Childcare expert advises parents to start search months before baby arrives

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Parents should begin searching for childcare centers six to nine months before their baby is born, according to a local childcare center owner.

Tyesha Whitely, owner of Chunk’s Learning Center, said parents need to research centers and narrow down options before scheduling visits.

“So we’re talking six to nine months before baby is born to start looking at centers to research them and then kind of narrow down where they want to go visit,” Whitely said.

What to look for during a tour

Whitely said parents should look for a welcoming environment and knowledgeable staff during tours.

“So am I being welcomed when I come in for my tour? Are they knowledgeable about their practices and then what they’re going to do when they have our child, you know, in the center?” Whitely said.

Parents should ask to see the classroom and the room their child would move into after the infant stage. Whitely said families should also ask about safe sleep policies and eating policies.

Whitely said red flags include staff who struggle to answer basic questions about rules and regulations.

“If you walk in and you just don’t get that feeling like, I want to be here, because they are going to be a partner with you in raising your child,” Whitely said. “So if you don’t get that feeling and you don’t feel comfortable, I would say it’s time to move on.”

Securing a spot and financial assistance

Most centers require families to meet with an enrollment specialist and pay registration fees to join a wait list. Whitely said infant spots at Chunk’s Learning Center are sometimes booked six to nine months in advance.

Families can apply for the state CAPS program, which is income based. Chunk’s Learning Center offers the Josephine Boswell Scholarship. Whitely said parents should also check with their employers for childcare assistance.

Whitely said subsidies for families have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, but private scholarships remain available at some centers.

Summer programs and activities

Childcare centers typically offer summer programs for children who attend pre-K programs during the school year.

Whitely said families should look for summer programs now because they fill up quickly.

The Whitely family creates an annual summer bucket list at the beginning of each summer. Whitely said she advocates for free activities like going to the beach, visiting parks and attending library programs.

“Books are very important,” Whitely said. “There are so many programs at our local libraries where they can sit in to read. They can join book clubs, but also just making sure that your child doesn’t get into that summer slump.”

Whitely recommended bridging books, which are available at local bookstores and libraries. She said children should use the books a couple of times a week to maintain math, science and language skills.

“Don’t make it a chore, but make sure that they are doing that at least a couple of times a week,” Whitely said.