My SuNnY SiDe uP NooK: Choosing A Childcare Provider

Choosing the best childcare provider for your child (note: not the best daycare in town) is tough. Paying a visit from one daycare to another is not enough. It needs extensive research, reading reviews, asking for references, etc.

But one thing I have learned/realized if not for this incident I had witnessed: your child should be HAPPY.

Are kids happy in daycare? Kids are going to act better when they are happy at daycare. If possible, go on a field trip or other longer-term outing and observe kids to see if they are mostly happy most of the time. Your gut feeling about your child's overall happiness and the quality of care being received may give you the greatest peace of mind. If you don't get that feeling of comfort, it may be time to seriously evaluate your options. There are countless qualified, loving and engaged providers who would love to care for kids!

What I have realized too is that a prestigious/private pre-k school may not always be the best for your child. Finding the right care provider for your child is the best childcare. Like I have said: your child should be happy. If your child is not happy how could he/she learn?

Second, finding the learning style of your child is important. In my personal opinion children at a very young age shouldn't be taught to count 1 to 10 or ABC. There's nothing wrong with it. While it may work for other kids doesn't mean it will work for your child.

Right now, I just want Foster to be happy. I am a firm believer of the Law of Readiness. I don't want to force Foster to learn if he's not ready yet.

I don't feel bad anymore for what I had witnessed this morning. In fact, if not for that I wouldn't realize what I had just realized today. I don't care anymore if I took Foster to the daycare full of toys. He have a lot of time ahead of him to learn what he needs to learn. He will learn by experiences and observations. He will learn from his friends and classmates. He will learn when he is ready to learn.

I trust my gut feeling more than ever before. Indeed, mother knows best.