Two working parents has become a common setup in most families today. Society has become open-minded with the need for mothers to help provide for the family. Thus, proper child-rearing has been a strong and primary concern for working parents, especially if children have reached school age. The parents’ responsibility is to find reputable institutions or individuals which will provide the proper childcare that the children needs in playgroup.
The fact is most childcare facilities are run extremely well, with hard working, dedicated and totally professional staff in playgroup Singapore who love what they do and are good at their job. For the 4% of nurseries, childminders and creches who remain unsatisfactory, lessons could certainly be learnt from the vast majority who do such an excellent job in educating and looking after our children.
Childcare Options
Childcare refers to the supervision of children in the absence of parents or guardians. Childcare is called for when there are minors in the house who need taking care of. When parents are away from work, the childcare provider shall act as the second parent. In some cases, parents require childcare for children when they need to spend quality time together away from home.
Depending on the situations of parents and the age of the children, childcare may be an every day or occasional requirement. Childcare may be done in the home of the kids, in the home of the childcare provider or in an established childcare or daycare centre.
Most parents choose in-home childcare such as the nanny, babysitter, au pair and governess because of the belief that their home is safer for the children.
The Nanny
In the old days, nannies are employed only by the rich or the aristocrats. Nowadays, many families employ nannies for childcare, excluding the traditional concept of a nanny who wears a uniform.
A nanny is an individual who looks after children to provide the necessary childcare. Basic duties include childcare during the agreed hours set by the employer; supporting the intellectual and social development of the children; protection of the children from harm; meal preparations; proper communication with the employers; and sometimes maintenance of cleanliness of the home.
The nanny may be hired as a live-in or live-out employee on a full-time basis. Formal training is not commonly required but advantageous. Parents prefer a nanny who has previous on-the-job experience.
The Babysitter
Unlike a nanny, a babysitter is hired on a part-time basism usually when the parents are still at work or out on weekends. Babysitting requires no formal training. Mostly, babysitters are teenagers who need the extra money. While training is not required, babysitters should have the right skills in times of emergency.
Choosing the right childcare option for the family takes considerable time and extensive research. It is noteworthy to consider that parents should never depend on childcare providers alone to support the growth of children. More importantly, parents must remain to balance time to be with the children in their growing up years.
