Choosing a Daycare that's right for your child
As a parent, I am sure you are well-aware of how incredibly difficult it is finding someone you truly trust to care for your children while you are away at work. Finding the perfect child-care provider may seem like a tedious and time-consuming task, but when it comes to your children, it is one of the most important decisions you, as a parent, can make.
What Type of Childcare Are You Looking For?
First and foremost, you need to consider what precisely you are looking to get out of your daycare or child-care provider, namely based upon your child's (or children's) age. Where an infant is concerned, more hands-on care is required, as opposed to a pre-k child who is more interested in playing with children their own age, and beginning to learn and grasp issues of life in a new way. Be sure that you take into consideration how many teachers or care-providers are at the location you are reviewing. A general rule of thumb is to have one adult per five children, but the more hands-on the staff, the better learning and growing experience for your child.
The Importance of Scheduled Activities for Children
One of the most important aspects of a child's early developmental stage is ensuring that a regular schedule is implemented in their day-to-day life, and seeking a care-provider who can offer this is one of the best qualities to look for. Children grow and feel comfortable with a scheduled day. They are less likely to feel uncertain of themselves if they are able to trust their surroundings, and those they are around. Make sure that the child-care or daycare center you are considering has a daily schedule that works around your own, and is easy for your child to accept and grow with.
Another highly important aspect to consider is daily activities, including mealtime. Some questions you may want to ask yourself are, what activities are provided for your child? Are they age appropriate? Do they instill learning and developing in ways that are beneficial to your child? Are meals and snacks provided? Are they nutritious in a manner that provides growth and health? You would be quite surprised at how many parents overlook these very important questions, and find themselves faced with some difficult consequences.
Licensing and Certification
In your search for finding the best care provider for your children, it is incredibly important to question the certifications of both the center or home-location of the daycare, as well as the certifications of teachers, instructors, or care-provider. If you are choosing a daycare, make sure that the daycare is licensed, you can even search to see if any complaints have been filed against the care-center, also be sure that any teachers, or care-providers are CPR and First-Aid Certified. It only takes one brief second of a care-provider looking away that could have detrimental consequences for your children if the adult is unsure of what measures to take to help your child. Do not be afraid to ask questions, or even request visual documents of certifications.
Do a Trial
If you have settled or are in question of a care-center, it is okay to give it a trial run. Allow your child the opportunity to try-out the care-center, and if they are old enough, truly listen to what they have to say. If they are still infants, drop in unexpectedly to the center to see how things are being run, watch your child's behavior, just because a child can not speak, does not mean they can not communicate, and always be sure to listen to your heart. Parental instinct is one of the best options you have, if something does not feel right, it probably isn't.
Take your time
There are many options in the Surrey BC, area, however there is only one perfect fit for your child's particular and individual needs. It is okay to take your time in choosing the best care-provider for your child, never be afraid to interview, ask a great number of questions, and take a lot of tours, it may seem time-consuming, but the best option is out there for you and your children, you simply need to find it! And it may be closer than you think.
Our Approach
At Bonnycastle Daycare and Childcare Services, we value the importance of scheduled daily activities for young minds. Our daily program includes enough variety to keep it exciting for the kids while ensuring that there is overall structure and consistency. Our program includes, circle time, morning songs, snack-times, arts and crafts, lunch time (including an optional free hot lunch), nap time, outdoor/playground activity, and show and tell – just to name a few. Apart from these, those that are enrolled in our Montessori Preschool program will take part in proven classroom activities taught by the Montessori method of childhood education. Our facilities are fully licensed and our educators are well qualified with many years experience in the child care industry. We love visitors, call us to schedule a visit at one of our locations in Guildford, Surrey and we'd be glad to show you and your child around. Fair warning, once your child discovers how fun learning can be at one of our childcare centers, your little one may not want to leave.