Choosing a child care facility is often a challenging task for parents, both emotionally and logically. No matter the motivation to look for such a facility, it’s important to consider some important factors and choose the best facility for your child. These factors include;
1) The location of the day care centre
The specific location of the facility is very important. You need to be sure that it’s within walking distance or a few minutes’ drive from where you live or work so that you can easily pick up your children after school. If not, then how will you get them home safely? Also, remember that if you’re going to take public transportation to work, you’ll probably need to keep an eye out for the facility’s bus stop as well.
2) The available space within the child care facility
When looking at childcare centres, you may see one with lots of kids running around but no space to play. Make sure that the room has plenty of open floor area for each kid to run about freely without bumping into other kids. In addition, make sure that there are toys available for the little ones to use while playing.
Remember that most toddlers love to climb! Make sure there are safe structures that encourage kids to climb with risks of injuries. Don’t forget to check under furniture too because many times these areas are overlooked by parents who don’t think to look for potential hazards.
3) Does your child have any special needs or require specialized care?
A lot of people assume that just because their toddler is two years old, he or she doesn’t actually require special attention like infants do. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Toddlers still need the same amount of stimulation and interaction as babies did in order to develop properly. They also need physical activity which means that you need to find a place that offers activities such as dancing, music classes, art lessons, sports and more.
Make sure the specific facility you choose offers the level of care your child needs.
4) What kind of curriculum or learning activities (if any) does the facility offer?
Most daycares or child care facilities offer a curriculum known as “Early Childhood Education”. Such programs provide information regarding early childhood development through age five. Some programs even go beyond this and provide more comprehensive learning from teachers once the kids reach high school level.
So, you must determine the type of program your child really needs. For example, if you plan on sending him or her to preschool next year, then you’d better start thinking about enrolling now since there aren’t many options in his grade. On the other hand, if you already send your daughter to kindergarten, then she might benefit more from another kind of education offered in child care facilities.
5) How much does the required services cost?
This is yet again something that depends entirely on your situation. But before making any decisions, make sure that you’ve done proper research and found out exactly what the cost per week would be. Be aware though that costs vary greatly depending on whether you pay monthly, weekly, biweekly, or yearly. So, always ask questions first and foremost.
6) What are staff members like?
One thing that makes certain day care facilities stand out above others is the quality of its staff members. These individuals are responsible for everything that happens inside the classroom including teaching the children and providing guidance and supervision. You can usually tell how good or bad a day care will be based on the experience and qualifications of the staff members.
Look for someone who seems knowledgeable and experienced. Ask them about their background so that you won’t have to worry later on. Also, try to get references from previous employers or friends and family. If possible, visit the daycare yourself and observe it first-hand.
Wrap up
Many families prefer not to leave their young children alone during the day, especially if they live far away from home. Having said that, you must weigh up the pros and cons of leaving your baby with a stranger versus staying home. The main advantage of being able to stay close to your child is the fact that you can easily monitor her safety whenever necessary. At the same time, however, you risk losing valuable bonding time with your infant. Another disadvantage is that you cannot interact with your child’s teacher unless you drop him off or pick him up.
Before you decide to leave your child in a child care facility, weigh the benefits and downsides of this choice. Once you decide that a day care facility is the way to go, be sure to choose a great facility where your child will be safe and comfortable.
