One of the great challenges of being a parent is deciding when to return to work, whether to work full time or part time and then deciding on the best childcare to suit the needs of your family and child. The following section outlines some of the various childcare options available.
Options for childcare
Nannies
Care options include hiring a nanny through an agency. Private nannies tend to be a popular choice but can be more expensive than other options such as daycare or in-home care. There are a few things to consider, ie, is childcare to be their only task, or do you want a nanny to also do light housework, grocery shopping, etc? The International Nanny Association (INA) recommends that you interview any prospective nanny at least twice and that you conduct a criminal background check, which is usually undertaken by placement agencies. For more information on the process of hiring a nanny, visit The Nanny Company website: http://www.thenannycompany.co.nz/need-a-nanny/. While this is a commercial website, it contains a lot of useful information about what you need to consider when selecting and employing a nanny.
Daycare
The term ‘daycare’ typically refers to a childcare facility that parents take their children to during the day for care, supervision and learning. This can be while a parent or parents return to work, or for those that have other commitments during the day when they are unable to provide care for their children. Daycare centres specialise in care of infants through to pre-schoolers, although some daycare facilities also offer before- and after-school care for school-aged children.
Kindergarten
Kindergartens provide early childhood education for children aged between two and five years. Many have a waiting list so you may want to contact the kindergarten and put your child’s name on the waiting list as soon as possible. Some do not charge fees but ask for a donation (this may vary based on the area in which you live). Help with fundraising activities is often also expected. Most kindergartens run two sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, although increasingly more kindergartens offer an option of all day care. Sessions are informal and focus on developing social skills and learning through play, supervised by qualified and registered teachers.
In-home childcare programmes
In-home childcare programmes involve a carer/educator who provides care and early childhood education for your child in their own home as an alternative to putting your child into a kindergarten or daycare centre. You choose an educator from the company of your choosing, which you feel fits your child’s situation best. Your child then goes into the educator’s home to be looked after for the day, and is usually with a couple of other children.
A variety of activities for children and their educators to participate in are organised by the company, which can include weekly play dates with other educators and their children, music groups, and outings. These activities are aimed at promoting fun, role modelling, observation, and confidence.
The below are just some of the companies that offer in-home childcare programmes:
PORSE http://www.porse.co.nz
Banardos Kidstart http://www.kidstart.co.nz
Childcare—pros and cons
The issue of pre-school childcare is often contentious with varying and strongly held views about what is best for the child.
Many studies over the years have evaluated the impact of daycare centres on children, with both negative and positive aspects reported. Often, however, the media tend to focus on the negative, not providing a balanced interpretation of the studies.
A long-running United States National Institutes of Health study showed children in high-quality childcare scored slightly higher on measures of academic and cognitive achievement in their teenage years. A common negative aspect of daycare that is reported in studies is that children in daycare have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, largely attributed to situations where the children’s care providers were intrusive or over controlling, and where the balance between structured and free play was unbalanced. Children under stress could show signs of anxiety, anger or aggression.
Overall, studies have found that the impact of daycare on children depends on a number of factors including the quality of daycare, with quality measured by how much time the provider spends interacting with children, as well as warmth, support and cognitive stimulation. The closeness of the relationship between the child and its parents is also reported to be a key factor.
The best solution for each family will differ greatly—and your own values and emotional needs will also come into play. We encourage you to research the options available to make the best choice for your family situation, as there are many issues to consider.
- Are you anxious about leaving your child with a number of carers, or would you prefer one-on-one care?
- Will you need childcare out of hours, ie, early in the morning, and/or late at night?
- Would you prefer a learning or play-based programme?
For assistance with choosing the best childcare facility for your family, a list of questions and considerations can be found on the Childcare Online website: http://www.childcareonline.co.nz/How-to-Choose-a-Childcare-Facility.html
Help with childcare costs
Parents and caregivers may be able to get assistance towards childcare costs through Work and Income via either the Childcare Subsidy or the OSCAR Subsidy. You may be eligible for these if you are:
- the main carer of a dependent child
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- your family is on a low or middle income
- your child has at least three hours of care a week.
The type of assistance you can get will depend on your individual situation and the type of care your child is enrolled in.
Childcare Subsidy
The Childcare Subsidy is for pre-school children aged under five years (or under six years if you get the Child Disability Allowance for them) attending an approved early childhood programme.
You could get help with up to nine hours of childcare a week if you’re not working, studying or training, and up to 50 hours a week if you’re:
- working, studying or on an approved training course, or
- involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do, or
- a shift worker who works nights, or
- seriously ill or disabled, or
- caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Child Disability Allowance for.
In most cases you can’t get the Childcare Subsidy for more than nine hours a week if the child’s other parent or caregiver can care for them.
OSCAR Subsidy
The OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) Subsidy is for children aged 5 to under 14 (or up to 18 years if they receive the Child Disability Allowance). It helps towards the costs of before-school and after-school care for up to 20 hours a week, and school holiday programmes for up to 50 hours a week.
You may be able to get this subsidy if you’re:
- working, studying or on an approved training course, or
- involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do, or
- a shift worker who works nights, or
- seriously ill or disabled, or
- caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Child Disability Allowance for.
You can’t get the OSCAR Subsidy if the child’s other parent or caregiver can take care of the child.
If you don’t know how many hours of care you’ll need each week (because you’re a casual or on-call worker for instance), you can discuss your options when you apply for a subsidy.
If you get the OSCAR Subsidy during the year, you will be sent a form before the end of each school term to ask about your childcare needs for the school holidays and the next term. Pay for more hours may be available during the holidays.
If you need the OSCAR Subsidy just for the school holidays, you must apply before each holiday.
How much can I get?
How much you are entitled to will depend on the size of your family, your income and how many hours a week your child(ren) go to the childcare provider. The subsidies are paid directly to the service providers.
For an estimate, and how to apply, visit http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/brochures/help-with-childcare-costs.html
Early Childhood Education (20 Hours ECE)
Government funds up to 20 hours a week of Early Childhood Education (ECE) for children aged three to four years attending an approved ECE programme.
Families getting 20 Hours ECE can’t get GCAP or the Childcare Subsidy for the same hours.
If you have specific questions about how 20 Hours ECE and the Childcare Subsidy works together, contact Work and Income. The Ministry of Education has some good information on their website about ECE: http://parents.education.govt.nz/early-learning/