Making the decision to send your child to child care can be a scary time. You are making the choice to take a step back in your child’s daily activities and allow, in many cases, strangers to take over their day-to-day.
There are a few things to consider when you are looking at different providers. The following list mostly pertains to centre based child care and is not an extensive list; you may have questions that are not here – please remember that you are the parent – you hold the reins! You ask whatever questions you want and if your potential provider is unable to answer them to your satisfaction – that’s an answer in itself! Always trust your gut – never settle when it comes to your child!
1. Location
Depending on where you are in Ontario (or Canada for that matter), location can play a huge part in how you choose your site. Is it close to home? Perhaps on your way to work? In a large city or more rural?
If you’re in a large city, what does their outdoor space look like? How often do they utilize the city around them? For instance, my centre in Burlington is located in a strip-mall. We are fortunate to have a large outdoor space but greenery is limited. Therefore the educators utilize the fields around us, carefully arranging walks and travel between the school and our neighbouring areas.
If you choose a centre that is close to home but you commute, ensure you discuss late fees and additional authorized pick ups. Having a handful of trusted individuals will allow you to avoid late fees and the feelings of anxiety that go hand in hand with being stuck in traffic!
2. Cost
The biggest surprise to many parents when they begin their hunt is the cost of child care. In this section I will break it down for you and it may give you an idea of what your fees go towards!
First and foremost – a quality child care centre will have quality child care staff. These educators are dedicated, hands-on, educated and experienced individuals who often work very long with a lunch that usually is full of paperwork or classroom preparation! There are also the ministry-regulated ratios to consider – the cost of staffing goes up to accommodate ministry ratio requirements. 24 children a preschool room means 3 educators and two of them are required to be RECE’s.
Second – the facility. Every owner-operator that does not OWN their building – for instance they rent the facility from a church, a mall or have a mortgage payment – they must make money to run the facility. Not to mention the pesky bills that drive the average person crazy. Can you imagine the water bill on a centre that can hold 79 children – with weekly laundry, daily toy cleaning, hand washing, toilet flushing, dish washing and food preparation?
Third – food. Whether your site prepares food or you are catered by an outside company – food is one of the highest costs a child care provider has. We provide a minimum of two snacks and lunch – and depending on your owner/operator, some centres provide even more. My centre has fruit and snacks available for the children at all times. Food an important part to ensure our classrooms are happy and healthy!
Even if your centre is not-for-profit, their fees will reflect those three basic costs. Child care is not cheap – and I’m not sure it should be!
If you want a centre that is offering quality care, quality food and a facility that is up to date (and clean!) you may be looking at a higher price tag. Don’t panic at the price – never count out a centre. Take a tour, call the supervisor. There may even be hidden promotions that you haven’t heard of! Give a centre a chance and if its in your budget but just on the edge – talking to the supervisor may give you the reason to spend the extra. Afterall – who deserves the best care if not your child?
3. How does the centre feel?
Last but not least, how does the centre feel? Right now we are in the middle of our second-wave of COVID-19. You likely cannot go into a centre to see how it operates; you’re likely doing video-chats and phone calls, exchanging emails regarding fees and schedules. Some centres are implementing after hours tours or outdoor tours – if you find a centre that is doing that you are lucky! It is nice to meet someone from the facility in person. As directors and supervisors we are all hoping the Ontario government gives us a little wiggle room with tours soon!
Until then, make sure you email or call as often as you want! You may feel like you’re annoying the centre – but you’ll know when it’s the best fit. We can all read “tone”. You will get a feeling of professionalism from any supervisor – but you want a feeling of warmth too. You want to feel important and included. You’ll also want to feel honesty from that person – will they glaze over the hard topics? Do they brush off concerns? Or do they tell you exactly how it is? Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions and have answers ready that you’re looking for. See how well the centre’s answers line up with your own!
Those are just a few of what can be a vast many decision makers when it comes to choosing child care. The most important factor for any family is – will this centre’s staff feel like an extension of your family? Child care providers are not institutional teachers. We are educators; we hug your child when they are sad, we hold them when they’re scared. You deserve to feel comfortable leaving your child with those people so go with your gut decision. Your perfect fit is out there – it may not be the closest, it may not be the cheapest. But if you rank each factor by importance you will find what works for you!
Stay safe and take care!
