You love taking care of your child. But there’s also the reality that you need to work or tend to your business to make a living. Luckily, you can find many early childhood care centres in Australia where you can leave your child to learn and have fun while you’re working or running errands.
But the question is: what exactly should you look for in a childcare centre? These four things should be your non-negotiables:
- Safety
As a parent, leaving your child in the care of other people can get scary and overwhelming. But since you need to, it’s very important to find a childcare centre that takes safety and security very seriously. For instance, they should have proper drop-off and pick-up rules where only parents and authorised guardians have the authority to gain access to the child. Proper entrances and exits, including emergency protocols, should also be in place. In fact, it would be quite beneficial if a centre has its own childcare app that would help them manage their children well and allow parents to also monitor their child while in the childcare centre.
- Cleanliness
You’re always strict about cleanliness in your home to make sure that your child doesn’t get sick. So why change that with the childcare centre you choose? A good centre should be clean, hygienic and well-maintained. They should have proper protocols in place to maintain a clean space for children and also strict rules when it comes to taking care of sick children to avoid the spread of disease in the centre.
- Efficiency
A childcare centre should be efficient in the service they deliver, especially since they’re handling children. For one, the centre should only have experienced staff who are trained in early childhood education and childcare for different ages. They should also follow proper staff-to-child ratio to ensure that each child is given enough attention and support during their stay in the centre. Another great indicator of a good childcare centre is a low turnover rate where a lot of staff have been in the centre for many years.
- Parental Involvement
Of course, it’s also very important to choose a childcare centre that acknowledges your role as a parent and works in involving you in the care of your child. After all, you know your child better than anyone, so collaborating with the childcare centre will help you ensure that your child is given the care that he’s used to getting at home. Ask potential centres if they offer parental involvement and how they do it.
Raising a child takes a village, as they say, and it is true. But if you’re going to leave your child in the care of other people, make sure that they’re the right people for the job. Just like supporting your child’s passion, sending him to the right childcare centre will help nurture his talents and potential, and ensure his safety and security.
