Times change. Back in the day, families tended to be clustered together. Children usually had either one parent at home taking care of them, or a family relative helping out. But in today’s world, families are more often scattered across the country, or both parents need to work in order to make ends meet. As a result, day care for your kids can make scheduling tricky.
As working parents, we know it can be tough to juggle your schedule between professional responsibilities and parental duties. Changes can happen, and suddenly you need to scramble to make sure your child care needs are met. It’s not easy, but we know what it’s like. Read on for some useful tips to finding a day care that’s right for the needs of your children and you.
Evaluate Your Schedule
When it comes to parental needs, they are all unique. The trick is to take a close look at your schedule, along with your partner’s, and determine how much child care you realistically need. Some moms and dads need full-time care, and others need a few days sprinkled throughout the week. If you’re specific when it comes to what you need, you can not only find the arrangement that works best for you, but you can save a good amount of money in the long run.
Know Their Curriculum
It’s a true statement that not all day care centers and arrangements are created equal. Some are happy to handle infants, others focus on older kids. Some have an intensive curriculum that emphasizes learning, while others focus on fun. Some care situations will come to your home, some are based out of a home, and others are based in a standalone facility. Do your research, and read reviews online to get a better idea of what the day care provider does and how they do it.
Personally Assess
After you’ve done your due diligence, odds are you’ll narrow down your options and find a few you like. At this point, take the time to check them out. For caregivers that come to your home, interview them and see how your kids interact with them. For facilities, take a tour and you’ll be able to meet the staff and learn about the schedule and curriculum. Most importantly, trust your gut. If a person or place doesn’t feel right to you, don’t second guess yourself. Just move on, and you’ll find the right place sooner or later.
Adjustable Schedule
This isn’t always possible, but having a flexible professional schedule can make life a lot easier. While it means that covering child care is a little easier than your in-office colleagues, don’t think that working from home is a breeze. However, if you do telecommute, you might be able to set up work hours either late at night, early in the morning, or during the day while your kids are at day care. If you have local friends that work from home, another option is to do a kid swap on certain days. This can resolve the issue of child care without it costing you an arm and a leg.
Prepare
Finally, a wise move is to get everything ready for day care the night before. Every parent has experienced morning chaos when you’re trying to get ready to go. But if lunches are packed and outfits are laid out ahead of time, you can cut down on the stress.
Yellow Brick Road is your quality child care provider for the Plymouth and Minnetonka areas. We are a passionate group dedicated to teaching your child based on how they learn individually. Visit our website today to learn more, or click below to join the Yellow Brick Road family. We can’t wait to meet you!
