What Type of Childcare is Best for My Child?

Childcare is an essential need for every modern parent and thankfully we now have a range of options when it comes to childcare, from childcare centers to a full-time nanny. However, how do you know which option to go for? Not only can this be confusing, finding someone to care for your children is obviously a high-stakes decision.

Here’s a little bit about the different types of childcare and how you can choose the right childcare for your little one.

Traditional Childcare Centers

In traditional childcare centers, you typically drop your child off at a large public center and leave them there for the day. They have their own staff and they take care of your child. However, this type of childcare can come with a few concerns. Traditional childcare centers can have large numbers of children, so it’s important to make sure the staff to child ration isn’t too high. Additionally, they are only as good as their staff. You should keenly observe the staff and their policies before enrolling your child.

Furthermore, once your child attending the center, keep an eye on their behaviour and monitor their health. Trust your intuition if you think your child is not happy – if so, remove them immediately and look for other childcare solutions.

In-home Childcare

Unlike traditional childcare centers, in-home childcare is set up in a home environment. Often, they are run by a parent who also looks after other children along with their own. In this setting, your child is likely to feel more safe and comfortable.

These small-scale childcare centers usually have fewer children and so pay closer attention to all the children present there. They come with the benefit that your child interacts with all the children around and has more learning opportunities. This will also encourage them to develop their communication skills.

Nanny

Getting a nanny for your child is another option. Nannies come to your home and take care of your child all day long or for a certain period of time. You can choose to hire a nanny full-time, part-time, or as a live-in nanny.

Nannies come with the benefit that your child stays at home and you can keep a close eye on how your child is being treated. However, when going for nannies as a childcare option, you must look for an experienced, educated, and disciplined nanny to avoid any issues. Korukids.co.uk helps you find nannies and interview them to choose the best nanny for your child. 

Shared Nanny

Shared nannies tend to take care of two or three children at a time. This cuts down  the expense of a single nanny while keeping many of the benefits of a nanny.  Shared nannies are just like individual nannies so paying close attention to their education, experience and morals is equally important when choosing who to hire. Having a shared nanny can be a good option especially if you know the family you are sharing the nanny with. 

Babysitter

Babysitters are quite different from traditional nannies and can be a good option depending on your needs and requirements. Babysitters usually work on an hourly basis so are a good solution if you need a childcare for sporadic and shorter periods of time. However, they do come with various trust concerns.

Hiring a babysitter from a trusted agency can help to manage these concerns. Either way, it’s important to closely interview potential babysitters to make sure your child stays safe and well treated.

Relative Care

Relative care is when a close friend or a relative takes care of your child. They might come to your home, our your child may got to a grandma’s or an aunt’s house. Relative care reduces the risk factor as you are leaving you child with someone you trust.

However, relative care is not usually a sustainable childcare solution because they might not be always available to take care of your child. In addition, though your family member may be happy to look after your little one from time to time, it’s not fair for you to rely on them too heavily.

Preschools

Preschools are a reliable option for childcare. These are registered organizations that are run like a school and have proper systems for discipline as well as legal registrations. Children in preschools are taught basic skills and do a range of structured activities.

Preschools are like schools, but appropriate for pre-school age children, with less burden of study and more focus on activities. Preschools are a good option for parents who work for long hours and do not have much time to spend with their children. 

After School Programs

These are programs for school-aged children who need care before or after school or both. These childcare programs are suitable for children whose parents work until the evening or do shift work. These programs come with a variety of short programs including summer programs and are one of the most beneficial types of childcare as children learn a range of skills in a fun environment.