| Till quite recently, finding affordable, quality | | | | Daycare services provided under a valid license |
| daycare services for children was almost an | | | | offer more safety and better care, as the |
| impossibility for working parents, especially | | | | facilities are more likely to meet government |
| working mothers. This often resulted in many | | | | standards and the minders themselves are more |
| qualified and talented ladies having to stay home | | | | likely to have been trained in first aid, child care |
| to care for their little ones or accepting less | | | | and preschool education. |
| demanding, less time critical assignments for a | | | | The fastest growing industry in the country, |
| lower salary. | | | | desperate parents can now find quite a |
| This situation has now undergone a dramatic | | | | comprehensive list of daycare services listed in |
| change with daycare services being offered | | | | the yellow pages. The usual practice, after |
| throughout the country and the number of | | | | narrowing the list down to about ten promising |
| working parents reaching an all time high. The | | | | candidates is to get all the pertinent details (license |
| services themselves fall into a few main | | | | details, referees etc) over the phone and then go |
| categories. Profit and non-profit 'centers', and | | | | in person to look around before making a final |
| profit and non profit home based daycare | | | | decision. |
| services. | | | | If parents are lucky, they will be able to find |
| Most centers are licensed and operate for a | | | | daycare services that accepts their children while |
| profit. However, centers run by the government, | | | | they're still infants of 6 or 7 months, and who will |
| local churches and charities sometimes operate on | | | | care for them right until they enter preschool. |
| a non profit basis. In addition to these institutions, | | | | Some centers even accept children on a part |
| daycare services are now also offered by an | | | | time basis on weekends. |
| increasing number of business organizations for | | | | However, no matter what form of care the |
| the benefit of their employees. | | | | parent decides upon, it is the child who ultimately |
| Home based daycare services are usually | | | | experiences the good and the bad of daycare |
| provided by a reliable nanny hired by the parents, | | | | services on a daily basis. Thus, at the end of the |
| or by child minders who use their homes to care | | | | day, the one thing parents should always pay |
| for small groups of children. The one rule home | | | | particular attention to is whether or not the child |
| daycare is subject to under the Day Nurseries | | | | likes and is comfortable with the daycare services |
| Act is, the five children or less per house rule (not | | | | being used. |
| including the carer's own children). | | | | |