Things to Consider When Selecting Child Care in Baulkham Hills

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We know how important your kids’ happiness and wellbeing is; that’s why it’s crucial to choose the right child care in Baulkham Hills. Leaving your son or daughter with someone you don’t know can be hard, especially when it’s your first kid. But it can be great for both you and your kids – giving you the time to work and giving your kid the opportunity to socialise and develop.

 

Types of child care in Baulkham Hills

There are two main types of crèche that you can choose from, each with their own unique advantages.

Group/centre environment

Enrolling your kids in a centre is a great way to improve their social skills and prepare them for primary school. Group child care in Baulkham Hills should be state licenced. It operates like a school, with kids separated into different age groups and assigned activities which are appropriate for their age.

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Home environment

Having someone come to mind your kids in your home can make it easier for the kids to transition into a group or school environment as they are within the comforts and familiarity of their home, yet can get used to being with a new person and doing different activities. The downside may be that some providers may not be trained or licensed and may simply be babysitters (rather than educators).

 

Finding a suitable child care in Baulkham Hills

It is important to be patient and to give yourself a few months (possibly even years) in advance before selecting a provider. This is because many centres may have long wait lists, so it’s important to get your kids registered as early as possible to guarantee their entry. Some of the things you can do are:

Research

Friends, family members and even your paediatrician may be able to refer you to child care in Baulkham Hills that they have experienced as being good quality. There is also a wealth of referral resources available online, including through the state regulatory agency. Have a read of each provider’s website and check their reviews on sites such as Google and Facebook to get a sense of what they might be like.

Interview providers

Once you’ve conducted your research, prepare a little interview for your chosen providers and screen them over the phone. Questions to ask include:

  • What hours are you available?
  • What are your costs?
  • Do you have a waiting list?
  • Are you accredited?
  • What are your immunisation policies?
  • Are nappies, meals and sunscreen included in the daily rate?
  • What is the meal plan?
  • Do you have an outdoor play area?
  • What is your typical daily routine?
  • Are your staff fully qualified? How much experience do they have?
  • What is the ratio of kids to staff?
  • What is the education program like?
  • Do you do any other extra activities, like music classes?
  • What is your illness policy?

Also consider how friendly and helpful the person you’re speaking to on the phone is. This can give you a sense of how good their service will be. Avoid child care in Baulkham Hills which doesn’t provide healthy food or have qualified staff.

Visit in person

Once you’ve done this, ensure that you visit the centre (if you’re choosing a centre environment) in person to confirm that they are as good as they claim to be. This is also a good way to get to meet and connect with the people that will be looking after your kids. Make sure the child care in Baulkham Hills provides a clean and stimulating environment and that the kids and staff seem happy. Trust your intuition.