It’s become much more common for both parents to have a career instead of staying home with their children. Fortunately, there are many child care options for working parents. It’s important to find the one that works best for you and your family.
Common Child Care Challenges for Working Parents
Balancing a career and family isn’t impossible, but it can be difficult without some help. These are some challenges you might experience in your desire to juggle parenting and holding a career together.
- Child care can become expensive if you’re working a full-time schedule.
- You may feel like you aren’t spending enough time with your child.
- You could be struggling to achieve work/life balance.
- Child care options might fall through if your child gets sick.
- Work productivity might decrease without child care.
Nowadays, multiple types of child care services exist — including preschools, nannies, and daycare centers. In this way, parents can somehow find time to take care of their work without neglecting their children’s needs.
5 Child Care Options for Working Parents
The different child care options for working parents each have their sets of pros and cons. Read further to figure out which daycare or daycare alternative appeals to you.
Sign up for daycare.
Daycare can be a great option because your child can socialize with other children their age and learn to interact with people who aren’t related to them. Many daycares are also open on weekends so parents who need to put in more time at the office will have peace of mind knowing that their kids are in good hands.
Enroll in preschool.
Preschool introduces subject-focused activities and tasks that help children prepare for kindergarten. For working parents who lack the time to teach their children the basics of English, Math, and Science at home, enrolling their kids in preschool will bring many benefits. In addition, the majority of the staff will likely have childcare qualifications, allowing them to add early education components to their program.
Hire a babysitter or nanny.
A babysitter or a nanny is an option if you work abnormal hours or need someone to be on call. Babysitters are cost-efficient if you need them to watch your kids for only a few hours at a time and on certain days of the week. However, they might be lacking childcare experience you’d expect from a more formal teaching program like a preschool.
Ask family and friends for help.
Relying on family and friends is ideal if you aren’t comfortable leaving your child with strangers. This is also beneficial if you’re on a tight budget as your friends and family are likely to be more understanding of your situation. A negative side to this option is that they have their own lives and might not always be available to you.
Look to non-profit childminding centers.
Non-profit childminding centers are typically set up like classrooms with fun, safe, and stimulating environments. Centers like the YMCA cost less when compared to daycares, and they offer financial assistance for struggling working parents as well.
Tips for Working Parents Balancing Child Care and Work
Balancing child care and your full-time job can feel overwhelming, but here are some tips on making it work for your family.
- Schedule family time every day — even if it’s just an hour — to strengthen your bond that may feel strained from your time apart.
- Talk to your child about their daily schedule and when they can expect to see you.
- Make time for self-care. This will benefit your productivity at work and your relationship with your family.
- Have a backup plan. Whether your child gets sick or you get called in for an unexpected work crisis, it’s good to be prepared.
- Don’t feel guilty about not having a stay-at-home parent in your household. There are many benefits to enrolling your child in daycare alternatives that will prepare them for success in their life.
Start Your Child Strong at Cadence Education
Cadence Education is the best child care provider to keep your little one safe, happy, and prepared for the big school. We help your children with core values, including sharing, applying manners, and communicating emotions in a healthy way. Cadence has a nurturing environment that will help your child become more confident in their skills. We also pride ourselves in growing your child’s autonomy through a variety of activities, such as arts and crafts, music, and imaginative play.
Cadence Education has many programs to meet your children’s needs. Our activities are engaging and are designed to help the kids have fun while they’re learning. Additionally, our teachers are extremely caring and will foster a welcoming environment to help your little one thrive while they’re in daycare. Find a Cadence Education school near you, and enroll today!