The 5 pain points that parents experience when looking for childcare

In our recent research, we asked parents what the challenges were when looking for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) for their little ones. We wanted to know where the pain points were, and how it made them feel.

The five things that came up were: 

1. It was hard to make a shortlist

Many parents said that they struggled with the sheer amount of information that they accrued by searching through individual centre websites. They wanted a way to be able to collate their options and compare them easily.

2. Fees and availability were difficult to find

Parents queried why most ECEC centre websites fail to show the fees that would be charged each day, and what days are available for each age group. They didn’t want to get their heart set on a service and then find out that it was over their budget or didn’t have space on the days they needed.

3. It felt like a biased perception

Parents noted that most ECEC websites don’t show NQS ratings or Google reviews, preferring to use their own curated testimonials instead. They felt that they were getting a one-sided view of what the service was really like.

4. There were gaps in the information

Many parents noted that ECEC websites and online search often had missing information such as old photos and staff profiles, or old addresses and contact information, which made it difficult to get an accurate picture of what the service offered.

5. It was time consuming

For the parents who were able to get a shortlist together, they explained that it took so long to contact each service to book a tour. Leaving messages, missing calls, and keeping track of which service was which took a lot of time and effort. 

Parents that used Care for Kids specifically described a simplified process, as all the information was collated in one place, making it easier to:

✓ Search for ECEC services  in their area with a few clicks

✓ View fees, availability, programs and up to date photographs

✓ Read third party reviews and ratings

✓ Compare options and make a shortlist

✓ Save time by booking tours for multiple services at once

One mother of two from Victoria noted,

"It was good for giving the basic information, which was helpful for that initial stage. It didn’t have all the fancy words and the big long blurbs about how each child is included and blah blah blah, it was literally this is what they do, it includes meals and nappies, they have availability on Wednesday and Friday, and it costs this much. It answered all the questions that you would be wanting to ask first up, and then you could go and investigate further at the visit.” 

If you want to get your ECEC service on the shortlist of savvy, time-poor parents who are looking for care contact kelly@careforkids.com.au. We have packages to suit every budget, and can even arrange affordable photography sessions for your service if you need it.