Back To School: How to choose a childcare centre for your child

Choosing a childcare centre for your little one is as important a process as teaching him how to walk. Your decision determines the growth of your child in his early years, and the foundation he will be built on in the future. This is why many parents take a long time deciding where to place their child for the best results, and why some childcare centres in Singapore have waiting lists longer than others.

The reputation of a school may be an important factor, but it shouldn’t be the deciding point if you haven’t considered other aspects of the situation. Below are a list of considerations you need to take note of while making your choice.

Budget

This should be the starting point of your search. The price you will have to pay usually reflect the services of the childcare centre considerably well, but it doesn’t mean that your child will not grow even if you have a tighter budget. Since he will be placed in the childcare centre for 3-4 years, you have to make sure the school fee is something you are able and willing to pay.

Location

Your child may need you urgently at any point of the day, if an emergency crops up. You may also want to choose a childcare centre located near your workplace or your home so that fetching him to and fro every day will be more convenient. Don’t neglect the significance of location just because you think a centre further away may be better for your child. Chances are, your child will enjoy wherever he’s placed at, and you will be the only one lamenting.

Curriculum

Singapore is abounding with different types of childcare centres, and the different styles of teaching they employ. The seven main approaches include Montessori, Waldorf Steiner, the Play-Based curriculum, the Reggio Emilia approach, the High Scope Method, the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and whole brain learning. You should roughly know which curriculum your child would learn best in, or which you would prefer your child to be exposed to. Don’t settle for second best if you’re sure of what you want.

Visit

Take a trip down to the different childcare centres you have shortlisted for a more accurate feel of the place and to gauge if your child will feel at home. Watch how the teachers and staff handle the children at the centre, and fire the questions away. What qualifications do the teachers have? How many children attend the centre daily? What is the philosophy of the school? Don’t be afraid to ask questions, since this will be the best time you can do so.

Food

You want to make sure your child gets all the nutrition he needs, especially if you’ve been extremely attentive to what he eats at home. Check out the menu of the childcare centre when you’re there to get a better idea of what your child will be putting into his mouth and whether you agree with it, or not. If your child suffers from certain food allergies, make this clear to the staff at the centre from the beginning.

Safety

This is one of the most important considerations you need to be sure of. Ask about the safety protocols of the school, and whether they use child-friendly equipment all over the centre. You don’t want your child to come back crying to you at the end of the day with a huge cut on his forehead.

Availability

If you’ve made your decision, make sure you call up in advance to book a spot. Some childcare centres in Singapore are so popular, you’ll have to be put on a waiting list for up to a year in order to secure a place for your child. If you started your research late, or you simply don’t have the patience to wait that long, you’ll need to settle with your second choice.

A woman’s gut feeling is pretty accurate, most of the time. If the childcare centre ticks all the boxes, but you remain uncomfortable with it for some reason or other, go with your heart. These are simply guidelines to help you begin your search, but a mother truly knows what’s best for her child. We wish you all the best, and we hope you find the perfect childcare centre that will leave both you and your child with huge smiles on your faces!

Dione Chen

Photos: Getty Images

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