31Aug
Many daycare centres and early education centres cater to children from around toddler age up to the age of 5. Some centres even accommodate infants. If you have a toddler and you’re a working parent that needs a safe haven for your child during the day, or you simply want to enrol your toddler into an early learning centre to give them a great start in life, there are some things you’ll need to know.
Let’s take a look at what you should be mindful of before and after enrolling your toddler in any form of daycare.
Check the Centre’s Operating Hours
Whether you have to spend the day at work or not while your toddler is attending daycare, you’ll want to be fully aware of what time the daycare centre opens and when it closes. If you are working, do the hours the centre operates fit in nicely with the hours you’ll be away at work? Is there any possibility of after hours care?
If you’re uncertain about anything regarding this, just be sure to ask a staff member any questions or concerns you may have.
Are There Other Toddlers Attending the Centre?
Not all daycare centres may cater to toddlers, so that’s something you’ll want to make sure of first. Even if they do accommodate toddler-aged children, does the centre have any kids the same age as yours?
The reason you may want to know this is to ensure your toddler has some peers in the same age bracket. It’s not essential, but may be more reassuring for your child if there are other toddlers there. It’s also important to note that the centre has experience dealing with toddlers and not just older children.
What To Pack for Daycare Australia?
Before you can determine your toddler daycare packing checklist, you’ll first need to know if the centre serves food as part of the fee, whether an additional fee is required for meals to be provided or whether you have to pack lunch and snacks for your toddler regardless.
Aside from food, there are other items your child will need for the day, which may include a change of clothes, nappies (if they are still required), any medicines (if required), a hat, perhaps some baby wipes, comfort items such as their favourite toy or teddy and a blanket.
For a definitive list, consult with the staff at the daycare centre and they can advise you on what your toddler should bring to daycare with them each day.
Does the Centre Have a Positive and Comfortable Vibe?
The only true way to determine this is to visit the centre you have in mind for your toddler, chat with staff members and also spend some time observing the other children in attendance.
Does everyone seem relaxed, positive, happy and content? Or is the atmosphere a little stiff and uncomfortable?
You want your child to be in an environment that’s comfortable and positive, so be sure to spend some time at the centre first before making a final decision on enrollment.
Check the Centre’s Curriculum of Activities
A very important aspect regarding any form of daycare centre is what activities they have children doing throughout the day. Ideally, you’ll want to enrol your toddler in a facility that has a good mix of both fun activities as well as educational ones.
Every centre will be a little different, so when you do have a daycare centre or two in mind, be sure to study their website or ask the staff for a copy of their curriculum, in particular for toddler-aged children.
Endeavour Early Education Centres for Toddlers
At Endeavour Early Education Centres, we cater to toddlers and enjoy having them in our care. Not only do our centres provide a safe and secure place for you to leave your toddler while you go to work, but your child is also guaranteed to have a fun time in a positive and uplifting environment.
Our centres focus on early learning and we provide interactive activities for toddlers that are designed to develop their young bodies and minds on a number of levels.
Give us a call or drop into one of our centres to learn more.
