Deciding on childcare

After school, children need safe and stimulating places to play and relax. They often like to help decide their own activities. They need a varied and stimulating programme of activities to interest them and extend their skills and hobbies.

After-school clubs and activities should offer a chance to play in a safe and stimulating environment where children can choose what they would like to do within a firm boundary set by trained and experienced play workers. Children can help to set the rules. Clubs should offer a home from home environment for children, where they can make and develop friendships and participate in a range of activities including sports, arts and crafts, drama and music.

The benefits of childcare

In 1995 a report published in the USA called Cost, Quality and Childcare Outcomes found that children’s cognitive and social development is directly related to the quality of their childcare experience. The main factors that determined childcare quality were high staff to child ratios, good levels of staff training and experience and good levels of pay. The findings of this survey backed up an earlier study carried out in Sweden, which looked at 128 children in daycare centres. Their progress was monitored from the first year in daycare to the age of 13. The highest performances in school tests and the best emotional adjustments were found in the children who had experienced the most daycare, even before the age of one. Daycare was shown to enhance children’s development and give them a better start in life.