Who will look after our children?

Aged knuckles clenched at the handles of a three-wheeler buggy, Grandpa is out taking the baby for his daily stroll. He might never have taken care of his own children this much, but he is forced to do so now, so that his own daughter can keep her job.

Once a parent, always a parent. But if you leave your job to look after your child, there is no guarantee that you can jump back on the bandwagon five or ten years down the line. For a woman, the decision to stay home and take charge of bringing up the children may mean dashing all hopes of career advancement. Even the idea of finding a job that fits in with school hours means that you will end up in poorly paid part-time work, when you can find it.

The solution? Get into the childcare business. It is set to boom. Till now, most working parents of young children can rely on grandparents to organise a baby-sitting roster during the day. But this will not be the case for much longer. With the majority of women going out to work, the next generation of grandmas will not be domestic goddesses. They will be out at work too... so the only solution for anyone wanting to keep their career and have children is to use childcare facilities.

With baby's first year of life taken care of by maternity leave and most kindergartens accepting children aged two (as long as they are potty-trained), that leaves a gap of a year in the child's life where someone has to be found to take care of the toddler while mum goes back to her job.

The National Council Of Women regularly voices the urgent need to tackle the lack of affordable childcare at the workplace, which is a hindrance to women's career development. Workplace crèches are not yet the norm, although a baby carrier next to the computer monitor is more of a common sight in offices than you would think. It is when they actually start to wriggle around that Mum or Dad needs help.

Offices are indeed increasingly accepting the presence of schoolchildren, especially during summer, on the odd occasion that a minder cannot be found. This is the inevitable result of single mums needing to keep their full-time jobs.

While women's career continuation is given importance, it implies that ipso facto, children will eventually be spending even more time within a school environment. This could add up to a fifth of a person's lifespan.

In a move in the opposite direction, mothers in the UK could be paid to stay at home and look after their children under a Conservative government. They would be given as much as £150 a month for each child under plans being drawn up by the Tories. The party says its proposed homecare allowance would help remove the need for women to return to work for financial reasons.

Stay-at-home mothers in the UK are in the minority for the first time, according to figures released last month. But research shows most women are reluctant to resume working after the birth of a child.

The Tories are expected to model their plans on a similar programme in Finland, where mothers are paid £150 a month for their first baby and £50 for each subsequent child. Some 75 per cent of Finnish mothers now choose to stay at home to look after their children rather than rush back to work. Similar schemes in France and Norway are also hugely popular.

Start right

Will you return to work after your baby is born? It is a difficult decision - and an important one. If you decide you will need childcare, here is how to make sure you choose a quality programme.

So what exactly is there available in the way of reliable childcare centres for the under-threes? When looking for quality childcare for your child, the first question you should consider is the type of childcare that best suits your needs and the needs of your baby. Your options include a childcare centre, a family childcare home and an in-home provider. In home-based care, an individual - usually a woman - takes care of a few children within her home. The more formal childcare centres are run by the Church and government as well as private enterprises.

However, the scenario is too murky for comfort. Very little regulations which would specify the legality of a centre currently exist. No one knows for sure how many childcare centres are out there, although a cursory glance at the telephone directory lists around 30. While the Commission for Children has asked the owners of childcare centres to come forward and be counted, not all of them have done so.

The Ministry for Social Policy has been undergoing a comprehensive study for the past two years looking at the local childcare situation. They are currently drawing up regulations and standards for services, enabling existing childcare providers to upgrade. Apart from this consultation with local childcare centres, the commission is also being informed of foreign regulations and seeing which of these are applicable to our culture. The regulations are still in draft form and will be established and out for consultation shortly.

Stefania Dimech Sant, policy co-ordinator at the Ministry of Social Policy, explains: "We came out with a voluntary registration of childcare facilities, and are working with those who came forward. There are indeed quite a number of childcare facilities, but the quality is not what we'd like it to be. We need to educate the parents to look out for the appropriate facilities, thereby empowering them."

Child development and care

Ms Dimech Sant highlights the importance of the provision of several, varied play areas within the childcare facility:

"Let us not forget that we are dealing with the formative stage of a child's development. In fact, instead of seeing it as only child 'care', we prefer to refer to the term 'child development and care', which gives a different perspective. People think of it as 'minding' - preventing children from hurting themselves - whereas we see it as stimulation for educational development. For example, when children are playing with sand and water, this provides the basis for the mathematical principles of weight and volume, without the child being forced to learn. It is vital that several types of activities be provided.

"Contrary to the popular view, these centres are often places where the child stays for the parent's whole working day. This can add up to more than a 40-hour week, taking travelling time into consideration! This underlines the need for them to be nothing less than a stimulating, safe and comfortable environment for the child.

"It is very important for parents to inform themselves. A good rule of thumb is this: ask yourself whether you would mind spending a day there yourself. If you find the place claustrophobic, you can safely assume that your child will too."

Pros and cons

The advantages of a childcare centre are that it provides a structured programme in a licensed environment. It is usually the least expensive option, and it exposes the child to a diverse group of children and providers. Since the centre is always open (except on weekends and holidays), you will not need to find backup care if a provider becomes ill.

Disadvantages include the possibility of more illnesses for your child due to exposure. Moreover, it may not offer a consistent primary provider and less individualised attention.

A family childcare home provides home environment and playmates that are usually of varying ages. It offers exposure to smaller number of children and, therefore, less exposure to illness.

Childcare within a home may offer more individualised, nurturing care and more flexible hours.

The disadvantages are that not many family childcare homes are licensed. It can be difficult to monitor quality of care. This option requires a good backup plan if provider becomes ill.

In-home care provides one-on-one care that may be more nurturing. The child stays in a comfortable, familiar home environment, and there will be less exposure to illnesses.

Usually the most expensive option, a strong backup plan is needed when provider is ill. There may be less social stimulation for the child and it is difficult to monitor the quality of care.

Finding quality childcare

Once you have located some childcare possibilities, screen them via a telephone interview. Narrow down your list and then visit your selected providers and centres. Be sure to ask for at least three references and follow them up.

Being comfortable with your chosen childcare arrangement is critical for a successful transition from being at home with your baby to going back to work. Making sure your child is being loved and well cared for in your absence goes a long way in building a strong foundation for your child and peace of mind for yourself.

What to look for:

¤ A trained carer.

¤ An environment where children are encouraged to be creative rather than restrained or taught to write rather than learning through play.

¤ A bright and airy building with natural light, adequate ventilation and an outdoor area.

¤ A programme of activities which includes outdoor play.

¤ The facility should provide various corners of activity, for example dressing up, home play, painting, a messy play area and climbing.

¤ A good ratio of carers to children. This could be as high as 1:6, but this depends on the age of the children. The younger the children, the more carers there need to be.

CSB Recruitment Agency has been supporting the local business community with its services since 1987. For further information you can write to them at Vincenti Buildings, 14/19 Strait Street, Valletta VLT 08, call them on 2122-5800 or 2124-6543, fax: 2123-0520, e-mail: jobs@vacancycentre.com, or visit www.VacancyCentre.com. Copyright 2004, Commercial Services Bureau (CSB) Ltd.