The holiday season is over and you have to go back to work, putting your baby in daycare. Sometimes the thought of leaving your baby with other people every day can be scary. It is a big decision especially if the child is your first one. More than 70% of moms work outside the home, so if this is your situation, you are not alone. The good news is that there are plenty of outstanding childcare options through a home daycare or group center such as childcare Marlborough facility.
There are two main types of daycare facilities:
- Group daycare
- Home daycare
A group daycare is a facility where you drop off your children for a full day to stay with other kids of varying ages. It is stated license and is operated just like a school where kids of a certain age racket are taken care of in groups.
A home daycare is run out of the provider’s home and the caregiver attends to her children at the same time. The main disadvantage is that most of these facilities are not state-licensed.
Benefits of Admitting your Child at Childcare Marlborough
- Continuous care: children even who are still in the early months receive the attention they need to guide them through toddlerhood.
- Education: there is a well-organized program to assist a child towards growth and development.
- Reliability: daycare centers are often opened for about 12 hours. This allows parents of various schedules to come in person or call to know more about their child’s progress.
- Affordability: a daycare is less expensive compared to hiring a nanny or other alternative options.
If you want to find out if a particular daycare center is good, you need to ask a lot of questions and also be observant. Give yourself time to search for the best, perhaps six months in advance. You will need to decide what is important to you; is it the location, the cost, or the quality of education and care provided?
All in all, a good center should have a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Feel free to ask or the names and numbers of current clients in order to ask them for references. You can also approach other parents and ask them about their experience with the center. Trust your first impression because it counts a lot.
Established Ground Rules
A center needs to be flexible to allow you to pick and drop off your child at different times. On the other hand, it should also have clearly established regulations in terms of the operating hours and handling of the emergency situation. When a center takes its responsibility seriously, you are sure it will take your baby seriously.
Childcare Marlborough has a strict sick-child policy and each parent is informed of the type of illnesses that should keep your child at home and for how long. Although a tough policy may appear to be inconvenient when your child is sick, it makes sense to keep sick children away from others.
A good center has an open door policy that encourages parents and guardians to stop by announced. If not, chances are that it is hiding something. You should not just be able to go inside the facility announced but also be invited to participate in the center’s activities such as going on trips with the children. If a center is lax on its rules on its rules or is poorly organized, then it is not worth your attention.
A Stimulating Curriculum
The best centers have a structured schedule which includes a lot of physical activities for the children, quiet time during reading sessions, group programs, meals, snacks, and individual activities. A child should have very limited time for watching TV and videos. If videos must be part of a child’s curriculum, they should be age appropriate and educative, teaching about animals or other cultures. A child should interact more with others instead of just being glued to the screen. As such, look for a daycare center that has lots of toys that are designed to aid the development of your child.
A Qualified and Caring Staff
An advantage that daycare centers have over hiring a nanny is that the staff has specialized education. The employees of a daycare center should have at least two years of college education, emergency training and a background in early childhood development. Some states also require that a provider should have training in pediatric first aid and early childhood education.
Be observant as to how the staff interacts with children. The caregivers should be enthusiastic responsible and professional. You should also ensure tha5 the staff shares your philosophies in discipline, sleep, and other care issues. A good caregiver should be concerned about your child’s health and ask questions to establish if the center is right for you. Employees who are paid well, are given allowances, have health insurance coverage and other benefits will do their job well and stick at the center for a while.
Healthy Food
There are some centers that will require you to pack only nutritious foods. The ones that don’t have restrictions as to carrying of sweets and other junk food don’t have the child’s interest at heart. Inform the center of any food allergies your child may have if the center has a food plan. You should also look for a center that encourages healthy eating habits and offers a variety of nutritious food choices.
Clean and Safe Facilities
It is important for a center to be clean and sanitary. The floors, kitchen area, walls, and hallway should be clean. The kitchen area should be located far from the toilets and diaper changing stations. The trash clan should always be emptied and the facility should be well ventilated.
The facility should also follow safety guidelines. Toys should be well stored and equipment should be in good repair. The first aid kit and fire extinguisher should be easily accessible.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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