| Whatever stage you're at in the parental process, | | | | kindergartens. |
| whether you're worrying about what to name your | | | | Many daycare centres nowadays boast highly-trained |
| baby, what to feed him or her, where to send your | | | | and experienced staff, tried-and-tested learning |
| child to school or what to say about the birds and the | | | | resources and safety-certified play facilities. Some |
| bees, fortunately there are plenty of resources out | | | | centres take in no more than 20 or so children: others |
| there to make things easier. The key is to make the | | | | have the space and staff to cater for upwards of 200 |
| most of the information out there and use the available | | | | or even more. Some put the focus on basic literacy |
| resources to ensure that your child grows up in a safe, | | | | and numeracy from an early age, in a more |
| secure and stimulating environment. | | | | regimented environment, whilst others will emphasise |
| The first and most obvious worry for many modern, | | | | learning through outdoor play, or arts and crafts. It is |
| working parents is: who will look after my child when | | | | vital to consider carefully about what you want your |
| I'm out at work all day? Some families are lucky | | | | child to take away from his or her daycare |
| enough to have grandparents or aunties and uncles | | | | experience. Do you want him or her to be in a gentle, |
| around, or perhaps willing neighbours or local friends. | | | | more traditionally nurturing environment that advocates |
| These arrangements can be a godsend for some | | | | quiet time, naps and teacher-led learning? Or would |
| working parents, and there are children who thrive in | | | | you prefer that your child spends his or her days in the |
| the nurturing atmosphere of a family-orientated | | | | kind of daycare centre that lets children learn through |
| environment. However, convenient as these | | | | their own mistakes (to a certain extent!), encouraging |
| arrangements may be, they are not always in the | | | | outdoor team games and messy play? |
| long-term best interests of every child. All children are | | | | Attending a daycare centre can be especially |
| different, but all young children have the same basic | | | | beneficial for children with no brothers and sisters, or |
| needs of routine, stimulation and the company of other | | | | who would otherwise not have the opportunity to |
| children, and it is not always possible to guarantee such | | | | interact with children of a similar age. Some daycare |
| an environment with a local childminder or family | | | | centres have provision and facilities for children with |
| member. This can be one of the many reasons that | | | | special needs and some cater specifically to children |
| many working parents choose daycare centres for | | | | whose first language is not English, so you're sure to |
| their children, also known as nurseries, preschools or | | | | find the right facility for you and your family. |