Finding A Good Child Care Center Now That We Are Returning To Work

Getting back to work is a big priority for many parents this year, especially moms. If your ability to return to work is contingent on finding a reliable childcare, you aren’t alone! Working parents across Florida rely on childcare. High-quality childcare is as beneficial for your child as it is for you.

Benefits of Child care

#1. Improves Kids’ Social, Emotional & Behavior Skills

Chilidcare is an enriching environment that improves children’s social, emotional, and behavioral skills. In childcare, children learn how to communicate and play with their peers, follow the rules in a classroom setting, and navigate big emotions like separation anxiety. A study published in 2018 found that childcare attendance predicts children’s emotional, social, and behavioral trajectories.

The study followed 1,428 children from infancy to age 8. The researchers found that children who attended a childcare center for at least a year were:
• More likely to have better peer relationships
• More likely to display prosocial behaviors (such as helpfulness, cooperation, empathy, and sharing)
• Less likely to have emotional problems than children cared for by family or friends.

#2. Boosts Kids’ Communication Skills

In childcare, children participate in a wide variety of games and activities with their peers and caregivers. As a result, they are challenged to improve their communication skills to express their needs, share thoughts and stories, and answer questions.

A study of 5-year olds found that children who attend childcare, especially many days a week, “develop more efficient communication skills because of the greater variety of social situations that they encounter.” In addition, they discovered that children who attended childcare frequently were better at verbal and non-verbal communication with kids their age and younger.

#3. Inspires Lifelong Learning

Childcare centers inspire children to become lifelong learners through play-based learning. Young children have a voracious appetite for knowledge. They want to understand the world around them and learn how to interact with it. Childcare providers create an ideal, safe environment for young learners to explore and learn. This may be why a 30-year study found that children who were enrolled in high-quality childcare as infants were four times more likely to earn a college degree. They also had more years of education total than their peers.

Signs of a High-Quality Childcare

All of the research on childcare agrees that quality matters. When you are looking for a childcare center, there are five key signs to look for:

#1. A Clean & Healthy Setting

The facility should look clean and have signs posted with their sanitation rules.

#2. Happy & Engaged Children & Staff

Caregivers should be patiently and actively interacting with students. Likewise, the majority of students should look happy or engaged instead of zoned out.

#3. A Stimulating Environment

You should see age-appropriate toys and activity stations. When you ask for a rundown of typical daily activities, their list should include reading, singing, talking, and dancing, along with other physical activities.

#4. Separation of Age Groups

Children should be separated into groups based on age or developmental stages: infants, toddlers, older children.

#5. Safety Measures

You shouldn’t see toys or crafts that are choking hazards or tripping hazards lying around. Strangers shouldn’t be able to enter the premises, and children shouldn’t be able to roam between rooms freely.

Choosing a high-quality childcare provider is important for you and your child. We hope to make your transition easier at Kids ‘R’ Kids Avalon Park! We are known for creating an atmosphere where education and safety are prioritized. Our dedicated, highly-trained teachers and staff’s love for children shines through our daily activities and events. Our convenient drop-off and pick-up ease your stress at the beginning and end of the day. Contact us to schedule a tour!