Is one day at childcare better than two?
In practice there are a number of reasons why a one day enrolment can be tricky. Children who have two or more days have a continuity that helps them build friendships that encourages a sense of security. Seeing each other regularly from a young age assists in creating those connections and supports building those key relationships and social skills.
Educators often find that children who have the continuity of two or more days are able to more readily tap into the benefits of high-quality early education and care settings. They have the momentum behind them to get into the important business of play, starting to read social signals and learning about themselves. When you’re enrolling a child for one day, educators will prioritise helping the child to settle. This means it can take longer to build those social relationships and develop a strong bond between educator and child.
The benefits of rhythm and routine can really help children develop those skills they’ll need during their time at the service, at school and in life beyond. Primary and kindergarten teachers can often tell when a child has had a strong start at an early childhood service.
And it’s this social rhythm that’s really enhanced by enrolling in more than one day. Children have the opportunity to build empathy by watching and observing other children and seeing their reactions. Learning a new routine outside the home environment is also easier with increased days and knowing what to expect in these routines helps children feel safe and secure. This all forms the foundation for social skills that help manage emotions and stress.
We understand for families there might be an instinct that says, "I’ll get them in the door with one day and build up". However, based on the expertise of our Early Childhood professionals, we would advise the opposite—start big and cut back, if needed.
It's also important to emphasise that there are other options available to parents and carers who are keen to ease their child in slowly and want to start with a shorter number of days. For these families, we recommend them to do lots of visits to the service with your child beforehand and the most out of their orientation to make it feel like a safe space.
Of course, every family is different, but if you’re considering a one-day enrolment talk to your service and see what options are available. If two or more days are possible for your family, there are real benefits.
We've seen and experienced first-hand that when a family has selected a really great centre they’ll become part of your family's village, and having more support around your child is always a great thing!
