All parents have experienced it. You are at the door of an unfamiliar building, a stranger is bending down to meet your child and you are thinking, is this the right day care for my child? Deciding on a kids day care is a very personal choice. It’s not simply a matter of leaving your child somewhere. It’s about trust, development and peace of mind. Whether you’re looking for the nearest day care nursery to your home, or are weighing up your options across town, it’s important to know what to keep an eye out for.
The Importance Of Quality Daycare
A recent large, longitudinal study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (PMC, 2022) tracked 293 children from a number of childcare centers in Switzerland. The study discovered that the process quality of early childcare, which refers to the way the childcare professionals interact with the children, organize learning and interact with each other, predicted children’s social and emotional development into middle childhood.
Start With Licensing and Accreditation
Why It’s First In Line
First, ensure the centre you’re interested in is licensed. It’s a legal requirement that minimum safety and care standards are met. A centre that’s accredited by a quality body takes it a step further and seeks to continually improve education and child development. Be prepared to ask a centre: Are you licensed? Are you accredited? Their answers will give you a good idea of their operations.
The Numbers You Care About
How many children does each staff member care for? This is one of the key numbers of childcare. One to three or four is an acceptable number for babies. For toddlers, one to six might be okay. For pre-primary, one to ten is a rule of thumb.
The higher the ratio the less time with your child. It means a carer that is running around, dispersing care. This is not the place where independent and inquisitive children are nurtured.
What to Look for When Visiting
Be sure to visit before you choose a place and more than once. Listen to how staff talk to children. Are they crouching down to the child’s level? Are they patient? Do the kids look bored or are they fidgety and being ignored?
Look at the room. Is it clean? Are the toys and equipment safe and suitable for the children’s age? Do you have an area outside? A quality kids day care will allow you to come and have a look around.
Play and Structure Both Matter
Early learning is not simply play and it’s not simply lessons. It is a savvy combination of both. The best preschools have a range of activities that develop language, motor, creative and early mathematical skills in a way that is appealing to a child.
Ask about a “day in the life”. If it’s not clear, take note. A good program can outline the structure of a typical day: circle time, play outside, play inside, rest and snack/meals.
The Non-Negotiables
A day care for kids should have written policies regarding its emergency procedures, illness procedure, medication policies and entrance and exit procedures. There should be first aid and CPR training for all staff.
Go through the doorway. Is access controlled? Is it open to the public? Locks on the doors, functional safety gates and clean bathrooms are absolute must-haves.
Consider Staff Stability and Experience
Consistency is Key
Kids love routine. When they see the same loving face each day, they’re secure. When people come and go, it has a disruptive effect. Ask how long the staff have been working at the centre. Ask about training and if the centre provides staff with continuing education opportunities. If the centre is nurturing its people, it knows how important quality care is.
It’s a Two-Way Street
Good kids day care centres are informative. This is more than a “see ya later”. They keep parents up-to-date, encourage open doors and regular meetings, and have a plan for responding to concerns. Whether it’s a parent app, emails or in-person reports, it’s important you always know what’s happening with your child.
Trust Your Instincts
At the end of all the research, visits, questions and comparisons is how the childcare centre felt. Were you made to feel welcome? Were the teachers/child carers affectionate to the children? You can clean out the rubbish from a home – but not from a child’s early life. If it all looks good, but it’s just not right, don’t stop searching.
Conclusion
It’s time well spent to find the right kids day care. It isn’t just the child’s learning that is affected by the care environment, it’s their self-esteem, wellbeing and social abilities into the future. Look for licensing and safety, observe the environment, ask lots of questions and trust your intuition.