Did you know that, according to recent research, more than half (%52) of Canadian children under the age of six are enrolled in daycares? If yours are too, it’s only natural that you want to keep them as safe as possible by knowing how you can spot a trustworthy daycare centre.
It’s difficult to trust strangers with your baby even if you don’t have to leave them for forty hours or more every week. So, we understand how challenging it can be for a busy parent who works full-time to find a daycare centre they can trust.
Not only is there a list of things you should look for in every childcare facility, but you also have to give the centre of your choice some time to be completely sure of your baby’s safety and happiness there! While looking for a trustworthy daycare may seem like too much work, it’s not as hard as you may think if you do some research.
The safety and security of your little one should naturally be at the top of your priority list. Licensing, childproofing, safety practices, monitoring, emergency protocols, and age-appropriate toys are all among the essential criteria for a safe childcare facility.
Licensed Child Care Centres Are Always a Step Ahead
We wouldn’t strictly say that a daycare must be licensed. Still, a licensed facility will undoubtedly provide a safer and more trustworthy place for your children to grow and flourish. What’s more, in an environment without childcare licensing standards and written policies in place, there are also no standard expectations for families when it comes to quality.
A licensed centre, on the other hand, complies with all construction codes and zoning requirements and has competent personnel. Moreover, the maximum number of children in licensed centres is determined by certain factors like the facility’s space, number of qualified staff, the facility’s safety practices, and many more factors.
While unpleasant, it’s undeniable that children are in danger of being hurt if even basic safety measures are not in place. So, the first quality of a trustworthy daycare centre is to have procedures in place and documentation that the facility meets at least minimum licensing criteria.
What Makes Clever Different?
Safety Practices
Check if there is an ongoing interaction between the child care facility and a certified child care health consultant. A child care health consultant is a licensed medical expert who has experience mentoring child care providers to enhance their health and safety practices. Centres that hire an experienced health consultant score higher on health and safety parameters.
Moreover, to ensure the safety and security of the kids, at least one team member should be educated in pediatric CPR and first aid, if not all. Because let’s face it: accidents can happen in a moment of inattention. If training completion certificates aren’t already on display, ask to see them and make sure they’re valid (taken within the past two years).
All in all, you should get the impression that the daycare has a healthy and secure environment. Staff and children should wash their hands often, cleaning staff should sanitize surfaces on a regular basis, and teachers should put babies to bed on their backs. These procedures can help avoid the transmission of diseases and keep the children and staff safe and healthy.
Outdoor & Playground Safety
Outdoor physical play gives infants and toddlers much-needed activity, sunshine, and a diverse location in which they can practice motor skills. So, it’s pretty important for a daycare centre to have a safe and age-appropriate outdoor area and playground.
When it comes to motor skills, there are various stages of development that children go through. To give a simple example, they may be mastering walking, working on running, or learning how to climb. All motor skills must be supported by secure and appropriate equipment and surfaces. Having different outdoor equipment for children of different age groups (infants, toddlers, pre-schools, and kindergarteners) will help them in their growth.
While having safe equipment and a play area is a must, you should also remember that a trustworthy childcare facility can’t rest until they have a safe outdoor area under active supervision. Such supervision could involve moving across the outside space, scanning children and the surroundings for hazards, identifying potential dangers, and making appropriate changes to the environment.
Daycare Privacy & Monitoring
Children’s safety and comfort are vital in childcare centres. Parents want to know that their children are being cared for in a safe and secure atmosphere, so childcare facilities must offer solutions that put the parents’ minds at ease. As an example, we have keycard doors here at Clever that allow us to keep a running log of who is where in the facility. This also means that our administrators can monitor entry and exit in real-time.
This is a simple safety measure but very effective when it comes to keeping the little ones safe. Another thing most daycare centres do to further help families rest assured about their babies’ safety is installing cameras. The presence of cameras in the facility should, of course, be disclosed to parents and staff. It’s best to make video monitoring as evident as possible.
There is no legal requirement for childcare centres to store video footage for a specific period; nonetheless, the centre should develop a policy and adhere to it in all cases. For example, at Clever, cameras are installed to allow administrators to monitor employee behaviour and youngsters’ wellbeing. Meaning parents aren’t allowed access unless required by law.
Childproofing & Age-Appropriate Toys
Remember how you spent hours and hours going through your house with a fine-tooth comb and childproofed everything? A trustworthy daycare should follow suit, with policies in place to ensure that everything is checked on a daily basis. Look for these childproofing essentials wherever you go.
- Window blind pulling strings are coiled up and secured with anchors out of reach.
- Windows and window curtains are kept out of reach from cribs.
- Furniture is put far from windows, eliminating the risk of climbing and falling.
- Outlet covers are securely fastened.
- Stair gates prevent access to the stairwell.
- Toy chests have spring-loaded hinges and are not old-fashioned style.
- Belts are used to hold the infant on changing tables and high chairs.
- Toys are clean and in good working order.
- There are no tiny objects in the area that youngsters could choke on.
- Children’s access to potentially harmful substances is restricted.
- All toys are age-appropriate.
Speaking of toys, did you know that each year, thousands of children are wounded because of “dangerous” toys? You may think dangerous toys are ones with sharp points and small parts, but children are far more sensitive than you may think.
Ideally, all daycare toys should be age-appropriate and meet the strictest safety requirements. Choosing the best toys for a daycare requires taking into account that the toy should be safe, age-appropriate, and likable.
It’s better to avoid plush animals and toys with extra parts like button eyes and noses or pieces of clothing like ribbons. These might become a choking hazard if they get loose or pulled off. Stuffed toys should be easily washable and free of pellets, which can cause choking or suffocation.
See it, then believe it
Emergency Protocols
Emergencies that occur during work time need careful preparedness. The most significant role of a childcare centre is to ensure the safety of the children under their watch. This means having a complete documented disaster plan, also known as an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
An emergency plan is very important as it states policies and procedures to follow in the event of a disaster. For example, we have a complete emergency protocol guide we keep in our handbook at Clever.
Emergency plans are essential for knowing what to do if an accident strikes while children are in the daycare. Creating an emergency plan allows child care workers to understand how to respond to various events.
The four areas of emergency management should be included in all emergency plans: protection, preparation, reaction, and recovery. Parents, childcare centre managers and staff, and the local school board (if the child care centre is part of a school) should all contribute to the plan’s development, which should be re-evaluated on a regular basis.
Final Word
A trustworthy daycare centre makes sure your children are as safe as they can be by childproofing, monitoring, preparing emergency protocols, and having safe and supervised outdoor areas.
We aim to assist your child’s growth at every stage of development in a safe and dynamic setting— all the while giving the comforts of home. Book a tour of Clever Daycare, or call us at 403-474-4157 if you have any questions!
