Alright parents, I need to tap into the hive mind on this one.
My partner and I have officially dived into the deep, dark, and frankly terrifying ocean of choosing a daycare for our little Sienna, who just turned two. We’re both working full-time, so this isn’t just a ‘nice to have for socialisation’ thing, it’s a ‘we need to keep our jobs’ thing! We’re in Melbourne and every centre we call seems to have a waitlist that stretches into the next decade.
I swear it was simpler back in the day. My mum just picked the one down the road and that was that. Now I’m reading about different ‘learning philosophies’ and ‘pedagogical approaches’ and my marketing brain is short-circuiting. Is it just me or does it feel like you need a PhD to decipher it all? One place talked about ‘child-led inquiry’ and I just wanted to ask if that includes my daughter’s current inquiry into how many crayons she can fit up her nose.
So, for those who have survived this quest: what actually matters? Beyond a clean facility and staff who seem to genuinely like children, what are the green flags you looked for? Or better yet, what are the subtle red flags that made you run for the hills? Did you just go with your gut, or did you make a spreadsheet? (Asking for a friend who is definitely me and loves spreadsheets). Any and all advice appreciated before I go completely spare!