One of the most important decisions that you have to make when it is time for you to return to work is deciding on a day/child care facility.
There are three major elements to consider when choosing a day care provider.
- Location
- Cost
- Reputation
Location
Location is such an important element to consider for a number of reasons. Convenience is the first. Is the provider close enough for you to be able to drop your child off before work and pick them up soon after? What about if your child becomes ill during the day? Having a child care centre near you home may be convenient, but if your relatives or friends live closer to your work it might be more appropriate to find a day care centre near there, so someone else might be able to pick your child up if you cannot.
Cost
Cost is another important factor, as the day care centre that is around the corner from your home may be the most expensive centre in your neighbourhood. In Australia the government provides a certain amount of childcare benefit. But this is dependent on the level of the wage that you earn. Doing some research into pricing and benefits will allow you to see how much child care you can afford. Not doing so could result in the majority of your pay being spent on fees.
Reputation
This is probably the most important of the three elements to consider. Researching the reputation of day care providers can easily be achieved through the internet, the National Childcare Accreditation Council is an Australian example of this. It is wise to take a little time to research the reputation of centres as the biggest chains are not always the best. It is also good to check with local mothers on the types of programs, carers and food that your local centres provide. Many day care providers also have a 'walk in' policy that allows you to go in any time to see their facilities or your child.
These three elements need to be balanced and there are other things such as: how many days do you want your child at day care? Who will pick you child up in an emergency? Is your child a social child? Does your child require a comfort toy from home? These are all questions that need to be considered when you are deciding on a day care facility for your child.
