How to find the safest childcare environment for your toddler

There are a number of amazing childcare and early education service facilities available across South Africa, each with their own unique style of teaching young children. Choosing what is best for your toddler can be difficult. It’s crucial to remember that play is fundamental to a child’s early growth. As a result, it’s critical to find a daycare centre that values play as a valuable learning tool.

CHILDSAFE (www.childsafe.org.za) provides the following guidelines:

Non-negotiable factors

The following should be included in all childcare and early pre-school education services:

• Experienced or trained staff
• Safe and clean premises
• Appropriate child to staff ratio
• Appropriate fun and daily activities

Experienced and trained teachers and support staff

Working with young children is a highly specialised and demanding job. Staff who have been trained have the confidence to provide outstanding services to your kid and family. Here are seven important questions to ask the facility about staff training and experience:

1. Are teachers and caregivers appropriately trained with relevant experience?
2. Are staff members certified in basic first-aid?
3. Are staff trained in child development?
4. Are staff trained in identification of child abuse?
5. Are staff trained in the prevention of injury?
6. What is the staff turnover per year?
7. How are staff recruited?

A safe, clean, and secure environment

All children deserve safe, comfortable, well-equipped childcare/daycare premises. Good characteristics are a bright and cheerful venue, clean, safe, and also child friendly.

• Are Safety policies in place, such as medication administration, accident reports, health and safety policy, and drop off and collection.
• Are buildings and playgrounds regularly checked for safety?
• Are poison control and emergency numbers next to the phone?
• Are children protected from strangers?
• Are regular fire drills practised?
• Are young children able to get to high places?
• Are all electrical outlets covered?
• Are toys age-appropriate, kept clean, and safe?
• Are playground equipment age-appropriate and have safe surfaces underneath?
• Are safety gates used?
• Does the centre use safe heating appliances?

A word on overcrowded classrooms

It is important to know how many children there are for each staff member. If the childcare facility is overcrowded and the rotation is not appropriate then the safety and care of children will be jeopardised. It is also advisable that elder and younger children are separated.

Appropriate Fun Daily Activities

Does the school programme include parent involvement? If so what does it entail? Other factors parents need to consider are:

• Is the atmosphere happy, caring, and child-centred?
• Are programmes and weekly planners on display in each classroom?
• Is the school up to date with new developments in education?
• What is the centre’s procedure on discipline and other issues?

Take your time before making a decision

Choosing childcare and early education is a big step for you and your child but should not be a scary situation. Parents should give themselves enough time to visit several possible options to determine what suits their child’s needs.

Possible red flags

Look out for the following signs that might suggest problems:

• No involvement of parents in the daycare practices
• Unexplained accidents
• High staff turnover
• Staff fails to answer questions and address parents concerns
• Management cannot offer written copies of policies of daycare givers.