Day care / Child care centres in Adelaide, South Australia

[Molezy81]

Hi,

I'm new on here and my partner and I have a 2 year old daughter. The thing is. My partner is looking at going back to work relatively soon and we are reluctant to send our daughter to either a day care centre or to a child care centre. We are not sure of the pros and cons about the two types and we would like any information on the two and also if anyone knows of any centres (either day care or child care) that are very good with children and dont cost a arm or leg. For if we cant find a decent centre that doesnt cost that much. Its pointless for her to look for work so that she can spend all she earns giving it to the child / day care centres. if any of that makes sense.

[Lorina]

Hi Molezy,

Welcome to Aussie Childcare Network!

First of all, I I just want to apologise for my delayed response. My 7 month old daughter is very sick with a viral infection and high fever for the past week and I haven't had a chance to respond.

You do have a few options available and to choose from. You have long day care centre, family day care and baby sitting.

Long day care is sending your child to a childcare centre for the day however the hours of when you drop off and pick up your child is completely up to you although you have to pay for the whole day. Depending on how many children the centre is licensed for, your child is placed in a room along with other children and educators who will interact, engage, set up experience and teach your child based on the program. Some centres offer meals while others you will need to provide your own. The activities your child participates in is based on their overall interest and learning and your child does gain skills as well as develop others. It's also a good way for your child to socialise and interact with other children their own age.

Family day care is attending home based care. There is only one educator to care for your child although there will only be a maximum of 5 children within care at a time. Even though care is provided at a home your child’s educators home goes through strict contingencies making sure their home is suitable and is safe. Usually with family day care hours are flexible and emergency care is also provided as well as weekend care and overnight care depending on the types of services the family day care provides. Just like in long day care, the experiences planned and what activities your child engages in, depends on their likes and interests, skills and development.

Babysitting is finding someone to care for your child at your own home.

Whether your child goes to a long day care or a family day care the learning curriculum is the same as a national framework has been released throughout Australia for all educational settings for children under 5 years old. So, the only difference is the experiences the child’s educator will implement according to the goals that are to be achieved by your child. What I'm trying to say is your child will be involved in learning experiences both in long day care and family day care.

It’s hard to determine which one to choose especially when it comes to choosing childcare. There are a lot of centres around and my suggestion would be go and visit a few in your area to see which one suits you best. All centres have an open door policy which means you are able to go and see the centre at any time throughout the day. However, if you would like a tour and to meet the educators I would suggest calling and making an appointment beforehand.

When choosing a centre a few things to look out for is cleanliness, how many children in a room, the outdoor environment, the program, what types of experiences are the children involved in throughout the day, how often they get to go outside, how many staff in a room at one time, how the room is set up, if they provide all meals...

Also you should take your child with you during the tour to see how other staff and children interact with her. She may not leave your side but this can be a chance for your child to meet her teacher and you get to speak to the teacher about the room routine etc.

Before you formally start childcare it’s necessary to have orientation. This means spending a couple of hours a few days a week at the centre with your child. This enables you to see what goes on during the day as well as supporting your child to get settled.

You can also expect a few tears in the first few weeks of care. Don’t worry this is completely normal and will disappear once your child is settled...
Regarding cost you can get reduced payments through centre link based on your financial situation. It’s called child care benefit. It’s best to go to their site and see if you’re eligible or go to their offices directly...

Hopefully I've given you a few things to consider and have answered your questions. But first and foremost go and visit centres within your area and you will find one you are comfortable with.

Sorry again for the delayed response,

,
L.A

[Lorina]

Just wanted to add this which may help:

Choosing Childcare Options

,
L.A