A four-year-old asks, on average, 437 questions a day. (I think it’s a safe bet to assume that at least half of those are “Why?”) But what kind of questions should you be asking when choosing childcare? Finding a daycare for your little one can seem overwhelming, but here are some tips to help you find what childcare resources are right for you.
Consider the setting – The first few years of a child’s life are when it is the most receptive to learning and growth. At three years old, your toddler will have developed around 1,000 trillion connections between the cells in her brain. That’s twice as many as the average adult! Making sure your child is in an environment that will best stimulate learning and growth is essential. Check out which area day care providers have the best reviews, not just from the parents, but from the kids as well! Find facilities that encourage active reading, creative arts, music education, and other fun activities that will help your child develop and have fun.
Consider the schedule – Finding a daycare that has childcare options for working parents may be essential to your life. Making sure that a daycare has flexibility to meet your work schedule can take a lot of stress off of having to leave your little one. The last thing you want to worry about it whether or not your child is taken care of in the event of unforeseen work scenarios. Ask the coordinators any questions you can think of about worst-case-scenarios in regards to scheduling. For example: “What if I have to work on a holiday?” “What if I have to work past the established pick-up time?” “What if I have to work on the weekends?” Etc.
Consider the security – If your little one is really little, you’ll want to make sure that they don’t have to switch to a new daycare every couple years. Finding a facility that has programs for children of all ages will ensure that you can keep your child cared for, even after they stop waddling and start toddling. It’ll be better for you, too, because you’ll get to know the people who work with your child, and you can work together to find the best way to help her learn and grow.
