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 Centre-based options provide care services outside of the home. There are advantages as well as disadvantages to these choices. Depending on the personality and age of your child, several of the centre-based services may suit you and your child - here are some of the choices available to you:
Many of the centres follow and comply with a strict guideline for services. Find out more.
Parents who are planning to use the professional care options offered by childcare centres can consider reading the following publications:
- Choosing a Child Care Centre for your Child
- Guidelines for First-Timers
- More than Just Babysitting
- Learning Through Play
Infant Care Services
For children aged between 2 months to 18 months, there are childcare centres that provide special services for infants and toddlers - both full- and half-day care programs are available.
As a reliable care option, centre-based infant care providers strive to meet and develop the physical, cognitive and psychosocial needs of the infant in a safe and favourable environment.
Staff have specialised training to work with infants. Each infant care centre is also required to employ a state registered nurse or qualified infant care teacher to attend to the health and safety requirements of the infants.
The Ministry regulates and licenses childcare programmes through the Child Care Centres Act and Regulations, and governs childcare programmes incorporating infant care services.
Childcare centres providing infant care services are required to comply with other requirements as specified in the guideline.
For a list of centres providing infant care services, click here and select Infant Care Programme under Service Programme Type.
Child Care Centres
Childcare centres provide full day and half-day care programmes to children below the age of 7 years. Some centres offer flexible childcare programmes to cater to the diverse work arrangements of parents who work part-time of flexible hours.
Childcare programmes offer a holistic learning experience for children. Childcare centres and parents work together as partners to optimise the child's physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.
Find out more about:
Choosing a Child Care Centre
When you are considering choosing a child care centre, there are a few important questions you should ask:
- Is the arrangement convenient?
- Is the arrangement likely to be permanent?
- Is the arrangement within my budget?
- Will my spouse and I be happy with the arrangement?
- Will my child be happy with the arrangement?
- Will my child receive good care?
- Can I trust the centre?
If you are likely to say yes to all or most of these questions, the care arrangement for your children is probably a good one.
To search for a child care centre, click here.
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Advantages
Children in childcare centres are introduced to group activities as well as organised daily schedules, which can help to enhance their physical, social, intellectual and emotional development. Childcare centres also provide the opportunity for children to interact with other children of the same age group, building network and social skills.
Parents can be assured that
- the centres meet the basic standards of healthcare, safety precautions, food quality as well as security measures as they are licensed and regulated by the government, and that there will be ample supervision and
- reliable care are provided in the centres due to the presence of multiple caregivers and
- the teachers are qualified caregivers trained in early childhood education courses, that are recognised by the government.
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Disadvantages
There is no personalised care as the teachers and caregivers need to look after a group of children. So your children will be given limited individual attention at the centre. Children can also be prone to illnesses in group-care settings because the chances of exposure to common contagious diseases are higher in an environment when children are together for a long time.
For centres with high staff turnover rate, the children have to adjust to new faces frequently which may make it difficult to adapt.
However, starting from January 2003, some childcare centres are offering regular flexible care programmes to allow more choices over timing of periods when you need this care option.
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Preparing your children
Introduce your children to the childcare experience gradually. Make sure that they are prepared for what will happen so that they will feel more secure. Talk about the experience before and visit the centre together even before registration. Give your children a chance to get used to the situation. Your children may want to just sit and watch before joining the childcare centre.
You must also be prepared for a possible show of extreme behaviour from your children. It is important for you and the staff to work together and help your children overcome this fear. To help your children adjust better, you can be around to observe for the first couple of sessions in the new centre, decreasing your duration of stay over time. Most centres will encourage this because they know it will ease the transition process for the children.
Your attitude to the change is critical as it affects the children's acceptance to the arrangement. It is vital that you do not show your own insecurity, fear or distrust towards the centre. If you do, this will be transferred to your children and will make the change to this care option extremely difficult.
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Being involved
Take an active interest and be involved in your children's development at the centre. Your children benefit emotionally from this as parent involvement at the centre bridges the relationship between the home and the centre. You will also be able to really discover the meaning and value of the activities that your children undertake at the centre.
If the centre attended by your children has a parent group, do attend its meetings. If there is no parent group, you should encourage the centre to set up one. Speak to the centre regarding any problems or doubts about your children's behaviour, progress and other issues. Open communication between the centre and yourself will go a long way towards building a strong partnership.
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Student Care Services
Once your children enter primary school, you can consider the option of entrusting them to a professional at a Student Care Centre. These centres provide care and activities to enhance your children's physical, intellectual, emotional, social and moral development. At the centre, your children will enjoy play, enrichment and recreational activities. Parents can rest assured that the programmes also cater for supervision of your children's homework.
No particular centre is recommended by the Ministry, so parents are advised to check with the individual centres thoroughly before making their selection.
Student Care Centres usually open from
Monday : Friday: 7:30am or earlier to 6:30pm or later
Saturday: 7:30am or earlier to 1:30pm or later
Find out more:
To search for a Student Care Centre, click here.
Advantages
The centres run educational and other programmes aimed at enhancing a child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development and provide the opportunity for children to socialise with other children of the same age group.
Centres provide a conducive environment for educational and recreational activities and keep your children constructively occupied with supervised study time and group activities. This will reduce the likelihood of being exposed to negative influences.
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Disadvantages
The cost of student-care services can be high, especially during school vacation when enrichment programmes are included. As well, some centres do not provide tutoring of schoolwork. Parents may have to hire private tutors, which is an additional expense for parents.
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Preparing your children
Your child may prefer to be at home or in a familiar environment where he feels more at ease, so introduce the concept and experience gradually. Try putting your children in a centre near their school, so that it's easy for them to access and to adapt.
Monitor your children's behaviour to see if there are signs of discontent or unhappiness. If these things persist, you may have to change the care arrangement. Your attitude towards the centre makes a big impact on your children. Always be positive about the experience and your children will have an easier time in adjusting.
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Being involved
Take an active interest and be involved in your children's development at the centre. A child benefits emotionally from this as parent involvement at the centre bridges the relationship between the home and the centre.
Make yourself available when the centre organises talks, open house or exhibitions. Volunteer to help the centre supervise children during excursions and homework. Feel free to give feedback on programmes and activities conducted by the centre as well as on the progress of your children.
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