7 Things To Know About Childcare Enrollment in 2023 and How To Pick The Best One

The demand for quality childcare and early education for young children is rapidly increasing with each passing year. If you’re planning on enrolling your child in an early education center or local preschool in 2023, here are some things you should know about childcare enrollment, as well as some tips on choosing the best childcare center for you and your child.

#1 – Don’t Leave Enrollment Until the Last Minute

One of the most important considerations of childcare enrollment for 2023 is not to leave it too late. If you don’t get in early, your child could miss out on a place in your chosen early education childcare facility. Already, slots for 2023 are filling up fast, so if you want to enroll your child or children, it’s best to do so as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

#2 – Are You Eligible For the Childcare Subsidy?

Many parents of young children can offset some of the costs of childcare with the government’s Childcare Subsidy scheme. First, you need to check whether you are eligible to receive assistance and then choose a childcare facility that is approved under the scheme.

Parents who have more than one child under the age of 5 may be eligible to receive an even higher rate of childcare assistance.

The websites of many early learning centers will have a calculator where you can get an estimate of what the fees will be after the subsidy has been applied.

#3 – Visit the Center In Person Before Enrolling Your Child

Once you’ve found preschool child care near me in Bristow, VA (or wherever is local to you) it’s then best to visit the centre, you want to talk to the staff, have a look around, and observe for a while. This way, you’ll be able to see the interaction between the staff and the kids and also ascertain what the overall vibe is like.

Does everyone seem happy and content? Are the staff professional? Is the center clean, tidy, and organized? How many children are there per staff member?

While you’re there, it’s a good time to ask any questions you may have on your mind and to look over the center’s curriculum of activities.

#4 – Choose a Center That Promotes Good Nutrition

Many childcare centers have on-site chefs and provide delicious and healthy meals for the kids, but whether the center provides meals or not, you’ll want to know that they promote healthy eating and teach kids about good nutrition. Not only will you have peace of mind knowing that they’re in good hands at the center, but discovering more about nutrition will make your life at home easier when it comes to meal times as well.

#5 – Indoor and Outdoor Play Areas

Young kids want to have fun and there are many benefits to be gained through active playtime. Children learn a lot through various playtime activities but you won’t want your child cooped up indoors all day. Check that the center also has a safe and secure outdoor play area, where children get some fresh air and are surrounded by a bit of nature.

#6 – Does the Childcare Center Follow the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?

EYLF is the national learning curriculum for Australia and helps to ensure that young children all receive quality teaching and learning experiences in a comfortable and inclusive environment. EYLF is a guide for early education centers to follow and this is something you will want to check before enrolling your child in a particular center.

#7 – School Readiness Program

You’ll want to choose a center that offers the School Readiness Program. This program focuses on making sure preschool-aged children are as ready as they possibly can be for the school years to come.

School readiness is achieved on a number of levels, including learning the basics of core subjects such as math and English, developing social and interaction skills, learning to be confident communicators with both adults and other children and so much more.

The Takeaway

Do your research on early education centers in your area and create a checklist, pay the center a visit, check their curriculum of activities and then enroll your child as soon as possible once you’ve found the right center.

Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash