If you are a parent with children who are entering pre-school age, you might be considering several different childcare centres you might choose to enrol them in. If you are looking at preschool locations in the idyllic suburbs surrounding Melbourne, you might consider getting your kids into a childcare centre in Craigieburn.

When it comes to childcare centres in Craigieburn, we have ranked our top 3 picks.

3 Best childcare centres in Craigieburn:

Those are just our top 3 picks, you should keep your options open and take note of the following advice before making a final decision.

Getting your kids into a childcare centre can be difficult if there’s a lot of competition for spots in your local area. The following will take a look at some tops you should keep in mind when you’re focused on getting your kids into a childcare centre in Craigieburn.

Register your interest as soon as possible

There’s no reason to wait to join a waiting list, so you should do it as soon as you learn the due date. The small details can be ironed out later on but getting the basics in early helps make later stages of the process easier for you and prevents you from missing out.

Make an effort to leave a good impression

Filling out forms and joining waiting lists early is helpful, but until you show your face at the centre the staff are going to only see you as just another name in their list of applications. If you can, it’s a good idea to take your little one with you to visit the centre and get leave an impression with the staff about how lovely you and your baby are.

Give yourself a lot of options

It’s wise to sign up for a lot of different locations so that you give yourself the best possible chance of getting a spot at a great place. The closest establishment to you geographically won’t necessarily be the best and you shouldn’t feel bad about turning down offers others might have really wanted for their kid as it now means they have a chance of getting it when they find out you cancelled.

Be aware of laws and regulations

Depending on your circumstances, you may have higher eligibility for to be accepted at a childcare centre in Craigieburn. For example, if you are a single mother with an Aboriginal or Torres-Strait Islander background, you should have a higher preference than a non-Aboriginal who is also supported by a husband who works full-time.

Make sure they remember you

Just because you’re on the waiting list and you’ve paid a visit to the centre doesn’t mean you’ve done absolutely everything you can to secure your kids’ spot. Correspond with the centre so that they are reminded about you and that you’re one of the most eager parents to get their kid a spot.

Remember; there’s a fine line between a friendly reminded and being annoying. Make sure the staff know your circumstances as to why you need the spot rather than that you’re simply really keen.

Don’t make yourself difficult to correspond with

Don’t be one of those annoying parents who is eager to chase up staff on the reliability of their correspondence but who then fails to answer their phone or respond to emails in a timely manner. If it’s clear you don’t care enough to update you contact details and respond to messages, then your name will get crossed off the list quickly so they can fill the vacancy with someone else’s kid.

Get involved in the community

Childcare centres can be a great place for a sense of community to develop as they are a place where the future of said community is being actively nurtured. When you become involved in community events and fundraisers the centre might be holding, you’ll be more likely to see your little one be accepted and succeed at the centre of your preference.

Make sure you are certain about all the details

The process of getting your children into childcare in Craigieburn is going to be a lot less of a hassle when you are certain of all the scheduling details beforehand. Don’t go into conversations with staff without knowing important facts they are going to ask you for.

Don’t be too picky about the times you are offered

Sometimes it’s good to just get your kid into the spot at all than on all the specific days you prefer. If they have a flexible system for vacancies, you can always swap out for different days later on that suit you and your little one better.

Don’t lose hope

Being on a long waiting list with lots of other applicants can sometimes cause you to become disheartened and feel like your kid won’t get the spot. Don’t let this cause stress, all you can do is your best and hope for an ideal outcome.

Make sure your child is prepared

Preparing your little one for their first day at a childcare centre in Craigieburn is going to ensure the first days are less distressing for them as they are thrust into a new environment. This means making sure they are aware of common-sense safety around things like electrical outlets and that they know the difference between staff and random strangers.

Preparing your little one for preschool should also involve practising periods of separation with them so they get used to the sight of your driving away with the promise of picking them up later. This will make that first day much less stressful for both you and your child since you’ve experienced being separated before.

Getting your kids into a childcare centre in Craigieburn doesn’t need to be difficult or stressful if your adhere to the aforementioned tips. If you follow the advice in this article, you will be able to leave a good impression with centre staff and give your child the best chance of being accepted into a preschool suited to them.