The Benefits of In-Home Child Care
Recent statistics show that the number of families with both parents in the workforce is steadily increasing in Australia. From 59% in 2007, the percentage of working parents rose to 64% after a decade.
Given these figures, it’s not surprising that the demand for child care is not only growing but expanding to accommodate the desires and changing needs of families. While centre-based day care is still the most popular option, you should not discount the value of in home child care.
What is In-Home Child Care?
As the term suggests, in-home care is a type of child care wherein your son or daughter is cared for in your own home by experienced and highly-trained educators. This option is best suited for parents who do not have a fixed schedule at work or for families who live in areas that do not have access to centre-based day care programs.
In-home child care also suits families with complex needs that cannot otherwise be met by traditional types of care. For instance, the child suffers from a severe medical condition. In this case, sending him or her to a day care centre could not only worsen the child’s health but can also put other children at risk.
What are the Benefits of Choosing in Home Child Care?
In-home child care offers numerous benefits that may not be found in the most common child care options such as the following:
- Quality of Care
Home-based care allows your child to receive the utmost attention from the teacher or caregiver compared to day care facilities. Apart from the opportunity to bond, the educator can also focus and learn more about the child’s needs, strengths, limitations, and interests in this type of setting.
Note that knowing more about the child can significantly help the caregiver in providing more appropriate and responsive care, which is lacking in ordinary day care centres with a high caregiver to child ratio. Verbal interactions are also more frequent, thereby helping your child’s communication skills.
In addition to providing customized care, in-home care provides you with the opportunity to work and partner with the educator better. You and the care provider can exchange information, share insights, and create a plan that will be most beneficial to your child.
- Security
Whether they can articulate it or not, children feel more secure and safe when they are inside their own homes than in an unfamiliar place. They are also more free to express their individuality and not be forced to alter who they are just to fit in as they may experience in child care centres with plenty of kids.
- Flexibility
Day-care facilities have a standard schedule that you need to follow, which can be problematic if the timetable does not coincide with yours. If you need child care in different hours, or you have varying needs that cannot be accommodated by standard child care options, in-home care is a good option. Note that you’re in control of the level of care and schedule in home-based child care.
Given the discussion above, it’s clear how in home child care can benefit families. If you believe that this option will best address your needs, make sure to find a reputable in-home care support agency who will connect you with highly-trained and experienced educators and in-home care services.
