Are you struggling to convince yourself to send your little one to daycare?
- If just the thought of leaving your little one with someone else worries you, you are not alone! There may be myriad thoughts that are crossing your mind –
- Will the daycare be good for my kid?
- Is it safe?
- Should I choose the daycare close to my work?
- Is their after-school care sufficient enough to support my child’s needs?
And your worry list will grow longer until you find the right daycare and after-school care in St. Albert. There are many good daycare options, but you need to understand what is best for your child and your family, depending on your individual needs.
Here are seven essential tips to help you choose the best daycare centre for your little one –
1. Start Early
Start your search early so you’ll have multiple options for childcare centres. Then, you can take time to evaluate various factors based on your preferences.
2. Visit Twice If Possible
Nowadays, most daycare centres welcome parents along with their children to pre-visit the daycare for a specific duration. During your visit, try to observe a few things, including the behaviour of other children and how the staff is attending to those children. Try to visit the centre around 5-6 pm when other parents come to pick up their children after work. Talk to them about the childcare centre to get a clear idea before admission.
3. Safety
Even if you feel skeptical about providing the best possible care outside your home, you need to rely on the daycare operators who can provide excellent care to your child outside. While inspecting a daycare centre, ask about their safety procedures and food preparation precautions.
You can discuss what standard safety measures they take to avoid unwanted incidents. All daycare centres need to follow government standards to ensure optimal child safety.
4. Structure
Since daycare centres run various programs with a schedule and organize different activities for the kids, these should have sufficient structure. Choose a daycare with a larger space managed by experienced staff who can always supervise children.
5. Affordability
Sometimes, finding an affordable childcare centre seems a real challenge because of the limited availability. But, if you know the cost beforehand, you can plan your finances accordingly. Initially, the cost of daycare may appear expensive. But once you understand these centres’ various programs, trained teachers and full certification requirements, these costs seem well worth it.
6. Meal Plan (If the Daycare Provides Food)
Understand the daycare’s food philosophy to understand what your child will be served. If you require a daycare or after-school care in St. Albert that serves healthy and nutritious food to children, check their daily meal plan.
However, you should keep in mind that not all daycares offer food, while some offer healthy snacks and hot lunches to the children.
7. Licensing and Training
Before finalizing a daycare, ensure they can show the required proof of licensing and training. The centre should also conduct a vulnerable sector criminal record verification for all its employees. You should never compromise the matter of child safety. So, invest some time to perform adequate research on the centre you’re planning to sign up with.
Final Thought about A Good Child Care Centre
Entrusting your little one into someone else’s care is a big deal. However, finding good child care like Little NEMO’s Daycare and Out of School Care Centre Inc. can help you make a well-informed, careful decision.
At Little NEMO, we work dedicatedly to ensure the safety and well-being of every child, helping them develop cognitively, physically and socially.
