questions.
- What is included in the regular fees, and are there extras, such as a fee for picking up your child late?
- Ask for a price list.
- Are there written policies concerning discipline, accidents and illness? Ask to see them.
- If possible, meet the caregivers.
- Ask about staff training, ratios, and turnover.
- Is there a consulting pediatrician? Be sure to ask about activities and routines.
- Are there written plans for learning activities and a regular daily schedule?
- Is there a variety of activities at any one time and is their freedom of choice for any one child?
- Is the Child Care Center properly licensed?
- Will your child have opportunities for outdoor play?
- Are there a variety of books, toys, and equipment easily attainable by the children?
- Ask about meals - who prepares them and is there a weekly menu plan available to see? Are the meals fully nutritional, plentiful, and appetizing?
Finally, consider yourself. Will you be allowed to visit the center anytime you wish? And would you be comfortable leaving your child at this center?
Any big change can produce anxiety for a child. There are a number of steps you can take to ease your little one’s adjustment into a childcare center. You might begin explaining childcare by telling your child a story about it. This will help your child to understand it beforehand.
Alternatively, check with the childcare center for books that you and your child can read together. It’s also very reassuring for your child if you can visit the center together before the big day comes.
Make an extra effort to show the caregiver is someone you trust, and learn about the center’s daily routines so that you and your child can give it a trial run at home. When the big day comes, consider sending a small toy or favorite book with your child as a reminder of home.
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