The decision of where to send your child before they start school can be daunting with the vast range of options out there. This guide will help you narrow down your choices so you're able to choose the right childcare centre.
What Educational Philosophy Does The Centre Adopt?
One of the biggest considerations for parents when choosing an early-learning childcare centre is the educational philosophy adopted. This will depend on what you want for your child. For example, some centres offer a structured curriculum with developmental goals identified regularly. Some centres may adopt a more flexible approach with less structure and more playtime. There's no one-size-fits-all approach here because it depends on what you want as a parent. If you're keen on a more structured approach to learning, make sure your child's educators have the right qualifications and skill.
How Big Is The Centre?
Childcare centres come in different sizes – from smaller family daycare services to larger daycare centres. Once again, the size will depend on what you want out of it as a parent. Some parents believe their children learn better in smaller, more intimate environments, while other parents prefer to have their kids mix with more children during the day. No matter which size you prefer for your children, it's always good to find out how they go about teaching kids different things in the course of the day. For example, in some bigger centres, kids may be broken up into groups to make sure everyone has enough personal time with the educator. Establish how comfortable you are with the size of the centre before making a decision.
What Educational Programs Are Offered?
Some centres offer different educational programs in addition to the regular learning curriculum. For example, there are programs that could introduce children to the wonders of biology and chemistry during science week or encourage more reading with book week. This can be a good way for children to learn different things while making it fun for them. Before choosing a centre, it may be a good idea to find out whether the centre offers these additional educational programs that can be extremely beneficial for your child's learning and development.
Choosing a good childcare centre is a big decision because it sets up your kids for the rest of their lives. Take the time to ask a few questions and choose something that meets your wants as a parent. Reach out to childcare centres near you to learn more about what they offer.
Share21 August 2019
I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting resources to liven up my childcare education program. These days, it's important that children are always learning at childcare, but it's equally important that children have fun. I like to find topics that match up with the topics that my kids are passionate about. If they are obsessed with trains, then I'm going to make sure we do a whole program on trains to keep them engaged and interested. If you are also a childcare educator or teacher who is looking for new resources for education programs, then please keep reading.
