Childcare Choices: How to Make an Informed Decision
Enrolling your child in an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program can result in various benefits for both your child and family. But dedicating time to explore those benefits, assessing what your family’s unique childcare needs may be, and finding the best childcare option while balancing work, finances, and family needs is a difficult task. Here, we’re providing some quick insights to help you start your child’s journey.
Why should I consider childcare for my child?
High-quality ECE programs are important in a child’s cognitive and social emotional development including improved attentiveness, regulated emotions, and developed social connections. These skills prepare children for success in the transition to kindergarten and beyond. Enrolling your child in a high-quality ECE program from an early age sets them up for lifelong success.
When is the right time to think about enrolling in a childcare program?
As soon as you’re ready! However, it’s important to know that availability at childcare centers is often limited. Many families begin considering childcare options this winter in advance of enrollment next fall, which is the start of a new school year in many programs. Starting the process early often positions your family to explore your options and make an informed decision instead of being restricted by limited availability.
What are my childcare options?
Each family’s situation is unique, and there are many childcare options based on your family’s needs. Although there are many barriers to accessing high-quality, affordable Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole, there are also many resources available to you. To identify the best option for your family, let’s explore a few things to consider:
- Financial Considerations: If affording high-quality ECE is of concern to your family, you aren’t alone. Recognizing an overwhelming need for affordable early childcare in the country, there are government options such as subsidies and financial assistance available to help cover childcare costs. The Child Care Works (CCW) – Subsidized Child Care Program is one example, helping pay for childcare while families work or attend an education program. Check with your local government to see other options that may be offered. Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning recognizes this need and provides weekday care and education for children from six weeks to age 5 from qualifying families with all costs covered. CHS has operating Pennsylvania locations in Hershey and Harrisburg with plans to open centers in Middletown in 2025 and in Lancaster County beginning in 2026.
- Schedule Considerations: Consider whether enrolling in a full-time or part-time program is best for your family. In doing so, consider choosing a five-day, full-day Early Childhood Education Center, which can significantly benefit your child’s development. Consistent, structured learning enhances cognitive skills, social interactions, and emotional well-being. A five-day schedule can be instrumental in preparing your child for future academic and personal successes. A consistent learning environment provides teachers adequate time to get to know their children and families, resulting in quality care and the ability to build strong relationships. Children develop socially through regular interactions with trusted peers and adults. Children feel secure and confident through this stability. Five-day ECE also adds a peace of mind to families due to its consistency and easing of work-life balance.
- Finding the Right Program: Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s important to trust your own instincts in what feels right for your family. Use your senses when touring or receiving information about an Early Childhood Education Center by observing things such as the classroom layout, cleanliness, and how teachers and staff are interacting with children. Listen for laughter, play, and a positive, nurturing, tone of voice at an appropriate volume level. Take a minute to notice if the smell is clean and pleasant. Think of a list of questions to ask regarding key features of the childcare center. If desired, use this tip sheet as a guide.
- Additional Supports: Enrolling in a program that values a whole child approach can create benefits for both you and your child. Whole child supports prioritize the full scope of children’s needs such as providing resources like diapers, wipes, sunscreen, dental items, meals, and transportation. Many childcare programs ask families to provide these resources out of their own pockets. If this is a concern, know that there are programs that provide on-site meals and other supports to ensure your child has access to their basic needed supplies.
- Outside the Classroom: Programs that follow a family success approach extend supports beyond the classroom and partner with the child’s family to advance other important areas of their lives. These dedicated staff members can help families identify areas of needed support such as house safety, establish goals such as buying a home, and connect to resources such as educational experiences. Some examples include monthly education events offering a session for families to attend during the school day, informational lists and handouts to assist families in accessing community resources, holding in-person resource fairs for families to learn about and engage with community partners, and a direct point of contact to help answer questions driven by families, outreach, and engagement. If you need such resources to aid in your child’s education and your own personal growth, consider a program that offers a family success approach like CHS.
- Taking Action: It’s important to be proactive in finding an Early Childhood Education setting that works best for you and your child. Many programs begin enrolling far in advance of opening and fill up quickly. If a program you are interested in has a waitlist, sign up to be on it. It doesn’t hurt to be on multiple waitlists as openings can come up unexpectedly. Typically, programs open in fall, so now is a great time to start considering which ECE program is best for you and your child.
Taking these few tips into account is a good starting point in making an informed decision in childcare enrollment for your child. Consider your finances and a five-day program, trust your instincts when touring or receiving information about a program, look into approaches such as whole child and family success supports if they apply to you, and be proactive in your search. Resources such as Compass can assist in finding the right childcare program for you. More information on admissions and the admissions process at CHS can be found here.
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