Understanding The Basics Of Day Care Safety

List of Day Care Safety Checklist Tips

Signs A Day Care Is A Safe Environment For Your Child

There are so many factors to consider when looking into the ideal daycare for your child. You want somewhere close to home, that is affordable, and that your child will love, but you also need an environment that is as safe and secure as possible.

Here are some signs that your chosen day care will provide a safe environment for your precious bundle of joy:

Licensed And Certified

Always ensure that your daycare of choice is licensed and certified by the local authorities, that their certificates are up to date and prominently displayed. This means that the establishment is adhering to essential safety protocols. Also, check the accreditations of each of the teachers and facilitators that will be looking after your children, and if they have first aid training or security training. Be sure to check how long ago these qualifications were done to ensure that they know the latest ways of doing things and that their knowledge is being refreshed on a regular basis.

You can also check these licenses with the local authorities and see if there has ever been any relapse or black marks against them, like a case of reported abuse.

Formalized Procedures

Ask your daycare about their formal procedures for dealing with emergencies, including injuries and fire drills. Are these procedures clearly detailed in the facility and on hand for all staff to easily access?

Also, check with the teachers and educators that they are knowledgeable about what these procedures are. You can also check to see if your daycare has a specific health consultant or doctor on call should the need arise.

Childproofing

One of the most important things to look at is if the spaces have been adequately childproofed. Are windows out of the reach of little hands? Do the outlets have covers over them? Are any stairs blocked off by gates? Are any small objects that could present a choking hazard put out of reach? Are any pools or ponds covered and fenced off?

Are medical and cleaning supplies kept locked away? Can they access a computer unsupervised? Are adult activities like online pokies NZ not readily accessible? These are all things that you need to think of when childproofing your house, and the same principles need to apply at your chosen daycare.

The Number Of Teachers

To ensure a safe environment always, it's important that there aren’t too many children per caregiver. As a guideline, you should look at a daycare that has no more than four infants or toddlers under the age of 2 years old per caregiver. For children older than 2 but younger than 3, no more than 6 children per caregiver is recommended, and for children between 3 and 6, no more than 9 kids per teacher is the recommendation.

Your children will also be safest in an environment that has consistent caregivers. You don’t want a place with a high staff turnover or where the teachers operate on a casual basis as this means they are also trying to learn the environment while keeping an eye on your child.