How to find the Best Quality Child Care Toolkit for Parents
Finding the best child care in your local area is one of the more daunting and time consuming tasks a parent faces. At CareforKids.com.au our sole mission is to assist families with finding the right child care for their children from an approved provider.
Whether you choose a nanny, au pair, in-home, family day care, occasional care, long day care centre, a preschool, or nanny share arrangement it is all about your child receiving quality, professional early childhood education and child care suited to you and your child's needs. You want to ensure that your child is safe and happy in a child care environment that is fun, educational, and nurturing. Here are some useful tips in helping you find an early learning and child care service that is right for you and your child in your local area.
Determining the type of care your child needs
When determining the type of early education and care your child needs, consider their temperament, likes and dislikes, physical health, interests and behavior, developmental play and learning styles, interaction with other children, and need for individualised attention should be considered.
The different types of child care services available to parents can be overwhelming and consuming particularly for first time parents. Click here to help you find out more about the types of child care available and compare the pros and cons.
Finding and choosing child care in good facilities with quality ratings
Once you are aware of the types of child care available consider cost, location, security, quality and reputation of the service. To find child care services operating in your area click here. Include your child – take your child with you and observe the carer, the facility and the other children.
Checklists
Use our handy checklists to investigate and evaluate the child care services on offer:
Interviewing a Nanny or Au Pair Checklist
Establishing good relationships with the child care provider
Take steps to establish good relationships with the child care provider. Daily reports about your child's day and frequent visits are a good sign of quality care and can help you to track your child's progress and reassure you that your child is being nurtured and having fun with qualified educators. If you have engaged a nanny, here is a nanny/parent diary system that you might like to introduce into your child's care routine. In the event that you have an issue or disagreement with your child care provider, the best course of action is to talk through your concerns. Our articles on How to Manage Issues with your Child Care Service and Managing Complaints with OOSH Care offer guidance in these areas.
Helping your child adjust to child care and school
Just as you need to feel confident in your child care arrangement your child needs to know there is at least one person who is looking out for their best interests. Helping your child to adjust to child care services is essential to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your child whilst they are in child care centres.
The Tools
Finding child care services in your area
Helping your child to adjust to child care
|
|
