Three Things to Consider When Choosing A Quality Childcare

Childcare - Daycare

What to Consider When Choosing Childcare

Guest post by Kids ‘R’ Kids of Dallas/Fort Worth

With more mothers going back to work within the first year of their infant’s life, it has become incredibly important for parents to make the right choices about childcare for their baby. Choosing the proper childcare is a difficult decision as there are often many options to consider: Would you prefer care in your home, childcare in someone else’s home, or care in a childcare or early education center? And then there’s the question of the costs involved, as well as the psychological issues of leaving ones’ baby with someone else?

Here are 3 important factors to consider when choosing a quality childcare. The considerations mentioned are based on the primary developmental needs of your little one. Use of kidspiration and more innovative learning is what parents expect out of nurseries these days.

1. Bonding

The most significant developmental task of a child’s first year of life is forming a bond with the caregivers.  The parents, of course, are naturally the child’s primary caregivers, but so is the one who’s in the infant’s childcare arrangement you choose.  Creating a true mutual bond lies at the foundation of all other development – healthy personality, emotional and social development, as well as the language and cognitive development in the formative years.  This means you are searching for someone who understands that quality infant childcare relies on forming a close relationship with the child, as well as supporting a solid bond between infant and parents.

2. Continuity

As a parent you want to be looking for repeated experiences with similar people over time, whether in a home or daycare arrangement, childcare or early learning center.  It is critical to assess whether the caregivers have longevity with the daycare and are likely to remain.  Many quality childcare programs now also institute patterns of primary care giving, meaning that one adult is primarily responsible for the care and communication with a small group of infants and their families.  Primary care giving arrangements allow caregivers to tune in to individual needs, facilitating attachment and relationships.

3. Priorities

At the top of the list of your requirements should be continuity of care and primary care giving arrangements. Infants thrive on responsive care–having their particular needs recognized and met by their primary caregivers in a prompt, predictable fashion. Questions about feeding and sleeping schedules should elicit responses indicating that your child’s individual needs will be the driving force behind a personal schedule in the early months, and later individualized planning will support children’s and family needs.

Caregivers who understand child development will best know how their childcare interactions not only support a sense of trust but also embed the stimulation needed for early brain development.  It takes very special people to become involved in warm, nurturing childcare relationships with babies and their parents and also provide the interesting environments that support healthy foundations for early learning. Take the time to evaluate the emotional climate and relationships in the places you are considering for your infant’s care. As a modern parent this is one of the most important decisions you can make.

Kids ‘R’ Kids believes that happy, loved, connected children are destined for success in every facet of their lives. Our most cherished principle, “Hug First, Then Teach,” defines every aspect of who we are at Kids ‘R’ Kids. When it comes to teaching, Kids ‘R’ Kids understands the importance of involving families with their child’s developmental milestones and accomplishments. We hope you will drop by for a tour at one of our 12 locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. You will find a list of our locations on www.dfwkidsrkids.com.

 

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