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Choosing quality child-care
Quality child-care should support a child’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical well-being.
East Kootenay Child Care Resource & Referral promotes the right of each child to quality care, which includes the right to a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. We provide child-care referrals, information and support to East Kootenay families, child-care providers and community partners.
Child Care Provider and Facility Observations
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, plug covers etc.).
- 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.
Being an effective child-care parent:
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 states that 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 or group child care facility please call Licensing Direct 1-877-980-5118. For general child-care information or child-care referrals in the East Kootenay contact Child Care Resource & Referral at 250-426-5677 or 1-800-661-2445.
East Kootenay Child Care Resource & ReferralÂ