FINDING CHILDCARE:What does all of this mean?
Finding affordable, high-quality daycare during the traditional 9-5 workday can be hard enough, but finding the right daycare for parents who work non-traditional hours can be even more difficult. Luckily, Centers like us have begun offering more flexible scheduling options to meet the needs of parents who work overnights or on rotating schedules. Kairo Kids Childcare is where you and your family need to be!!! Here’s a little more information to help you as a parent know your needs.
Part-time childcare
It can be difficult for families to find providers that care for children on a part-time basis— only a few days a week or only part of the day. It may take a bit of searching, but there are options for families who only need care part-time.
* Drop-in daycare is an option at more and more daycare centers and in-home childcare programs. Typically, you would need to register your child in advance and call ahead of time to make sure there is space for your child on the day you need care. One downside to drop- in care (sometimes called “emergency daycare” or “back-up daycare”) is that it can be unreliable at times, as spaces may only be available if a full-time child is out for the day. It’s important to discuss your needs with any Center you’re considering to ensure drop-in care will work for you.
- In-home daycare centers may also have flexible scheduling options and may accommodate a part-time schedule.
- Often both options will charge a daily or hourly rate for part-time families.
Overnight childcare
For parents who work overnight shifts, finding childcare can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. More and more providers are starting to offer 24-hour scheduling options, which include late-night or overnight care.
You’ll typically hear these care arrangements referred to as “overnight daycare” or “24-hour daycare.” 24-hour care is typically found at in-home daycare centers but some centers offer overnight options, too.
Overnight daycare centers may also provide options for weekend care, so be sure to ask about scheduling options when talking with potential 24-hour childcare centers.
In general, overnight care as any time after 7:00 p.m.
Weekend daycare
For parents who work on the weekends, finding a daycare center can take a bit of research, but there are options out there.
Many centers and in-home daycares, especially those that offer 24-hour scheduling options, are beginning to meet the growing need for weekend care. Additionally, community organizations or after-school programs may also offer weekend programming for families who need childcare on a Saturday or Sunday.
Daycare vs. a babysitter
If you work a rotating schedule or have irregular hours, you may worry about finding a flexible enough provider to meet your needs. For some families, having a one-on-one caregiver such as a nanny or babysitter at home may be the best option, but there are some things to consider when deciding between daycare and a nanny or babysitter.
- Children benefit from the socialization that daycare provides. Learning to be part of a group and to share and take turns are essential skills that help prepare children for school.
- A nanny or babysitter may have to cancel last minute if their child is sick or if they are sick themselves. You may need to have a backup plan in case your caregiver can’t make it on any given day.
- Daycares often provide meals and snacks, field trips and extra curricula’s just as we do at Kairo Kids Childcare.Some even provide diapers or formula, which is a huge benefit for busy parents.
If you live in Ohio, you can use this parent tool in locating Care according to your needs: https://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/families.stm
OR AN EVEN BETTER IDEA!!!
You can search our website for everything from drop in care to curriculum and even enroll! We are a high-quality, affordable Summit County, OH Childcare Center, that cares for children in all surrounding areas. We are here for both the conventional and unconventional family and parents who work non-traditional hours, who goes to school or just needs a break ! Contact us today to find out more information by phone: 1-330-486-5203 or feel free to browse our website: www.kairokids.com. We look forward to hearing from you !!
