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“A child’s development is profoundly affected by the quality of their relationships with their parents and other important caregivers. Their needs for health and safety must be met, as well as their needs for social learning and emotional support. Recent research has confirmed that at birth, parts of the brain are largely undeveloped and that children’s early attachments and early experiences have a direct affect on their brain development. As a parent, choosing the right child care provider for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make.”
From The First Years Last Forever at http://www.cich.ca/publications_childdevelopment.html#firstyearsiayc
Quality child care has at its core care providers who are knowledgeable and who genuinely enjoy working with children. They should:
| · | Be affectionate and responsive to the needs of children. |
| · | Listen to children when they speak and respond with interest and respect. |
| · | Enjoy playing and interacting with children. |
| · | Demonstrate knowledge about child development and have experience and training specific to child care. |
Provide positive guidance and discipline methods that build children's self-esteem and self-confidence. (For information on appropriate methods of guidance and discipline please see the online booklet Guiding Children’s Behaviour at http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/ccf/child/publicat/comm/com015.pdf
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| · | Have clear knowledge about health and safety issues affecting children and have training in first aid and CPR |
| · | Be willing to access community resources, supports, and training. |
| · | Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and respect. |
| · | Be open, informative, and communicative with parents and demonstrate the ability to work together with families to develop common goals. |
Some indicators of quality in the child care setting include:
| · | A warm and welcoming environment |
| · | Low child-to-staff ratios, group size, and turnover of staff |
| · | A daily schedule that is flexible and allows for the individual needs of the children |
| · | An environment that is safe for children |
| · | Ample space which includes opportunities for both quiet and active play |
| · | A fenced outdoor play area with a variety of safe equipment |
| · | A good supply of developmentally appropriate materials |
| · | Planned activities that add interest and variety to the program |
| · | An environment that is child-centered and provides opportunities for children to make choices and be independent. |
| · | Materials that are easy for children to reach and displays that are located at children’s eye level |
| · | Children that are happy and actively involved |
| · | Cleanliness: toys, equipment, bathrooms, and food preparation areas are kept sanitary. Diapering areas that are located away from food preparation areas |
| · | Policies that have been developed around issues such as health, safety, and guidance and discipline |
| · | An environment where parents are encouraged to visit |
Finding a child care provider for your child can be a difficult experience. Here are a few steps that may help you through the process:
Make a list of things that are important to you and your child See For Parents/Identifying Your Family’s Child Care Needs, or use these samples:
Sample questions for telephone calls: Family Child Care (pdf, 108k)
Sample questions for telephone calls: Group Child Care (pdf, 100k)
Sample questions for telephone calls: Nannies/Au Pairs (pdf, 100k)
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Screen potential caregivers on the phone, with your questions ready during the call. (Please remember that the child care provider’s first priority is to the children she/he is caring for. Don’t be surprised it they request that you call them back at a more convenient time, often during naptime or in the evening when the children have gone home.)
Make an appointment to visit the centers with the answers you were looking for. You will want to see the child care ‘in action’ so that you can see how the caregiver interacts with the children. You may want to visit more than once and at different times of the day. (Again, the caregiver will be busy with the children and may not be able to spend a lot of time talking over details.)
When you have found a child care provider you are interested in, make an appointment for an interview. This meeting provides you with an opportunity to ask the caregiver a variety of questions about policies and procedures:
Sample interview questions: Family Child Care (pdf, 112k)
Sample interview questions: Group Child Care (pdf, 100k)
Sample interview questions: Nannies/Au Pairs (pdf, 92k)
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Also see the online Parent’s Guide to Selecting Child Care at www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/ccf/child/publicat/comm/com014.pdf
Returning to work and leaving your child in the care of someone else is an emotional experience for most parents. Give yourself plenty of time to find the type of child care that you will be comfortable with. There will be a lot of adjustments to make so ensure that you have realistic expectations of yourself. Wherever possible, try to share family responsibilities. For more information on going back to work after having a baby, please visit Returning to Work With An Infant at http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/publications/resourcesheets_en.html.
Separation anxiety occurs in most children to some degree. Separation from parents may cause children to feel frightened and angry. Preschoolers may worry that no one will understand them or take care of them. Children need time to learn about the caregiver, the routine, and what to expect in various situations. Knowing what to expect next gives most young children a sense of security.
If possible, arrange for a gradual entry to the program for your child. This gives both you and your child an opportunity to become comfortable. Gradual entry usually begins with the parent bringing and staying with their child for a short visit to the child care setting. During subsequent visits, the parent begins to leave their child on their own at the setting for longer and longer periods of time until the child is ready to spend the whole day. Some children require more time than others to become comfortable. A gradual entry program should be flexible enough to accommodate the needs of you, your child and the child care provider. (If gradual entry occurs before your child’s start date there may be a fee involved.)
Some other recommendations to make the separation easier are:
| · | Make going to child care a positive experience. Be excited about it and tell you child that it will be fun. Don’t give your child the impression that you might be anxious too! |
| · | Talk to your child ahead of time about what happens at child care. Discuss the daily routine and let them know when you will be back (e.g. “Today I’ll be back after snack time”). |
| · | Although it may seem easier to slip out when your child is busy to avoid a tearful good-bye, this does not build trust and usually proves to be counter-productive. It is very frightening for a child to have their parent ‘disappear.’ |
| · | You may want to give your child a choice in how you say good-bye (e.g. two hugs, rub noses, etc.). Build a positive good-bye ritual! |
It is very important to make this transition as easy as possible on your child. However, no matter what you do, saying good-bye may be very hard for your child. Infants and toddlers in particular may not understand that you will be coming back; it is the experience of having you leave for a short time and then coming back that helps them to learn this concept.
Once you select child care, work closely with the caregiver to make sure your child enjoys the best possible child care experience. Talk often with the provider – ask about your child’s progress, what activities he/she enjoys, and how well he/she gets along with others. You may want to set up a joint communication book where you both record information about your child’s day.
Ensure that both you and your child care provider are clear about what you have agreed upon. If the child care provider has not given you a written parent agreement you will want to write one up: it is important to have written confirmation to prevent future misunderstanding. As you will be working with the caregiver on an ongoing basis it is important that you feel comfortable asking questions. Don’t forget to voice concerns; but remember it is also important to express appreciation.
If your child care is in unlicensed care you may be the only one monitoring the quality of the care. Even in licensed centers parents are the only ones that are visiting on a daily basis. Those concerned about the possible abuse of any child must report their concerns immediately to their local Ministry of Children and Family Development office.
If you have questions about licensing regulations and wish to speak to a Licensing Officer, call the Fraser Health Authority North Area at 604-949-7700. For information about warning signs in your child’s behavior that could indicate a problem with your child care arrangements, please refer to the online Parents’ Guide To Selecting Child Care at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/parents.htm.
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