'I'm a childcare educator and these are the questions I want more parents to ask.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Only About Children

As a mum of two little ones in childcare, I know only too well that choosing a childcare centre for your children is a mammoth decision. And that's only with the practical factors to consider: complicating matters are the mixed emotions that go hand-in-hand with having a child start childcare for the first time: a mix of anxiety, relief, guilt and excitement that's enough to give anyone a sore tummy.

There's a good reason it feels like a weighty decision, though. Setting your child up with positive experiences at childcare is essential for their wellbeing and growth, so unlike some parenting choices ("should my baby try pumpkin or apple puree first?"), this one actually matters.

If there's one person who understands the pressure on parents to choose the right childcare for their children, it's Renee Connaghan. Renee is a mum of three herself, but she's also worked in childcare for 20 years, including as an educator, a centre director, and currently now the Regional Operations Lead of Only About Children. As a result, she's no stranger to the overwhelm that accompanies sending a child to childcare for the first time.

"It's not lost on me that it's a leap of faith," she told Mamamia of parents trusting Only About Children with their children. "We know that we do a good job, but the parents don't know we do a good job. Trust is something we, as educators, have to work hard to gain." And that's not all: "Services can be busy, noisy, overstimulating," she said. "That can be nerve-wracking for parents — all of a sudden a big noisy environment with lots of children, lots of different needs."

Renee is passionate about helping parents feel empowered when choosing a childcare service, which is why I asked her to share all the questions parents should be asking when they're testing the waters.

What are the values of the childcare service?

One of the first questions that parents should be asking, in Renee's view, is whether the values of the service reflect their own.

"What is important to the service, what do they value? You want to know about the curriculum, but it's not just about activities and experiences — the emphasis should be on the wellbeing of the child." Renee advised that parents look for a service like Only About Children that prioritises holistic development — not just academic, but social and emotional.

She also recommends looking for a centre that supports children from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs (and actually walks the walk): part of the reason she loves Only About Children is the offering of in-house allied health specialists to engage with parents and children who need an extra helping hand.

How does the service prepare children for school?

"School readiness begins at birth, it's all just foundational and building blocks upon building blocks," she told Mamamia. "Educators should be supporting children to develop an appreciation of their own significance in the world — a strong foundation upon which every other learning experience for the rest of their lives can be built — and they should be able to articulate that to you."

That's the focus of Only About Children's Grow Curriculum, guided by the EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework and NQS). It emphasises whole-child development through play-based, small-group learning that's tailored to each child.

It delivers all the benefits of school readiness with extended hours beyond the 9am to 3pm program structure. Children can enjoy the continuity of care they enjoyed as a toddler with a full day of social development and learning outcomes, plus the added flexibility of longer hours that many families need while juggling paid work.

How does the service communicate with parents?

"I cringe when I hear educators tell parents, 'They had a fun day.' Parents want to hear something specific about their child, they want to know you've spent time with their child and know their child," Renee said. "That connection and quality of relationship underpins everything else an educator does."

When touring a centre and asking which forms of communication are encouraged for parents, communication apps will be a buzzy topic (and for good reason!). They're a wonderful resource to keep you connected to your child's learning and development throughout the day, particularly when parents may need quick pick-ups or drop-offs that make in-person handovers with educators tricky to time.

Renee explained that every day, each Only About Children Campus Team will send updates on your child's routine and progress with photos and videos on a platform called Storypark. These updates are also conveniently linked directly to each child's Grow Curriculum learning outcomes.

"They grow up so fast — we don't want you to miss a moment," Renee said.

"We have an open-door policy, so to make sure we also stay connected to each of our families, we love bringing parents and caregivers in for family events like barbecues and morning teas, as well as having them join our incursions and excursions. Families can also meet other families too, and celebrate their children's milestones together."

How does the service make parents' lives easier?

Let's face it — we're all busy. When parents are looking for childcare, they're prioritising social and emotional wellbeing, but it doesn't hurt if a centre's offering also helps shoulder some of the mental load of parenting, and help get you out the front door easier. Only About Children has dietitian-designed seasonal menus, so parents know their little ones are eating balanced meals (which they don't have to make themselves. Big win!), including a welcome nutritious breakfast and late afternoon snack.

The daily essentials like nappies, bottles, formula, lunch meals, bedding and sunscreen are all provided, making bag-packing a breeze.

How does the service make you feel?

"The way that staff behave when interacting with children, parents and each other is a key indicator of the quality of the centre," Renee advised Mamamia.

Renee advised that sometimes you may not get enough of a sense of a centre from a single 15-minute tour. It can help to book a second tour, just to make sure the rhythm of the centre — and the way you feel in it — stays consistent. Renee recommends you also look for a childcare that offers an over-and-above opportunity to invest extra time in your visit, and to answer your questions.

For example, Only About Children offer Tour, Stay & Play experiences to have you bring your child, and spend more time getting to know the service. You can meet the team, stay for a play-based activity or some morning tea with your child, and have all your burning questions answered.

"There are so many opportunities for childcare now. If a service doesn't make you feel welcome, if they feel rushed, if they don't greet you by your name, if they don't sit you down and talk to you and take their time with you, then it's not the place for you."

Renee's takeaway message? "I would really just say for parents to just trust their gut feeling. If you're not sure, keep looking," she said. "A child won't settle in a new service until the parent is settled."

"I say to all parents: for me, I'm working towards their child (and the family) to look at the campus as an extension of their home. The objective in the long run is that the child moves from one place where they're loved and adored to the next place they're loved and adored and they cross that with ease."

Find an Only About Children campus near you in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and book a tour.

Feature image: Supplied.

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