Parents should weigh fit and trust when choosing childcare

Parents choosing childcare should focus on their family’s needs and the relationship with caregivers, experts said in a live question-and-answer session hosted by Swiss broadcaster SRF.

There is no single right choice between daycare centres, playgroups and care by grandparents, the experts said. Families should first consider whether they need full-day care or a supplementary option. Desirée Kumschick, a member of the management team at IG Spielgruppen Schweiz, advised parents to visit different providers and arrange trial sessions to see what suits their child and family.

Maximiliano Wepfer, who is responsible for political communications at the Swiss childcare association Kibesuisse, said it was important for both parents and children to feel comfortable with caregivers and build trust. The personal relationship may matter more than whether a child attends a daycare centre, a playgroup or another kind of childcare.

Children who find it difficult to separate from their parents may need more time, said Claudia Stucki, a board member of the Swiss association of playgroup leaders. She recommended building up separation gradually, maintaining open communication with parents and making a clear goodbye. A soft toy or comfort blanket may help, as can having another trusted person bring the child.

Playgroups and daycare centres can help children make friends, resolve conflicts and become more independent, Stucki said. Children also develop language naturally through playing together. The experts said early language support is increasingly important, particularly for children with little contact with the local language.

Childcare costs vary across Switzerland because responsibilities and funding arrangements differ between cantons and, in some cases, municipalities, Wepfer said. Switzerland ranks among the most expensive countries in the European OECD comparison for childcare outside the family. For couples working full time with one child, the cost can amount to more than a quarter of household income, he said.

Wepfer argued that the cost should be shared fairly among the federal government, cantons, municipalities, employers and parents. “The question is who bears these costs: parents, the public sector and others,” he said.

The experts also discussed calls for nationwide minimum standards for playgroups. Requirements for staff-to-child ratios, safety plans and training vary between cantons, Stucki said, and some places do not require playgroups to register or obtain a permit. She said children’s safety and the quality of care should not depend on the municipality they live in.

Several cantons are working to assess children’s language skills before they start kindergarten, Wepfer said. Such assessments could help identify gaps early and provide targeted support.