IN Moon Township Winter 2018 | Page 19

EARLY EDUCATION
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
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 babyproofing 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
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
READY.
SET.
GOddard!
We help children explore and
discover their interests through
play in a safe environment. Highly
trained teachers gently guide
and encourage children every
step of the way as they grow,
develop and achieve important
milestones.
CALL TODAY!
MOON TOWNSHIP • 412-262-1821
800 Commerce Avenue
a location closer to your work, but this could create problems if
you ever work from home. If you choose to breastfeed, 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 breastfeeding and whether there is a quiet place for you to do
it. Another question to answer 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 handwashing techniques are being utilized. 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 whether 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 its plans for ongoing professional
development. Make sure to inquire whether teachers are required to
have first aid/CPR training. It’s important to know whether children
are supervised by sight and sound at all times and if the group sizes
are small. Smaller group sizes and low teacher-to-children 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 you can see the program
that your child will attend as he/she grows.
This Industry Insight was written by Dina Speranza &
Carol Maier. They are the owners of The Goddard School®,
located at 800 Commerce Avenue in Moon Township.
Goddard offers both full- and part-time Infant/Preschool/
Kindergarten programs. For more information, visit
goddardschool.com/Pittsburgh or call 412.262.1821.
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. 2018.
License #00110527 , # 102804800-0001
MOON TOWNSHIP
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WINTER 2018
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