Three Tips To Help Choose A Childcare Centre
Posted on: 17 September 2019
When it comes to child care centres, not all facilities are created equal, so you must give careful consideration to which facility you want to use to look after your child when it is time to return to work. If you are heading back to work in January, start to look for a childcare centre now to give you plenty of time to tour those close by and put your child's name on the waiting list if necessary. However, how do you decide if one centre is better than another? These three tips can help you whittle down the list of prospective centres as you tour them.
Get On The Floor
The best way to check whether a facility is safe and clean enough for your child is to get on the floor and look at the surroundings at your child's eye level. Are the floors clean? Are there dangerous cracks? Is the carpet comfortable or worn? Is there a teacher sitting on the floor interacting with the children? Getting down to your child's view is a good way to see what they see, and you can make informed decisions from down here.
Discuss Hours
No parent wants to leave their child in care for any longer than necessary, but sometimes things happen at work and you get delayed. So, what happens in those situations? Some childcare centres offer longer hours of care than others, and this suits those parents who aren't always a 9-to-5 worker. Find out what the centre hours are, and what options you have if you get delayed working later than expected.
Ask For A Written Copy Of Policies
When it does come time to choose a childcare centre, it is helpful if you can compare the different policies between those you have visited. Since it is not always easy to remember everything you are told during a tour, ask the childcare centre for a copy of their policies so you can compare them once you are home again. Look at the policies on bullying, educational teaching standards, nutritional information and sleeping schedules. These four policies play an important part in the development of your child.
Finally, if you are having difficulty deciding between one or two childcare centres, call them and ask if you can return for a second tour. The staff at your local childcare centre is always happy to answer any questions you may have so that you can make a final decision which you are comfortable with.
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