Taking care of children in Indonesia
Taking care of your child while you are at work is not really that complicated when you're an expat in Indonesia. Home-based childcare is very affordable, and there are daycare centers and other facilities that can safely accommodate your child.
Additionally, while many expats living in Indonesia choose to employ a nanny to look after their children while they are away, there are also a number of excellent nurseries throughout the country. You should be aware, however, that most of these early childhood care centers are located in or around major cities. Since the island of Java is by far the most populous in the country, that is where you will find the most nurseries, most of which are located in the capital city of Jakarta.
Hygiene and safety for children in Indonesia
It is recommended to visit potential Indonesian childcare centers prior to the decision of placing your child there since service standards and amenities within these facilities can vary greatly. Pay special attention to hygiene and safety and take note of the number of staff: children ratio. For children under the age of 1, for example, make sure that the daycare center offers at least one caregiver for every 3 children.
You should also be aware that while many expats opt for nannies, the services at the best nurseries are generally more professional. You can consult our Indonesia expat forum to ask for recommendations from expats already living in Indonesia for nannies or addresses of the best daycare centers.
How to find childcare centers in Indonesia
A quick web search will also help you identify some of the best potential daycare centers, as their scores are usually a good indication of the quality of services offered thereby. According to the Internet, some of the best childcare locations in Indonesia include the following:
- Discovery Center (Jakarta, Bali)
- Baby Kangaroo Kids & Baby Care (Jakarta, Java)
- Starchild Daycare & Learning Center (Jakarta, Java)
- Happy Tree House Daycare (Jakarta, Java)
- Skoebi-Doo Child Care (Canggu, Bali)
- HomPimPah / PAUD Anak Pelangi (Pelangi, Bali)
- Skywalker Academy (Kediri, Java).
Most of the nurseries available in Bali have been set up to primarily cater for expatriate children, as in Indonesian culture, it is generally customary to keep young children at home until they are old enough to attend school. For this reason, most daycare centers are located in the places where most expats live in Indonesia. There are also agencies that offer maid, nanny, or babysitter services, such as Super Nanny Indonesia, GoMaid Agency, Nanny Care Jakarta or Bali Nanny.
Should you opt for home-based childcare, it is better to work with an agency rather than employing a freelancer, as agencies usually guarantee the professionalism of their caregivers. This may vary, however, as there are also excellent nannies in Indonesia who do not work through agencies. They will usually cost you less.
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