Confused about childcare options? This comprehensive glossary of terms will help demystify what you need to know, says Yvonne Walus.
A
After-school care
After-school care, typically from 3pm until 6pm, allows parents of school-aged children to work outside of school hours. This care can be provided by the school, professional bodies, or private individuals. When choosing which option to use, consider:
- Will the child be safe?
- Do they help with homework?
- Are there fun activities offered?
- Will your child have their friends there, or will there to an opportunity to make friends?
- Is afternoon tea provided?
- Is there transport if the care is offered away from school grounds?
- What is the cost?
- Will it suit your child’s personality and needs?
B
Babysitter/nanny/Au Pair
A babysitter is a non-professional individual who looks after your child. An au pair is a young person
(between the ages of 18-30) from abroad, who lives with you to learn the language and culture in exchange for childcare. A nanny is usually a qualified or experienced professional, and gets a salary for providing childcare.
C
Correspondence School (Te Kura)
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, also known as the Correspondence School, provides learning programmes for three- to five-year-old children who can’t attend an Early Childhood Education centre. Te Kura’s educators work with parents and whanau to cater to their children’s learning needs. They also supply books, puzzles, games, and art materials.
D
Daycare
Daycare centres, also called Early Childhood Education Centres or ECE centres, offer full-time care for children aged 0-5. For babies, they provide a calm and relaxed atmosphere, small group sizes, and safe but open spaces to roll, crawl, pull themselves up, and lift their heads. Toddlers enjoy safe areas to explore, interact and learn, access to a secure outdoor space, interesting resources, and messy play.
E
ECE Curriculum
The early childhood service has a learning programme (curriculum) called Te Whariki. It’ll contain key milestones to ensure children thrive and learn. There are no tests or formal assignments in the early childhood education system. Instead, teachers use photos, “learning stories,” and work samples to show parents and other teachers how children are progressing.
F
Fellow parents
Parents who need someone to look after their child might come to an informal arrangement with another parent from their coffee group or from the child’s circle of friends. The payment may involve money, exchanging of favours (e.g., you look after both babies and I cook us dinner), or turn-swapping (e.g., “my turn on Monday, your turn on Tuesday”).
G
Grandparents plus
Grandparents can be carers on an informal basis, or their involvement can be formalised as whanauled. Whanau-led childcare involves caregivers in educating and caring for the children. Families and whanau have the opportunity to learn more about parenting, develop community networks, and play lead roles in the education of their children.
H
Holiday programmes
Most daycare centres are open throughout school holidays, with the exception of statutory holidays.
Working parents of school-going children, however, often enrol their youngsters into holiday programs provided by community centres, sporting facilities and professional educators. Some of the programs focus on having fun, while others aim to teach a skill such as a specific sport, music, art, or drama.
I
In-the-home
Home-based care provides a service within a trained and approved educator’s home, or in your own house. Educators are supervised by coordinators who are qualified and registered early childhood education teachers. This type of care is for all age groups and will vary depending on the educator, who will often have a small child themselves. The ratio of adults to children is kept small (fewer than five children under the age of six) and the home is set up to be secure and conducive to child development. The downside is that the care availability is usually limited to one adult, so check to make sure there is a backup plan should the caregiver fall ill.
J
Jitters (first day)
Having your child start at daycare can be a difficult time. You worry whether your child will be happy, safe, and well looked after. Try to be flexible with your work hours in the first few weeks in case you need to stay with your child while they are settling into the service. Ask the daycare staff for information and support during this transition period. Stay positive and remember that well-managed separations are milestone opportunities for your child.
K
Kindy
Kindergartens are chartered and licensed. They employ qualified and registered teachers, and cater for children aged between two-and-a-half and five years. Most centres have morning and afternoon sessions of three or four hours, while others provide school-hour education and care. Although the centres are teacher-led, parents are welcome to participate in programmes and committees.
L
Language-based childcare
Kohanga Reo centres provides care for families and children aged zero to six years in a Te Reo
(Maori) speaking educational environment. The teacher-tochild ratios are small, and the centres are similar to Early Childhood Education centres, plus they offer the additional immersion in the Te Reo language. Pacific Island playgroups are playgroups in Pasifika languages, exposing children to cultures such as Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Niuean, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and Fijian. These may be less structured than Kohanga Reo centres.
M
Moe licence
The Ministry of Education uses licensing criteria to determine if a childcare service meets the requirements set out in the Education Act and corresponding regulations. This ensures quality and consistency of childcare throughout New Zealand.
N
Needs
If your child has special needs, they may require extra support to be able to participate fully in the childcare programme. They have an equal right to highquality education, and your early childhood service will plan how to include them in the learning programme. The Ministry of Education provides support for children with special needs, such as resource teachers to create individual programmes, special equipment, or building alterations.
O
Other options
Montessori, Reggio Emilio, and Rudolph Steiner are organisations that run learning programmes
based on alternative education philosophies. They may focus more on the child’s right to choose when to sleep and when to play, present a greater range of creative avenues, or emphasise the importance of imagination in learning.
P
Playcentre
Playcentres offer fun learning sessions for children from birth to school age. The emphasis is on play
in a structured environment (you have painting stations, block-building stations, dress-up stations, etc), while providing opportunities for children to explore, create, jump, run and get messy. Playcentres are run cooperatively by parents and member families.
Q
Questions to ask
No matter what option of childcare you use, here are some questions to consider:
- Is the environment safe, warm, and pleasant?
- How many children are in the group?
- Are there different spaces for different ages?
- What activities will my child participate in?
- Will they cater to my child’s unique interests and strengths?
- How will I know how well my child is developing, eating, sleeping?
- Do they handle toilet training well?
- What are the emergency arrangements?
- How do they deal with upsetting behaviour?
R
Registration
Once you’ve made up your mind, it’s a good idea to register your interest as soon as possible. Your chosen childcare centre may have a waiting list, particularly if it’s located in a densely populated area.
S
Subsidy for childcare
From the Government website: “If you have a dependent child who’s under 5 (or under 6 if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them), you might be able to get a childcare subsidy.” The conditions stipulate that the child has to be in an approved childcare centre, you must be on a low or middle income, a citizen or a permanent resident, and the primary caregiver. Once the child is at school, the Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy can help with the costs of before-school and after-school care, as well as holiday programmes.
T
Twenty hours free
All three-, four-, and five-year-olds can get free early childhood education for up to six hours a day, up to 20 hours a week. Certain conditions apply, depending on the childcare centre, and you may have to pay a top-up.
U
Understanding ERO
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the Government department that evaluates and reports on the education and care of children. The reports are available online or on request from the centre.
V
Values
Don’t forget to check whether the childcare you’re considering fits in with your values, such as:
- Will my child learn to respect nature and be environmentally savvy?
- Are there be other children to play with?
- Am I happy with the caregiver as a role model?
W
Workplace
The cost of childcare is often a barrier for women wanting to return to the workforce. Some employers offer flexible working arrangements, creative life-work balance options, or on-site childcare.
X
Expertise
Staff members who work in a teacher-led childcare centre must have a Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood, or be studying towards obtaining it. At least half of all staff must have an early childhood education teaching qualification that is recognised by the Education Council.
Y
Yes
Does the childcare arrangement you’re considering for your precious bundle make you want to say “yes”? Go with your gut on this one!
Z
Zillion
Your child will spend what feels like a zillion hours away from you. Try to enjoy the me-time, confident that they are in good hands, giddy, giggling, and growing.
