If you plan to put your child in a day care facility, you might feel as if you've lost all control on the child's welfare. This sense of powerlessness might make you reluctant to actually go ahead with your plan.
Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your kid is safe and secure in a child care center.
1. Assess the Level of Supervision
Being a parent, the random - and, at times, reckless - behaviour of young kids isn't something new to you. You understand fully well that these little bundles of joy need much more protection from themselves than they need protection from the environment. Regardless of how well-organized and child-proofed the environment may be, the young kids are still likely to do something that would put themselves and their play-mates in danger.
For this reason, you should evaluate the level of supervision in the facility you choose. One consideration that will tell a lot about the supervision is the caregiver-to-child ratio. The facility should strictly abide by the recommended ratio for each particular age group, as detailed by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Don't just accept things by face value. You should drop in and volunteer randomly just to get a more in-depth proof of how things are run in the institution. It's easy for someone to put up a good impression initially, but that false impression cannot be sustained in the long run.
2. Can They Handle Safety Issues and Emergencies?
It's definitely a good thing if the staff is well-trained in proper child care. However, that is simply not enough. They also need to have appropriate training in health and safety.
As a parent, you should find out whether the centre has a regular training plan to equip staff with appropriate health and safety skills. Are they skilled in paediatric CPR and first-aid?
Moreover, there should always be someone on duty who possesses first-aid certification and CPR skills. This is necessary in dealing with emergencies that are likely to occur.
Furthermore, check to see if there exist well-detailed health and safety rules. Find out how comprehensive or effective such rules would be in practical situations. Are they practical or just a publicity stunt to give parents a false sense of security? You can get further proof of the practicality of such rules when you drop in to volunteer, at which time you can see how the staff applies the safety rules.
3. Always be Proactive With Your Child's Medication
If your child is under medication, you should try as much as possible to remain in control or influence his/ her medication. Although the day care staff may be well-trained, you really don't expect them to be as meticulous as you are. After all, they aren't really specialist medical personnel.
To avoid cases of improper dosage or carelessness with your child's medication, you can be giving your kid the proper medication at home, if possible. If this isn't possible, make sure that you give all necessary dosage instructions to the caregiver. Also remember to keep reminding him/ her of the proper medication.
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Every child is given personal care and attention at Child Care Centre, Beacon Hill. Your child will also benefit from our flexible curriculum, which takes into consideration every child's individual interests, activities directed by the teacher and input from family. We encourage parents to visit http://www.madchildcare.com.au/centres/beacon-hill/centre-page/ about our dedicated service.
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