IN Bethel Park Summer 2019 | Page 53

INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PARENTING
SPONSORED CONTENT
Child Care
Prep Tips for
Parents-to-Be
E
xpectant parents have a lot on their minds from shopping
for playpens, to stocking up on diapers, to baby proofing the
house. They also have to make a decision about child care. If
both parents are going back to work after the baby’s arrival, one thing
that must be added to the checklist is finding high-quality child care.
Start Early
The best time to begin researching child care providers for your
infant is before your child is born. It might sound a little silly to begin
your search so early, but there are a few good reasons to do so. Many
families reserve their children’s spots early on, creating long waiting
lists at many child care providers. A mom-to-be who waits until the
last trimester may encounter some restriction in going out and taking
a tour, especially if she needs bed rest. The sooner you find a provider
that you are comfortable with, the sooner you can relax and enjoy the
time with your newborn.
Location
Another factor to consider is location. You may feel more
comfortable having a child care provider close to home, but you’ll
need to think about whether this creates problems with picking your
child up on time after work due to traffic. You could also choose a
location closer to your work, but this could create problems if you
ever work from home. If you choose to breast feed, it is more practical
to pick a location near your workplace, this way you may be able to
go to your baby and nurse. Find out the designated area for breast
feeding and if there is a quiet place where you can do this. A few
other questions to ask is which parent will be primarily responsible
for dropping off and picking up your child, or will you share that role.
If you’re sharing the role perhaps you should find a child care provider
that is centrally located.
Health & Safety
There is nothing more important than your child’s safety, and when
it comes to health and safety there is no question too big or small.
Find out if proper hand washing techniques are being utilized. Go
ahead and ask about diapering procedures, and whether the location
is cleaned every day by a professional. Be clear about any illness
policy that determines when children are too ill to attend. Take a tour
and see for yourself if the environment is clean and inviting. With all
of the concern over immunizations these days, it’s important to ask if
the school requires a medical screen and updated immunizations in
order to enroll a child, and if the teachers have to provide a medical
screen as well.
Director and Teacher Qualifications
You’ll certainly want to find out if the school employs teachers with
education and experience in Early Childhood Education. Don’t assume
that the school requires ongoing teacher training and development,
ask about their plans for ongoing professional development. Make
sure to inquire whether teachers are required to have first aid/CPR
training. It’s important to know if children are supervised by sight and
sound at all times and if the group sizes are small. Smaller group sizes
and low teacher-to-child ratios ensure better supervision and safety.
These ratios vary from state to state, so inquire about regulations.
Getting a third party opinion is not a bad idea either. You shouldn’t
base your decision solely on that, but getting input from friends and
family definitely helps in making a decision. To get a real sense of what
the typical day is like at the child care provider, you should also make it
a point to visit during hours of operation. Plan ahead by asking about
other classrooms as well so that you can see the program that your
child will attend as he/she grows.
READY.
SET.
GOddard!
We help children explore
and discover their interests
through play in a safe
environment. We provide
ample opportunities for
fun learning experiences,
promoting a lifelong love of
learning in literacy, science,
technology, engineering,
arts and mathematics.
NOW ENROLLING ALL AGES,
INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN!
PETERS TOWNSHIP (VENETIA) • 724-941-6464
PITTSBURGH (UPPER SAINT CLAIR) • 412-564-3600
This Industry Insight was written by Bob & Lori Santo.
Bob & Lori Santo are the owners of The Goddard School®,
located at 825 East McMurray Road in Peters Township,
724.941.6464, and 655 Painters Run Road, Upper St. Clair,
412.564.3600. Goddard offers both full- and part-time
infant/preschool/kindergarten programs. For more
information, visit www.goddardschools.com/Pittsburgh.
GoddardSchool.com
The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with
Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited.
© Goddard Systems, Inc. 2018
BETHEL PARK
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SUMMER 2019
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