It’s March, and moving up ceremonies are lined up here in the Philippines. These include those of our Day Care Centers, including our daughter’s. If you’re a first-time parent thinking of whether the government’s Day Care program is right for your child, I hope this article helps you make up your mind.

Why We Enrolled Our Child in DSWD’s Pre-Kindergarten Program

Last year, Sprout entered Day Care a little before she turned three years old. To be honest, our only reason for this is socialization. She is an only child with only two cousins she consistently interacts with, and we were noticing that she was a very shy child. While we know that being shy is not a defect and is simply who she is, we wanted her to experience being around many other children. This is so when she enters formal school, she would be, hopefully, well-adjusted.

But as I remember from our first parents’ and teacher’s meeting, socialization is only one aspect of it. The benefits for enrolling pre-elementary kids in the government’s daycare program also include preparing them for formal schooling, helping them start on healthy habits, monitoring their growth and health for intervention, and helping working parents (like us!). That’s just what I remember from that meeting a long time ago, but there are sure are a lot more pros.

Additionally, we were thinking that doing two years of pre-kindergarten will give her some sort of academic advantage. It’s not that we want to be helicopter or tiger parents that want nothing but academic excellence from our child – which is not necessarily a bad thing, in my opinion. But from our experience, my nephew who spent two years in daycare was better in math and reading than my niece who only had one. This is also apparent in the EDCOM II findings.

Yes, I’ve watched lots of YouTube videos and TikToks that talk about the many advantages of keeping children out of formal school for as long as possible. But honestly? That will only work if at least of the parents is staying at home. And in this economy, we can’t. And, as I’ve mentioned before, that’s also one of the benefits of this government program.

Requirements for Enrollment

Enrolling Sprout in daycare was not difficult at all. We – well, my mother, really – went to the nearest daycare center to have her listed. Then, on the official enrollment week, she took our daughter with her to have her assessed. Thankfully, she passed the basic color and shape recognition test, but would absolutely not write… or speak.

Here are the requirements for enrollment:

• Various accomplished forms
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• 2×2 picture… or is it 1×1?
• Vaccination record

Our Role as Parents/Caregivers

One of the things I have learned as a government of the Department of Education is that parents remain their child’s primary teacher. Our role as their first teacher doesn’t end once we have enrolled them in school.

This is also highly promoted in daycare. Parents are required to attend regular and emergency meetings and provide support – through money and labor – to the center. This includes contributing to expenses that are not covered by the budget from the DSWD. (Right now, the childcare worker’s salary is super low, so please don’t question the very minimal contributions anymore.)

You are also expected to bring your child to the center and fetch them on time after the session ends. At home, you are expected to check your child’s belongings and do the homework, if any, together.

To be honest, this was impossible for us working parents. Sprout’s yaya or sometimes her grandparents were the ones who took her to the daycare center majority of the time.

Is Daycare Free?

No, daycare is not free. There are minimal requirements and fees. For our daycare center, we had to pay P500.00 for the purchase of three (3) activity books, and also P10.00/week for the activity sheets. Also, you have to buy your child’s daily snacks (the feeding program starts in July and runs for three months).

In addition, you would have to shoulder your child’s uniform, school supplies, and hygiene kit. Parents also have to pitch in for the LPG when the feeding program starts, since only the ingredients are provided by the government. This is only for our daycare center, however. Other daycare centers may get these for free with adequate support from their local government or non-government organizations.

Sometimes, there are also contributions for activities. For example, we had Family Day/Field Trip, Halloween Party, Christmas Party, and Valentine’s Day Party. The kids and their parents/caretakers are encouraged to take part in these, but these are not required. Kids also celebrate their birthdays, so also prepare small gifts for the little celebrators.

Although it’s not 100% free, as I said, the expenses are minimal. But more importantly, we the parents are also being trained here to assist our children in their homework and following up with their lessons at home.

A Typical Day at the Daycare Center

In Sprout’s daycare center, there are two sessions: morning and afternoon. Each session runs for 2 hours.

Their day starts with the preliminaries: singing of the national anthem, prayer, and singing/dancing of children’s songs. Then, they will do lots of desk activities: coloring, tracing, drawing, and the like. There will be some board work. And they will play and eat. Their day usually ends with singing this song called “Paalam na Sa’yo” by Teacher Cleo played on TV.

Our Daycare Experience

Francis and I both think that enrolling Sprout to the government’s daycare program has been hugely beneficial. Last November, she also participated in the City Library’s National Book Week Cosplay Competition, representing the daycare center, which helped boost her confidence. Now, she participates in class, talks to her classmates, the teacher, and other parents, and is generally not as shy as before. She also has many friends now. I think the “socialization” goal was successfully accomplished.

All in all, we are very satisfied with her participation in the pre-kindergarten program of the government. We will be moving her to a private school for her second stint at preschool next school year, but I am eternally grateful for this one year. Sprout expresses excitement in going to school and participating in school activities, which I think are positive signs.