How to Choose the Right Childcare

In a rush? Here's a quick rundown.

• Start by considering your child's unique needs — do they prefer smaller spaces or room to run? Do they find large groups overwhelming? Share this honestly with the centre.

• Look for signs of quality during tours — engaged children, active educators, play spaces reflecting children's interests, and respectful communication with children of all ages.

• Consider practical factors like location (work vs home), centre size, room capacity, curriculum approach, and how meals and nutrition are handled.

• Trust your instincts — childcare isn't one-size-fits-all. The right fit should feel comfortable for both you and your child, with a philosophy that aligns with your values.

Choosing the right childcare centre for your family can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, knowing what to look for and what questions to ask can make all the difference.

In this guide, we'll illuminate some must-ask questions when touring a service, as well as top tips on what to look out for when finding the right fit for your child.

Start with Your Child's Unique Needs

The priority is making sure the centre is right for your child. To know this, it's important to first consider who your child is.

Questions to consider:

• Do they find comfort in smaller spaces, or like to run free outdoors?

• Do they find larger groups overwhelming and would benefit from a small-groupings approach?

• Do they have any specific support needs, such as speech development?

• Would they benefit from more structured boundaries to encourage positive behaviours?

  
  

Considering your specific child is a great starting point for finding the right childcare.

Be Open and Honest

A top tip is to be open and honest with the childcare service. Discuss your child and ask the Centre Director how they think your child will fit into the environment.

If your child needs support in particular areas, share this information. This will not only provide you with answers on how your child will specifically be cared for, but also give you insight into the service's approach to open communication.

Specific needs to discuss:

• Physical access requirements

• Medical support needs

• Dietary requirements or allergies

• Behavioural support approaches

• Any recent changes or transitions in your child's life

  
  

Open communication with staff helps you understand how your child will be cared for

Look for Signs of Quality During Tours

How do you know that what a centre says they'll deliver is truly reflective of the experience for your child? Here's what to look for when touring.

Observe the environment:

• Do the play spaces reflect children's interests?

• Are there varied opportunities for play-based learning?

• Is the space organised, clean, and inviting?

  
  

Watch the children:

• Are they engaged in activity?

• Do they appear happy and settled?

• Are they interacting positively with each other?

  
  

Observe the educators:

• Are they actively supporting children's play and learning?

• Do they communicate with children respectfully, treating them as capable learners (no matter how young)?

• Are they calm, warm, and present — or stressed and rushed?

  
  

Ask about their approach:

• Is there a clear understanding of young children's learning and development?

• Does this underpin the foundation of their curriculum?

  
  

Does the Philosophy Align with Yours?

Take a moment to consider if the centre's beliefs align with your own. Some centres take a structured approach to the daily program, while others promote minimal adult intervention and child-led learning.

Childcare is not a one-size-fits-all industry. Think about what's important to you and your child, and whether the service is reflective of this.

Questions to help determine fit:

• What approach does the centre take to learning — structured or play-based?

• How do they handle behaviour and set boundaries?

• What values do they prioritise?

• How do they communicate with and about children?

  
  

The learning environment reflects a centre's philosophy in action

Location: Close to Work or Home?

Considering whether to choose a centre closer to work or home is an important factor.

Tips to help you decide:

Practice the journey — Travel from location to location to see what the genuine experience is like, allowing for anomalies like cancelled public transport or traffic at peak hours.

Consider timing — Will your schedule allow you to build an open partnership with your child's educators, or will you have to "drop and dash"?

Think about back-up plans — Would being closer to home mean you have a trusted someone nearby to collect your child if your meeting runs late?

Factor in convenience — Which location provides access to amenities so you could collect shopping on the way home, or connect with other local families?

Each family will have different priorities. Try not to get too caught up in what other people do — you know your family and what works best for your situation.

Centre Size and Room Capacity

Childcare centres come in all shapes and sizes, from cosy cottage conversions to large purpose-built facilities. While overall capacity may be important, it's perhaps more important to consider room capacity for your child.

What to consider:

• A large 100-place service may provide smaller, more comforting rooms than a 30-place service with just one room

• Think about how your child responds in different environments

• Consider your child's growing needs — if enrolling them at 10 months, think about what their experience at 3 years will look like too

  
  

Ask about group sizes, staff-to-child ratios, and how children transition between rooms as they grow.

Understanding the Curriculum

The curriculum is a direct reflection of a centre's philosophy. In Australia, all childcare services follow national frameworks that form the basis of the program of learning. However, interpretations differ from service to service.

Questions to ask about curriculum:

• How do they plan learning experiences?

• How do children's interests shape the program?

• How do they track and document children's learning?

• What does a typical day look like?

  
  

Some centres promote an unhurried approach, giving children time, space, and support to explore at their own pace. Others may take a more structured approach. Neither is wrong — it's about finding what suits your child and your values.

Curriculum comes to life through hands-on experiences like cooking and gardening

Meals and Nutrition

Providing your child with nutritious food isn't simply about the menu provided — it's also the environment created to encourage lifelong healthy eating habits.

Things to ask about:

• Is food prepared on-site or catered?

• How do they cater to dietary requirements and allergies?

• Do they have edible gardens children can learn from?

• Are children involved in cooking experiences?

• What does a typical menu look like?

  
  

These elements contribute to children becoming confident, healthy eaters and are important things to ask about on your tours.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, the right childcare centre should feel right. When you walk through the door, you should feel welcomed and comfortable. When you imagine leaving your child there, you should feel confident and at ease.

Signs you've found the right fit:

• The philosophy aligns with your values

• Staff are warm, communicative, and genuinely interested in your child

• Children appear happy, engaged, and settled

• You can see your child thriving in the environment

• Your questions are answered openly and honestly

  
  

Don't rush the decision. Visit multiple centres, ask lots of questions, and trust your instincts about what feels right for your family.

FAQ

What should I look for when touring a childcare centre?

Observe whether children are engaged and happy, whether educators are actively supporting play and communicating respectfully with children, and whether the environment is clean, organised, and reflects children's interests. Also notice the atmosphere — does it feel calm and welcoming, or stressed and chaotic?

Should I choose childcare close to work or home?

It depends on your family's priorities. Consider factors like travel time, back-up collection plans, ability to build relationships with educators, and access to convenient amenities. Practice the journey at peak times to see what it's really like. There's no right answer — choose what works best for your situation.

How do I know if a centre's philosophy is right for my family?

Ask about their approach to learning (structured vs play-based), behaviour management, and values. Observe how educators interact with children. Think about what's important to you and your child, and whether the centre reflects those values. Trust your instincts about whether it feels like a good fit.

What questions should I ask about my child's specific needs?

Be open about any support needs your child may have — whether physical, medical, dietary, developmental, or behavioural. Ask how they would specifically care for your child and support their needs. This conversation also reveals how the centre approaches open communication with families.

Is a smaller childcare centre better than a larger one?

Not necessarily. A large centre may have smaller, cosier rooms than a small centre with just one space. What matters is how your child responds to different environments, the staff-to-child ratios, and the quality of care. Consider your child's current needs and their growing needs as they get older.

Find Out If We're the Right Fit

Book a tour and let's chat about your child's needs, what to expect, and whether The Green Elephant is the right home away from home for your family.

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