If your child is of age to go to school and you won't be home from work by the time they get off the bus, you are going to have to look into some daycare or after-school options for your child. While it might be possible to hire someone that advertises babysitting or child care services, there's another more organized and professional option you could consider and that's sending your kid to a child learning center. Here's what you need to know to see if this decision would be the right one for you and your family.
Experience With Early Childhood Education
While your babysitter might have experience watching other kids, are they actually certified to work with kids in early childhood? A child learning center is set up almost like a school in that it provides dedicated caretakers who are professionally trained on how to talk to and interact with young kids. Your old babysitter was probably just fine for the job but a child learning center can take your child's experience to a different level.
Give Your Child Opportunities to Socialize
When you send your kid home after school with a babysitter or make your kid go to the babysitter's house, there might not be much opportunity to talk to other kids his or her own age. When you send your child to a learning center, your child will be surrounded by other kids who are likely in the same age group. This will provide an opportunity to socialize and interact with other kids, building valuable social skills that will benefit your child as he or she gets older.
A Set Schedule Establishes a Routine
A child learning center can provide structure to your child's after-school experience. There will likely be a set schedule your child follows every day. Perhaps they get some time to play and unwind after school but then it's study or homework time. There might be group activities where your child can further their education in some way while still having fun with the other kids. Establishing a set routine early on in life can encourage your kid to maintain good time management skills as they get older.
Continue Your Child's Education After School
There's nothing wrong with letting your kid watch a movie with the babysitter after school but if you want your child to get ahead and stay ahead of the pack as they move through their education, enrolling them in a child learning center is the way to go. Contact a local child learning center today to discuss your needs.
