Child Care Articles, Tips & Parent Guides
Welcome to CareforKids.co.nz A-Z on child care. Below you will find a range of child care related articles, tips and parent guides that we hope you find informative and helpful.
General Information on Child Care
A great place to start for families looking for care, this section includes a wide range of articles on every aspect of child care, from benefits, to starting age, to waitlists and more.
Approaches to Early Childhood Education
Learn about the different approaches to early learning and how child care services incorporate these into the play-based learning experiences of children in care.
Cost of Child Care
Funding for early education is complex and confusing, these articles discuss the aspects of finding most relevant to families with children in care.
Early Childhood Research
Early childhood is a well-researched and fascinating phase of human development, read research of relevance to families with young children.
Early Childhood Education & Care Centres
A range of articles and resources on child care centres/long day care services, including checklists, how to identify a quality provider and how to manage issues with your provider.
Kindergartens
Articles about kindergartens, planned educational programs for children usually aged three to five years old, including what they offer children and how to find a great provider.
Home Based Care
Learn all about family day care a flexible form of early learning delivered in the home of a qualified educator, and how to get a spot!
Out of School Hours Care
Everything you need to know about outside school hours care services for primary school kids, including what services they offer and what to do if you can’t get a spot.
Playcentres & Playgroups
These parent-led groups offer unique learning opportunities for children and families, learn how to be involved and what these groups offer in this section.
Nannies & Au Pairs
Information for families considering an in-home care provider, such as a nanny or au pair, including relationship management, payment and employment rules.
Babysitters
Learn all about babysitters, flexible care providers who make it easy to leave the children at home and head out for the evening.
Government Policy & Quality Standards
Early education and care is subject to a host of rules and regulations, which change regularly. Read the latest updates of relevance to families here.
Work & Child Care
Tried and tested tips for balancing the competing demands of work and home life for families with children in child care.
Child Care Tool Kits
A range of article compilations for families including first time parents, cost of child care, special needs children, choosing a child care service and planning for care when pregnant.
Safety & Security
Constant vigilance is required when you have small children in the house! These articles offer parents useful tips on maintain a safe and secure environment.
Health, Wellbeing & Nutrition
Evidence-based suggestions for improving the diet, activity levels, physical and mental wellbeing of your preschool-aged children as well as your own.
Arts, Crafts & Activity Ideas
This section includes activity ideas for every day of the year; open ended art, sensory play, crafts for dinosaur fans, home-made gifts, up-cycled crafts, cooking and more.
Parenting & Family Life
Ideas and inspiration for creating a happy and healthy home life for families with children in care.
Profiles & Interviews
This is where you’ll meet a range of interesting people including early education superstars, thought leaders, writers and working parents who are shaking up the system.
Diversity
No two families are the same and these articles were written to boost inclusiveness for families with diverse backgrounds, needs, languages, interests and/or abilities.
Sustainability
Ideas for boosting the sustainability and reducing the environmental footprint of your home and for raising environmentally aware children.