Wherever you happen to live in Australia, you are never far from a childcare facility, and in this short article, we offer useful information to help you make the right choices when it comes to choosing a childcare centre for your child.
Start with an online search
Google will bring up a list of local childcare providers; finding a Liverpool childcare centre isn’t difficult with a search engine, and there will likely be a few within driving distance. Browse various websites, and if you like what you see, make an online booking for a tour of the facility. You should find their vision and mission statement somewhere on their digital platform, which tells you a lot of what you want to know.
What makes a good childcare centre?
This is a question that many Aussie parents ask, as they try to find the best solution for their growing toddler. The following are regarded as core requirements.
- CCTV coverage throughout
- Healthy food and drink
- Qualified carers
- Good communication with parents
- Transparent system
The principal would know that developing social skills, creativity and imagination are the primary goals of an early learning program. This should form the core of the program, with a wide range of activities that involve the use of dance, movement and art to stimulate the young learners.
Touring the childcare centre
You should prepare a list of questions to ask the program leader; take note of what is on the walls, there should be many examples of student art and other creations. Ask to sit in on a ‘class’, and you should see happy kids engaged in guided play and fun group activities. The place should be clean and have a happy ambience, while restrooms should also be inspected, and the soft room is a must, as young toddlers can explore their spatial awareness without injury.
Encouraging a love of learning
An early learning program should instil a love of learning in the child’s mind; if, for example, a toddler has a bad experience at daycare, this will develop into a dislike for learning, and that would be a major obstacle to success. Games, art, dance and movement should all play a role in engaging the youngsters, which should be in a safe and secure environment. Learning through games encourages children to enquire about things, while they are also being prepared for academic learning with gradual steps. Click here for more about lifelong learning.
Parent/carer relationships
It is critical that the parent and primary carer have dialogue; they are both the only interaction the child has with adults, therefore, they should coordinate and work towards the same goal. A childcare centre would provide a small notebook where parents and carers communicate on a daily basis. Perhaps the parent would write,
“Tommy didn’t eat his breakfast, said he felt a little nauseous, or perhaps “He keeps talking about that story with the deer and the rabbit”. The carer might describe an incident where the child got angry and threw something at a friend; they would discuss behaviour, health and general observations. This enables complete development, and the child receives the right support when they need it. If medication is being administered, the carer should be informed and given the name of the medication.
We hope this short article helps you choose the best childcare centre wherever you live in Australia, which will be the perfect foundation for a balanced education and a springboard to success.
