Do You And Your Child's Other Parent Prefer Different Day Care Programs? 3 Tips To Reach An Agreement
Whether you live together or co-parent from separate homes, one thing that you and your child's other parent can always agree on is that your kid deserves the very best. However, you may both have very different ideas regarding what constitutes the best choices to foster your child's development. Disagreements regarding childcare arrangements are not uncommon, and you can use these strategies to reach an agreement that gives your child the best start in life.
Arrange For Private Time to Talk
As parents, it's too easy to make the mistake of trying to hold an essential discussion while you are busy with other activities. However, you and your child's other parent need more time to talk than just a quick discussion over dinner or during a drop-off at the door. You may also prefer to avoid letting your child hear anything negative that one of you might say about a specific program that could influence their adjustment once they start going to a learning center. If possible, arrange for a time when you can sit down together without the kids to discuss your options. This is also a great time to arrange to take a tour of a day care learning center together so that you can both receive the same first impression.
Prioritize Safety
Naturally, you need to know that your child is safe while they are in the learning program. You can start by choosing centers that are licensed and focus on providing their staff with the highest possible levels of training. Ideally, any center that you choose should have a list of safety protocols in place that help the staff to maintain a sanitary environment. You can also check the history of the center by looking at background reports to make sure that they have passed inspections and do not have frequent negative reports from investigations.
Make a List of Must-Haves
Once you create a list of centers that you deem safe, you can narrow your options further by looking for a day care that fits the rest of you and your child's other parent's priorities. For instance, you may prefer to have a center that is located between both of your homes or workplaces. Alternatively, you may be looking for a center that provides a specific type of learning program, such as one that focuses on reading or science. Sit down and compare your two lists of must-haves to find a center that fits as many as possible.
You both need to know that the place where your child spends the majority of their time fits your goals as parents. By working through the day care selection process carefully, you can avoid squabbles and reach an agreement that makes everyone happy, especially your child.
For more information, contact a local day care center such as Chris Learning Center.