When you begin having kids it was impossible for one of you to quit work to stay home with them. You have always hoped to be in a position financially where you could support the family while the other one did the important job of raising our children for the first few years of their lives until they got into school. So, unfortunately, when kids came around and your finances weren’t at the level you had hoped, you begin your search for the right daycare setting for your young kids.
I am a firm believer that a daycare, when chosen carefully, can be a great place for children to spend their first few years of life. When you begin your search for the right place for your kids, make a list of the things you would not compromise on when it came to the daycare our children attended. I’d encourage all parents who are considering daycare for their children to do the same.
By sitting down together and listing your priorities, you were able to begin your search with a better picture of the kind of daycare you are looking for. You know that we wanted our children to be in a safe, healthy environment where they would be cared for well and encouraged to build friendships with other kids and to learn new things. Be insist that your daycare was smoke free and look for a daycare that give the children many opportunities each week to get outside and enjoy playgrounds or other fun events for children.
Take your time and be intentional with choosing a daycare for your kids. If you are unable to care for your children in the earliest years of their lives, in some ways by choosing a daycare program you are choosing a substitute parent for your kids. You cannot afford to make the decision about daycare lightly because I guarentee your kids will be shaped and formed by the daycare they attend.
My friend settled on a small, private daycare that was run by one woman out of her home. Her two children made a total of six children that she was watching each day. Our daycare provider had a clean home that was filled with a variety of educational toys for children of all ages. Twice a week she took all of the children to events somewhere outside her home. Perhaps they would attend a book reading at the local library or go to the park on a nice afternoon. We were happy that her daycare service prioritized feeding our children healthy foods and helping them have a healthy, active lifestyle right from the start.
Determine your priorities for daycare and then stick with them, because choosing a daycare for your kids is one of the most important decisions you can make for them.