Comforts of Home
Home-based childcare is often more comfortable and comforting than other settings. It's more like a formalised play date or popping over to another family's home, cosy and lively. That sense of familiarity can be particularly comforting if your child is not feeling 100% or if the weather is miserable.
It's also easy to follow your child's usual routines in a home situation such as sleep and meal times and they'll enjoy typical real-life experiences like going out for walks to playgrounds and parks, helping to bake biscuits, collecting the mail or hanging out washing.
Many parents also value that their children learn to be careful and considerate in another person’s space, as well as seeing how other families operate, learning that everybody does things differently.
Small Group Size
Group size and child-to-adult ratios are important factors to consider in childcare. Centres can be crowded, whereas home-based care enables lots of one-to-one interaction, fostering strong bonds and emotional development. They can have up to four children under six, with no more than two children under two years old so learning can easily be orientated to your child’s needs, personality and interests.
There are plenty of opportunities to socialise and interact with other children during activities outside of the home, whether it's at music groups, playgroups or sports.
Quality
Educators will also have supervisors and programme coordinators to offer additional support.
Home-based educators are experienced and/or qualified in providing child-led, age appropriate activities that are specifically tailored to your child’s interests and strengths.
You might also be able to take advantage of opportunities to choose an educator that speaks your home language to your child or has other particular skills to contribute to their learning experiences.
Flexibility
If you've got children of mixed ages, the flexibility of home-based care also works well, so your baby and four year old child can be cared for together.
School Readiness