I overheard a friend concerned the other day saying she was going back to work and wanted to take her child into daycare a few days a week beforehand together so he could get used to the idea. I thought brilliant, great idea, she was met with ‘we don’t really have time for that this week’. I was pretty shocked by this, it would have lessened the stress on the mum and the bub and I knew Amy from The Little Unicorn actually recommended doing that in an early education podcast special we did which you can listen to the show below.
Here is a list Amy from The Little Unicorn has compiled for our mums to work out if they think the care they have chosen for their child feels right:
Are the educators engaging in meaningful interactions with the children? If my child was interacting with these educators, would I be happy with how they engage in discussions and play based on what I observed?
Have I heard the service’s name in the local community? This demonstrates strong relationships with local businesses and satisfaction with the education and care.
Would the service’s orientation process allow my family to feel welcomed and secure?
How did I feel about the atmosphere? How will my child respond to the “feel” of the learning environment?
Did the educators discuss how they plan to guide the learning and development of my child? If so, do I feel like they will cater to the unique needs of my child?
Does the centre promote inclusion? Do I feel that my family’s culture and values would be respected at this service?
What condition were the educational resources in? Did they seem developmentally enriching?
Would I be required to pack lunch for my child or are meals provided based on dietary requirements and the nutritional needs of the children?
Did the fees for my child’s time at the service seem affordable? Did the service seem to be flexible with their payment plans to fit in with my family’s current situation?
Choosing a childcare centre with educators who are committed to individual development and work to encourage emotional and intellectual growth can make a great difference in your child’s school-readiness.