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| Tips for new Mums choosing child care |
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With waiting lists overflowing and child care places hard to secure, many new mums have to begin the process of choosing a child care service, even prior to baby being born. Not knowing the standards or the typical routines of a child care environment, this process can feel incredibly daunting… particularly when you don't know the personality of your child yet.
Though every family is different, there are a few considerations that can help guide you through this process:
- How much child care do you need? If you only need a few hours each day, occasional care might be suitable, if you work full time, long day care might suit you better.
- Do you value a home environment? If you feel your child would benefit from smaller groups and consistent one-on-one care, family daycare might be the better choice for you. If your child enjoys social situations and larger spaces, long daycare might suit them better.
- How far do you want to travel? If time is precious, minimising the morning rush and having child care en-route to work can be hugely beneficial. If you’d rather the extra time with your child, then child care near work can mean you are able to spend the journey together. However, if the journey involves multiple public transport changes then it is probably easier to have child care nearer home.
With these few considerations answered, one of the best ways to decide which service is best for your family is to spend some time there.
What to look for when visiting a child care service
A quality child care service should offer several things to your child:
- A welcoming and nurturing environment. When you visit, you will be able to tell if the environment is relaxed or chaotic, welcoming or not.
- A caring and consistent relationship between educator and child. Educators should be engaged with the babies and know the babies well – playing, talking and interacting.
- Play and learning experiences that meet the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Infants should have interesting and fun activities and the service should have a curriculum in place for you to review. The program should be changed regularly to accommodate the needs of developing infants.
- Support in all aspects of your child's development. The service should nurture every aspect of your child – cognitive, physical, social and emotional – and work in partnership with parents to achieve the best for your child.
- Safe, structured, compliant care. Child care services should have policies and documentation displayed that contain information on the centre's operations and procedures. Though childcare services vary greatly, all must comply with the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standards.
- A safe and clean space to explore. The area should be stimulating but also offer quiet spaces for children who like a slower pace.
Questions to ask
When you visit the service, there will be countless questions on your mind. The visit itself will answer many of those, but here are a few others that will help in your decision:
- Are there places available; how long is the waiting list and is there a waitlist fee?
- What dates and times does the centre operate – is it only during the school term, or all year round?
- What happens if you are late to collect your child?
- What is the ratio of staff to children? Does it meet requirements?
- Will the staff that care for your child be consistent?
- What is the staff turnover?
- Can you visit at any time of the day?
- What are the sleeping arrangements for the babies?
- What is the process for if any medication is required?
- Do older children go on excursions? If so, what is the policy of care for those trips? And where do you go?
- Are there any extracurricular activities? Such as yoga, language, sport for older children?
- Do they provide meals?
- What policies are in place for allergies?
- Do they provide nappies?
- Do babies eat and sleep based on their own routine and rhythm, or does the centre have a schedule they prefer to stick to?
The quality of care is not always down to shiny toys and pristine outdoor spaces. It is more about how the care is delivered, and a lot of that is down to the individual caregiver. A good caregiver is one who recognises and responds to a baby's smiles, cries, and emerging personality, someone who looks for ways to expand on a baby's play, to enable them to learn new skills and experience new things. They will be loving and responsive, they will respect a baby's individuality and build a relationship with all babies in their care, and they will cuddle and talk to the babies, making them feel safe and engaged.
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