Preparing to welcome your baby is an exciting journey. While there’s so much to plan, joining a childcare waitlist early for premium centres like Little Scholars School of Early Learning is one important step many expectant mothers overlook. High-quality childcare spots fill up quickly, so registering your interest early for your baby’s place means peace of mind and may result in more choice when it comes time to start care.
With demand high for premium childcare centres, families often join waitlists during pregnancy to avoid long waits and limited options after birth. Getting on the waitlist early means you may have greater flexibility with start dates and days, helping you plan your return to work or lifestyle with confidence.
Important note: Joining a waitlist does not guarantee a childcare spot. It simply registers your interest and puts your child on a list to be considered when a position becomes available. The guarantee depends on factors such as the centre’s capacity, educator-to-child ratios, and demand in your area.
The safest time is as early as possible — for many families, this means during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Infant and toddler spaces are often the hardest to secure in high-demand locations. Here’s a general guide:
Wait times may depend on several factors, including:
At Little Scholars, our nursery program feels like a home away from home, offering:
At Little Scholars, we believe every child deserves the best start, and every parent deserves peace of mind. Registering your child on our waitlist early ensures your family is considered when a place becomes available, helping you plan with confidence.
Do you have a child who’s struggling with separation anxiety, especially at when being dropped off at school or early education? Perhaps they’re going through a developmental milestone that makes them need Mum or Dad a bit more than before. This is common starting around six months of age, peaks at 14-18 months, then can happen again when your child hits preschool and school-age. Or maybe your child is new to our service or has recently transitioned studios. The transition from home to early education is a milestone for both children and families. Separation anxiety can even happen for children who’ve been in Little Scholars for a while. It can be hard moving into a new studio where she or he doesn’t yet know new routines, where things are kept and spending time with different educators with different ways of doing things can be overwhelming for the child. This is all normal.
If you’re at a loss on how to make things easier on your little one, and yourself, we have some ideas.
Acknowledge and validate their feelings by saying something like “I know goodbyes can be hard, but I always come back. I will see you later today. I love you.” Give a big hug, a smile and a wink.
Then at home, if your child is old enough, have a chat about why she/he is having a hard time at drop-off, and think about what you can do to alleviate it. Ask him or her what make things easier. Perhaps it’s including a comfort toy, blanket or family photo. Maybe you each have a special bracelet that you can touch when you’re missing each other. Make a plan for something special together when you pick him or her up, like a walk or playing a game together, which will give your child something to look forward to through the day.
If you’re preparing your child to go to early education or school, it’s best they understand what their days will look like. So the conversation could look something like ‘we’ll all have breakfast together and get ready for the day. Then we’ll get in the car and first we’ll stop at Little Scholars. I’ll walk you in, give you a big hug, and you’ll go off to have a day of play while I go to work. When I finish work, I’ll jump in the car and come right over to pick you up, then we’ll go _____” These conversations may have to happen several times for it to sink in.
Also, if you’re pondering signing your child up for early education, this is why we offer play dates to children newly enroled but yet to start – this allows them to begin to become familiar with their new educators and studios.
Remember, you can always chat with your educator or campus manager about how to help. We’re always available, and we’ve been through this before, we can offer ideas or reassurances everyone will be OK!
We also know separation anxiety can be a two-way street, especially for new parents, or returning to work after maternity leave. Don’t forget we have our Little Scholars app so you can see pictures of your child, and be reassured that if there were tears from your child, they likely didn’t last long and they’re busy having fun and learning while you’re at work.
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Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
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