Geertje: “Absolutely. She really sees our Vic, knows him, and understands what he needs.”
Sanarya: “Yes! Because I know she genuinely loves my child.”
Melanie: “Yes! Our son is always happy to see her and doesn’t even have time to say hello to us.”
Avalon: “Yes! She’s always so sweet to my little boy. He feels really comfortable at daycare.”
Jessey: “Absolutely! The girls at daycare are so sweet—they’re always enthusiastic and loving!”
Lonneke: “I have this mother-in-law who loves to give unsolicited advice, which secretly makes me doubt myself. Luckily, I felt comfortable discussing my doubts with my daughter’s teacher. Her words completely put my mind at ease.”
Marleen: “Yeah, he always loves going to daycare. He learns so much from the teachers and the other kids there!”
Sophie: “They’re so sweet and take the time to really get to know the children.”
Esther: “Yes! They’re best friends. She always comes home happy when Debby is back in her class.”
Wiesje: “They understand my child and really see him for who he is.”
Elise: “So sweet, always cheerful, and they’re not afraid to be honest about my child—in a good way. They’re the best!!!”
Denise: “They involve us as parents in everything! They’re just as kind to the children as they are to us.”
Jennifer: “Yes!! She blushes as soon as we mention her ‘teacher’s’ name.”
Camilla: “I’m a single mom. There’s nothing better than being able to talk regularly about my son with someone who loves him so much, too.”
Ellen: “She senses what he needs.”
Anne: “Yeah! So sweet, so thoughtful. They know my little one so well.”
Suus: “A few weeks ago, my little boy proudly showed me at home how he could put on his own jacket. It’s so great that they teach things like that there. I hadn’t even started practicing that with him yet.”
Jessica: “Definitely with the organization our kids go to. A good daycare center means so much.”
And here’s why childcare staff are truly indispensable:
Teamwork
If your child attends daycare a few days a week, your child’s regular childcare staff truly become co-parents. That’s helpful, because while you naturally know your child best, they are loving, professional caregivers. It’s an ideal combination. When you work together, share special moments, and discuss any concerns or doubts, your child can benefit the most from your collaboration. There’s nothing better than discussing all the things that make your life as a parent so wonderful (and sometimes complicated) with someone who both loves your child deeply and knows them well.
Development
At the daycare center, the children eat, play, and sing. Every day, as if it were nothing. But the childcare staff carefully consider what they do and how they do it. The primary goal of every activity is to have fun, but of course there’s a purpose behind it: to stimulate each child’s development. This way, they learn a tremendous amount while playing—sometimes consciously (spreading butter on a slice of bread, putting on a jacket) and very often unconsciously (counting, naming colors, collaborating, taking turns, running, building, talking).
In collaboration with Ouders van Nu
Every day, Ouders van Nu curates news from the Netherlands and abroad, selecting interesting stories specifically for (expectant) fathers and mothers. They focus on news that helps expectant parents become better, happier, or wiser. This article was written in collaboration with Ouders van Nu.