Finding the right child care centre for your little ones might feel like an impossible challenge.

Maybe you've encountered run-down, disorganized centres and felt despair. Perhaps you've found the perfect centre, but it's miles away from home and costs more than you can afford.

Stay calm - there is a child care centre for everyone out there, you just need to know exactly what you're looking for.

Use the checklist below to narrow down your search and find only the best care for your children.

1. Good Reputation

When parents find a good child care centre, news travels fast. If you've heard praise about the centre from other families, or have noticed positive things about it in the local news, that's a really good sign. If you've heard bad reviews or no reviews at all, it's best to keep looking.

2. Varied Curriculum

A good child care centre should be stimulating and exciting for kids. If the centre repeats the same activities day after day, relies on TV to entertain the kids, or doesn't have different activities for different age groups, it's not a good choice. The best centres will offer a wide range of fun, creative and educational activities for all ages.

3. Sensible Rules

If a centre seems too lax about rules, that's a serious red flag. When children are playing together, it's really important that clear boundaries are set to prevent accidents, bullying, or other issues. Clear, sensible rules teach kids about responsibility and keep everyone safe.

4. Confident Staff

What are the staff at your prospective centre like? Happy, motivated, and confident? Or overwhelmed, overworked, and unsure of themselves? The best staff should be fully trained, experienced, and confident about looking after children.

There should also be adequate numbers of staff to give each child the attention they need. If something seems off with the staff at a centre, keep searching.

5. Clean Environment

You want your children to be safe at all times, and that means a clean, well-maintained environment. If a place looks run-down, grubby, or poorly-looked after, it's not the best place for your kids.

You don't need ultra-modern facilities - just somewhere that's clean, safe and pleasant. Try to visit on a normal day to get an idea of what the centre will look like while your kids are there.

Struggling to find the right child care centre? Use these tips to find a place that's well-run, safe and stimulating for your children.