How to select a good childcare center for your child?

How to select a good child care center for your child?

A working mom’s dilemma: choosing the right childcare centre for your kid, and one that is also convenient & practical for you

Of course we’d always want the best possible learning experience for our pre-school kid, but let’s face it, practicality and convenience matter a lot in deciding where we can enrol our precious little ones.

There are a lot of factors to consider in deciding the best childcare centre for our child, but in the end, it should also include what is convenient and economical for us as a working mother or parents. And that is the balancing act that many parents have to face.

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Location

When it comes to location, don’t fret too much about it. Make it an easy and simple choice for both you and your child, even if the nearby childcare centre is not your first choice.

For the working mom or parents, a big consideration in choosing the right childcare centreshould be the location. It must be relatively convenient for you to drop off and pick up your kid on the way to and from the office.

Another advantage of this setup is that you can pop up for a quick look during lunchtime or break time. And in case of an emergency during office hours, it is also easier and faster for you to go to the centre.

To find the best childcare centre for your kid and one that could also work for you, location-wise, it is best to plan well ahead of time as some popular centres, whether private or government-run, have a long waiting list. Don’t wait till the last moment to decide on where to enrol your little one.

You can check out Childcare Link to search for childcare services in Singapore. Another great listing of some of the best daycare centres is Childcare Centres in Singapore

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Schedule: timing of drop off and pick up

If your child is not taking the school bus, then you need to work out the timing of dropping off and fetching your kid from the centre. This is one of the reasons why a convenient location is a big consideration in that given situation.

And if this is your first time to enrol your kid, you should keep in mind that daycare centres usually follow a strict schedule in the timing of fetching your child.

A fine may even be imposed, or worse, your child may not be allowed anymore at the centre after a certain number of times you turn up late to pick him up. So make sure to ask your chosen centre about this kind of policy.

School hours

Consider the school day of your chosen centre and your own working hours. Decide whether to enrol your little one on half (9am-12pm) or full day (9am-3pm) timetable. Other centres also offer longer hours (7am-7pm).

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Budget

Fees can vary from as low as $300 to as high as $2,000 per month, depending on where you go. To help offset the cost, check if you can avail of a government subsidy, which can range between $150 and $600 per month. Do note that this is only applicable to kids who are Singapore citizens.

In many instances, the price difference comes from the curriculum or type of education program that the centre offers. Those with specialized methodologies are usually more expensive compared with other centres that use a flexible approach (i.e. basic learning and playing) to the child’s school activities.

It is up to you, the parent, to decide what is best suited to your kid’s aptitude level and personality and balance it out with what you can realistically afford.

Choosing the right pre-school for your kid is just the beginning; the next step is how to prepare your kid for child care centre.