Tips from Tessa
4 tips for finding your perfect childcare match, from an Expert Matching Specialist
Finding someone to care for your child when you need it is one of the most daunting tasks a parent faces. Over the past 15 years, I have been on the front lines of this extreme parenting challenge far more times than I can count. During that time, I learned a few key tactics that are helpful in quickly assessing and creating a successful match - whether for a short term of long term care need.
These are some of the tactics we employ in our personalized matching service at June Care, but I wanted to share my top 4 tips for finding your perfect childcare match with everyone, in the hopes that it helps parents everywhere find high quality childcare they can trust.
Tip 1. Consider the top 3 things that you are looking for out of your care provider.
While we are all looking for her, Mary Poppins doesn't actually exist. But there are still wonderful care providers and care experiences out there for you and your children. By focusing on what is most important to you, you can easily screen for providers and environments that best suit your child and expectations.
I realize limiting the things you are looking for to "three" sounds small... and maybe not thorough enough. But I like encouraging parents to try to prioritize their top three things, because they can be sure - if a care provider doesn't meet all three of those things, it's probably not a good fit.
Tip 2. Make a list of your non-negotiables.
Parents (especially moms!) have a tendency to not want to spend time thinking about their non-negotiables when it comes to expectations and boundaries for their childcare providers. Why is this? First of all, many of us have been raised to be accommodating and consider ourselves "easy going." Additionally, when it's the first baby, a lot of us already feel like we don't know what we are doing, so it can be uncomfortable to put yourself in the driver's seat, especially when you are speaking with another mom or professional care provider.
No matter how easy going you might actually be, I am here to validate that there are some things you don't want to compromise on.. and that's OK! I recommend creating a list of your non-negotiables and sharing them with your potential care provider in the first meeting. Don't worry, it's not rude to state what's important to you. Setting up clear boundaries and expectations right away is critical for a healthy and fruitful relationship with your care provider.
Tip 3. Come to the first interview prepared with a list of questions.
I understand we are all busy, but taking time to come up with a thoughtful list of questions can make or break your ability to accurately assess a potential care provider. At June Care, we provide detailed, suggested questionnaires for both our care seekers and care providers (care relationships are always a 2-way street). This helps to ensure both sides are asking the most critical questions and ultimately results in more successful matches.
Tip 4. Start with a trial
I always recommend that the first care sessions be set-up as a trial before any long term commitment is made. By starting with a trial, you are giving both you and your care provider an opportunity to know each other and assess the fit of any match. If things continue to work out, you can go forward with a long term commitment with confidence.
I hope these tips are helpful for anyone who is setting out on the journey of finding a childcare match that works. If you have any questions, or want to check out how we help families navigate childcare at June Care, follow us on Instagram and sign-up here at June Care to speak with me or someone on my team about your care needs, we love to help.
