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Choosing Quality Child Care
Child Care Provider and Facility Observations
‘Quality child care should support a child’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical well-being.’
Does the Child Care Provider:
Listen to children when they speak and respond with interest and respect?
Accept and value the children’s ideas and suggestions?
Display a sense of humour?
Respond with care and understanding to a child who may be fearful, shy, upset, hurt, or angry?
Encourage children to cooperate with each other?
Promote the development of problem-solving skills and a sense of independence?
Set reasonable limits for behaviour and respond to inappropriate behaviour in a fair, consistent, respectful manner?
Initiate conversations with the children other than instructions, announcements, and commands?
Spend time with children on an individual basis?
Allow children a choice in many situations?
Make the children feel good about themselves?
Does the Facility:
Combine both individual play and group activities?
Provide opportunities for children to explore their environment in different ways i.e. through music and creative movement, fantasy play, construction toys, games, outdoor play and field trips?
Offer a balance between free play and organized activities?
Have a consistent yet flexible schedule?
Follow routines for rest, toileting, and mealtimes in a relaxed manner?
Reflect our multicultural society?
The Facility and Environment:
Is safe (i.e. cupboards with cleaning agents are locked: kitchen knives are out of reach, stairways are gated, there is a fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, and plug covers).
Is clean, warm, and inviting.
Is well lit and comfortable in temperature.
Has children’s artwork displayed.
Includes areas for a child to play alone, areas for both quiet and active play, and a safe outdoor play area.
Offers a good supply of varied, challenging and age or developmentally appropriate toys and play materials. Toys and play materials must be in good repair and easy for children to access.
A parent’s responsibility does not end with finding child care. The three-way relationship between the parent, provider, and child requires an ongoing commitment. Communication is vital. Take the time to hear about your child’s day. Agree on mutual expectations with the child care provider; voice concerns, express appreciation, live up to the child care agreement, and are aware of the programs policies and your expectations.
What does legal child care look like?
B.C. law says you can care for two children not related to you by blood or marriage, (plus your own) at any given time without a child care license. The only time you could care for more than two children other than your own is if they are a sibling group from one family. Anyone providing care for three or more children, not related to them by blood or marriage, is required by law to become licensed. If someone cares for three or more children without a license, they are operating illegally. By operating illegally, it may invalidate the liability insurance coverage and they could be fined! For information on opening a licensed family child care please call enquiry BC toll free at 1-800-663-7867 (elsewhere in B.C.) and ask for the local health authority in your area.
If you would like more information to join our group, visit the Cranbrook Social Planning Society Facebook page www.facebook.com/CranbrookSocialPlanning/ where meeting details and activities will be posted. The January meeting of the Society is scheduled for Monday, January 16 starting at 10 a.m. at the United Church on 12th Avenue downtown. Join us to learn of community services, activities and ways you may wish to be involved.
Adapted from: ‘Child Care Matters – a parent’s guide to choosing quality child care’ from Eastern Fraser Valley Child Care Coalition in partnership with Success by 6 and Child Care Choices.
Contact East Kootenay Child Care Resource & Referral for more information 250-426-5677 / 1-800-661-2445
Submitted by the Cranbrook Social Planning Society and United Way East Kootenay
