Whether you are a veteran parent of multiple children or about to be a mother for the first time, finding childcare you can both trust and afford can be daunting. Whether you want family child care, a center, a school, or a nanny, everyone’s needs are unique and it can be difficult to find a place that fits your required specifications.

No matter how stressful it might seem, finding the right child care for your family is possible. A place that children are excited to go to each day and helps your kids reach their full potential is priceless. There are many options for Raleigh and Durham child care that will work with your schedule and budget. The key is knowing where and how to look.

Define Your Needs

Before you do any actual searching for or touring of facilities, take time to define the parameters of your needs. Understanding your exact needs will help you narrow down the choices to find the perfect Raleigh child care resource.

• Budget: Create an estimated childcare budget. Decide how much you can spend each month, taking into account any extra fees you might need to pay for staying late or arriving early. Factor in whether or not you qualify for subsidies toward childcare in North Carolina, or if your company provides childcare benefits.
• Hours: Consider drop-off and pick-up times. Is your child school-aged and just needs after school care, or do you need full time care for an infant or toddler? Is care needed every day, or do you need drop-in care for part of the week? Needs such as overnight care and shift work also factor into what kind of care you will end up choosing.
• Program type: What type of program are you hoping for? Do you want a center or school, or are you looking for a home-run daycare? These considerations will help you narrow down your options as you search for the right place for your child.

Use a Search Service 

Child care search services have the benefit of collecting vetted, high-quality care all in one place. Search filters allow you to narrow down the parameters to fit your exact needs. Programs like Wonderschool take a child-centered approach, enabling program directors and facilities to better support the families they serve.

Wonderschool focuses on child safety, requiring all license eligible programs to operate within their state-mandated regulations. It partners with program directors that are committed to providing high-quality early education in their communities.

A search function like this takes some of the stress and worry out of finding a safe place for your children–one that will provide opportunities to grow and learn. It also shaves off hours or days of search time, since you don’t have to go digging through the depths of the internet to learn what childcare options are available in your area.

When looking for childcare in Raleigh and the surrounding areas, be sure to start the search plenty of time before you need it, so you have time to tour facilities, fill out paperwork, and apply for grants or subsidies. Wonderschool will help you find the place that allows your child to thrive, treating them with love and respect as they prepare kids for the real world.

Wonderschool Can Help

We support a network of educators in family child care, microschools, and forest schools to provide high-quality child care. We have options for every preference, allowing you to choose the program that’s best for your family. Explore our program options for Raleigh and Durham today.