Choosing a child care center is one of the most important decisions that parents have to make. The experiences a child has at the center will have long-term effects on his growth and development.
In a paper titled, u2018Whou2019s caring for our youngest children?u2019 authors Deborah Phillips and Gina Adams write: u201cOne of the most consistent findings in developmental research links the quality of care that young children receive to their well-being, developing skills and subsequent adjustment.u201d
The paper talks about the defining features of caregivers that are essential to have a positive impact on a childu2019s life. It highlights the point that: u201cBeneficial child outcomes are most likely when caregivers are responsive, warm, and sensitive to the children and surround them with rich language. Therefore, benefits are associated with the features of care that foster those interactions, such as small ratios of children to adults, as well as qualified and stable child care providers.u201d
So, how can parents and child care centers make sure that the caregivers are meeting the highest standards of service? A simple solution, for administrators of a center, can be choosing the right childcare management software. It can help a child care center provide the perfect environment for growth and learning. With features like easy scheduling, program and class management, instant chat or messaging with parents and teachers and journaling tools u2013 child care centers can meet the standards that researchers deem fit for child development.
Well-designed childcare management software tools, to assist with the management of a child care center, can help with:
– Meeting standards of child to teacher ratio
– Sharing and messaging tools can help foster parent-teacher engagement that benefits children
– Journaling tools can help parents stay involved in the daily activities of their child and monitor progress
– Effective, hassle-free management can leave more time in the hands of administrators to concentrate on children.
In the paper, the authors point out the fact that u201cresearchers who study variation in the quality of child care now focus on the interactions that transpire moment by moment between child care providers and the children in their care. Does the caregiver respond quickly to the childu2019s bids for attention or are they frequently ignored? Does she talk and read to the child a lot or just a little? Does she engage the child in age-appropriate activities and foster supportive friendships? Is she warm and affectionate or distant and harsh? Is she patient or easily overwhelmed by frustration?u201d
A child care center managed using the right childcare management software can easily help a parent and administrator get actionable answers to the above questions. Armed with the right information all stakeholders can work collectively to provide quality child care.