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Be a Great Mum: Choosing childcare and education

by Judy Reith

When you give birth to your first child it’s hard to imagine that one day you’ll need to find someone else to look after her and she will eventually go to school. Finding childcare worthy of your most precious gift is at best straightforward, but more likely to be challenging. Mothers who go back to work report that the more time you give to researching childcare options the less stressful it will be when you hand over the baby. Your maternal instinct will be your best friend when it comes to deciding who is to be your child’s carer, or which nursery and schools will suit them. There are many practical and emotional decisions to work through, not just yours but your partner’s also, and these will vary according to which child you are considering. So take your time, decide what’s really important to you and what arrangements will give you peace of mind. If you are confident and relaxed about your childcare and education decisions, you will reassure your children. You are a resourceful human being and we are very lucky that information is a click away so do all you can to explore what’s available to you. Ask around, use the Internet, go and visit schools and nurseries on ordinary days, not just open days. Invite child-carers to spend some time with your family before you make your mind up. Ultimately, you are your child’s greatest teacher, so consider what your part is in their education and what you want them to learn from you.
Judy Reith.www.parentingpeople.co.uk
 



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