How to Choose a Day Care Centre for Your Child
Posted on: 16 May 2019
As your child grows, you may prefer to take him or her to a day care centre rather than leave them with a nanny. Day care centres allow children to interact in a friendly environment. Here, they grow their social, communication, creative and critical thinking skills. Besides, the day care setting prepares them for kindergarten. In this excerpt, you will learn how to choose the right day care centre for your child.
Convenience
The centre should be located in your neighbourhood or near your place of work. In such a way, it is easy for you to drop and pick up your child. If you have a busy schedule, the centre should allow a nanny or close relative to take your child to the centre.
Facilities
The day care should have sufficient toys and adequate equipment on its playing ground. Inspect the level of hygiene observed in the kitchen and washrooms. Your child might develop severe infections if you enrol him or her to a dirty day care.
Staffing
Below are some tips to help you evaluate the centre's staffing.
- The day care should have adequate staff. This ensures that each child gets maximum attention
- Staff should be trained in child care. Some day care centres encourage their staff to advance their training to improve the level of care they give to children
- The centre should have staff trained in basic first aid. Alternatively, there should have a nurse
Meals
The centre should provide balanced meals to children. Ask how frequently children eat at the centre. Besides, check the menu to know what kind of meals your child will consume. If your child has food allergies, enquire about special diets.
Programs
Does the day care take children for outings? How frequent are these outings? Children learn through experiences. A trip to the park or local library will give your child lasting memories. Besides, such outings help refresh children from the daily routine.
Rules
The centre should have reasonable rules and regulations. Enquire about the following:
- What is the day care's policy regarding child discipline?
- What procedure does the centre follow if a child gets ill or injured at the premises?
- What symptoms would prevent a child from attending the day care?
- What happens if you are late to pick your child from the centre?
Finally, the day care centre should be affordable. Enquire when and how you should make fee payments.
When choosing a day care centre, evaluate its location, facilities, staffing, meals, programs, and rules to ensure they meet the needs of you and your child.
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