subject: Security And Safety Of The Child As Paramount Criteria In Choosing Child Daycare Center [print this page] If there is one task that can be overwhelming for parents, it is finding the right daycare center for their kids. It will take ample time to decide on the center because you have to check the different qualifications and features of the place where you are supposed to leave your child for some hours every day.
The daycare center may have been designed to be a playschool. There, the children develop and learn albeit the place being a space for interaction of the children. The little boys and girls play and enjoy. However, the enjoyment and the learning process, though important also, would not be your basis of a good daycare center. You are more concerned about the safety and security of the child.
There are a few things to be checked when you visit the prospective center for your child. You might want to interview the faculty and the staff, including the owner if possible. You can inspect the facilities. These are very important in defining the security and safety of every child. There are two important qualifications that will contribute to your decision. First, the center should be duly licensed. Second, it should have all the facilities and amenities that will make it ultra safe and secure.
Licenses
Many states in the USA are requiring every daycare center to be duly licensed. This is one important feature of any center. This tells you of the legitimacy of the institution and thus, the officers and staff are surely accredited to care for the children. But then, not all daycare centers in your vicinity may adhere to this. In order to be sure, you can ask for the licensing paperwork. The licensing is documented and this portion will be proof of the legitimate existence and accreditation of the center. In addition, it may be vital to check also on the staff. One important aspect in the qualification of the staff is absence of any criminal record and mental health disorders.
Safety And Security
Your most important concern in entrusting your child to a center is the assurance of safe and secure premises. It should only allow authorized persons to go inside the premises. It should never allow anybody to get inside the grounds and school buildings if he or she is not permitted to remain in the grounds or buildings.
Aside from being very strict on the people who get in and out of the center, you should check that this facility never gets crowded at any point in time. Some states have statutes that limit the number of children allowed inside a daycare center at any given time. In checking the population of children in the center, you should also check the staff and establish a good staff to children ratio. A staff cannot oversee a big number of children. Perhaps the ideal ratio is 3 children to 1 carer.
Having your child stay in a daycare center can be challenging for both you and the child. It is up to you to prepare your kid for separation. This is the time for the kid to be a little detached to the parents, prepare them welcome and associate with other people.
