How To Tell A Childcare Centre Is Good For Your Child
The decision to send a child to a childcare centre is usually a difficult yet necessary one for most parents in Singapore. They need to work, and during this period, they wish to leave their young children in trusted care where they’ll be fed, kept safe, and entertained.
Some parents also see it as the first step in preparing for formal education. Like schools, some childcare centres are better than others.
Here are ways to tell if a childcare centre is good for your child.
A Good First Impression
It is easy to determine if a Singapore childcare centre is good for your child or not based on the impression you get when you first visit the centre. Is the place clean? Is it spacious? Is the staff friendly? More importantly, do the children appear happy?
If you feel good about the daycare centre from the moment you walk in, it is most likely a good choice for your child. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to ask more about the place, especially from other parents.
On the other hand, if you have reservations when you visit a childcare centre, you should keep searching until you find one that will leave you impressed.
Positive Reviews
When parents are impressed or disappointed with childcare in Singapore, most will talk about it. It is good to pay attention to the positive and negative reviews, especially when you have zeroed in on your preferred childcare centres.
While reviews are great, you shouldn’t rely on them entirely. For example, a negative review is sometimes subjective and may not be a true reflection of the childcare centre. Likewise, a positive review may be from someone affiliated with the childcare centre.
When looking at reviews, it is best to look extensively at both the positive and negative reviews. If the negative reviews are few, you may overlook them. However, if the negative reviews are more than the positive reviews, you should avoid that childcare centre in Singapore.
If possible, get reviews from trusted family and friends. Their opinion of the childcare centre may be more reliable, especially if you have shared interests in what you expect from a childcare centre.
Services Offered
Singapore has hundreds of childcare centres, and each tries to outcompete the others. Most of the centres offer child-friendly spaces, so you may need to look at the services offered. Are you just looking for a place where your child will be safe, or do you also want a curriculum preparing the child for kindergarten?
You also need to look at the type of care offered to a child. Do they offer meals, or do you have to pack special meals for your child? If you are late to pick up your child, is there a provision for additional care at an additional fee?
If you will occasionally come late for your child, you need to ensure the childcare centre guidelines specifically address this and any other concerns you may have.
Childcare centres in Singapore take in children under the age of three. Most accept children under the age of 18 months, but some accept infants as young as two months. The needs of an infant vary from those of a toddler, so you should consider your child’s needs when choosing a childcare centre in Singapore.