6 Things Parents Look for When Choosing Childcare | Careforkids.com.au

When parents are going through the process of finding the right Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) service for their little ones, they often have an extensive list of requirements. 

Location, fees, programs, parking, good reviews, kind educators - all of these go into the mix when it comes to choosing an ECEC that suits.

Here are the 6 key things Australian families look for when searching for the perfect ECEC service for their children. 

1. Fees

When searching for the perfect childcare, parents want to know what the fees are to ensure the ECEC services they shortlist work with their family budget.

Ensure your service’s fees are current on your Care for Kids listing to make it easier for parents to determine if your centre is right for them.

2. Availability

As with fees, parents want to understand the availability options at the ECEC services they’re selecting from. 

Keeping vacancy information up to date and outlining your waitlist terms is important to make it easier for parents to choose your service for their child’s care and early education, and will put your ECEC above the rest.

3. Good reviews

When considering childcare options, parents want to know that they’re making the right decision for their children about who looks after and educates them. 

Rather than your service explaining why you’re a great option, parents want to hear from other parents. That’s where reviews come in. 

Many ECEC websites don’t show NQS ratings or Google reviews, preferring to use their own curated testimonials instead. When this happens, parents feel that they are getting a one-sided view of what the service is really like. 

The Google reviews and NQS ratings displayed on your Care for Kids listing are an important  factor when parents are choosing a shortlist for their children’s care needs.

4. Programs

It’s important to highlight what makes your ECEC service unique and sets you apart from other childcare options. Highlight the programs and key facilities you offer in your Care for Kids listing. Find out more about upgrading your listing (if it’s not already) so you can showcase your service’s fantastic offering to parents looking in your area.

5. Happy children 

Parents like nothing better than seeing photos and videos of happy children engaged in activities at a service. 

They want to see current photos of what the centre looks like, watch videos that showcase a “day in the life” experience and get a clear understanding of what your service is like before they book a tour.

Ensure your Care for Kids listing has up to date photos and videos (if you have them). Consider upgrading your listing to enable you to display more assets or get in touch to discuss our content production packages to suit all budgets.

6. Gut feel

Once parents make a shortlist of the childcare options on Care for Kids, they can arrange a tour at each of the services they’ve considered with just one click. 

A parent’s gut feel after visiting an ECEC service is usually what makes up their mind and leads them to enrolling their child. Ensure you’re hosting the best centre tours you can to showcase your service and turn a family visit into an enrolment.

If you want to be seen by more parents, increase your enrolments and put hours back into your week, take a look at how we can help you with a marketing platform that works for your ECEC service.