Finding the ideal daycare centre for your child takes research and effort, and it’s not a decision you will take lightly. Having said that, an important point to keep in mind while choosing a daycare centre is whether to put your child in one that is closer to home, or to your place of work.
We can break it down for you, so that it becomes easier to make a decision. If you pick a daycare near home and both your spouse and you work, you can take turns doing drop-offs and pickups. On the other hand, if you pick a daycare near your work, unless your spouse works in the same area, you will be solely responsible to drop and pick your child up.
For some of us there’s quite a commute between home and work. And if your child is very young, you might feel more comfortable having them at a daycare centre near your place of work, so you can check in on them whenever needed, or to pick them up quickly in case of an emergency.
However, if work is flexible for either your spouse or you, and there are options to work from home, it’s convenient to put your child in a daycare centre near home. Do you travel on work? In that case as well, it might make more sense to choose a daycare centre near home. This way your spouse or other family members can take over doing drop-offs and pickups without too much inconvenience.
Remember, young children thrive on routine, so take travel time into account when picking a daycare centre. In the event that you choose one near work and quite a distance from home, there are chances of your child and you being stuck in a long commute. This could mean late drop-offs at daycare. Are you likely to deal with heavy traffic on the way home from work? Well, you don’t want to be late to pick your child up. In that case a daycare centre near your job makes more sense.
Location makes all the difference when picking a daycare centre, so take all possible scenarios into consideration while fixing on one. The daycare you decide on should be as conveniently located as possible, taking into account your spouse and your respective schedules and work timings. This way drop-offs and pickups happen on time and, more importantly, your child is comfortable.