Where do parents search for child-care options?

[noorie]

I'm wondering...I own a Montessori school...looking to get the word out...

Where do parents start their search? Word of mouth/referrals would be the most obvious one. But for the tech savvy parents amongst us, where do you start?

Help

[noorie]

Is it that nobody knows or nobody searches for child care on the internet?

wow...i thought RFD was the place to come for answers...

*fingers crossed*

[nalababe]

Try your local paper...i.e for us the North Toronto Post.

Internet is fine, but too broad a search and in many instance irrelevant as waiting lists can be 12+ months.

[Jump145]

Well there's Canada childcare directory, but there doesn't seem to be many listings there.

The BC gov't has a pretty good child care search, maybe Ontario has something similar?

http://childcareinfo.gov.bc.ca/childcaresearch/search.aspx

[m_disonglo]

I've used daycare bear (http://www.daycarebear.ca/) and craigslist or kijiji.

[Money Smarts Blog]

The internet is not very useful for local searches, so I'm not sure how many people will look for child-care there.

You might want to try Craigslist/Kijiji - at least they are somewhat localized.

Maybe put up posters at local dropin centres/schools?

[nalababe]

Local Newspaper (i.e. for us the North Toronto Post)
Mailings to local houses
Bulletin Boards of local Schools (if not for kid 1, then kid 2+)
Word of Mouth