Day care-just like home


You have probably seen one in your neighbourhood.
You have even contemplated taking your baby there but then you have also had reservations, not knowing what care he will receive. We give you an insight on what day care centres are all about.

What should a parent look out for when choosing a day care centre?

Safety: How secure is the area where the day care is situated. Are the surroundings convenient and safe? Do they pose any danger to a baby?

Toys: Some toys could be dangerous. Some could be too small, making it easy to swallow. Ensure that toys that are available are okay for different ages.

Teachers: The number one thing that the teachers must have knowledge of is first-aid. When you leave your child at the centre, remember that the teachers become your eyes. You need to know that your baby is in safe hands in order to have peace.

Population: How many teachers can handle a number of babies? The ratio should be reasonable. One teacher cannot be responsible for over four babies below the age of three. Ensure to know the number of children in a particular day care and the number of teachers.

Space: Children need to move around freely and not to be restricted in one area. Look out for spacious rooms and playgrounds. Children should not be kept indoors all the time.

Colours: Colour is very important to a baby. There are those colours that make a baby wild and restless and others that have a calming effect. Thus it is also important to look at the colour decor in a particular day care to ensure that it is the best selection.

A day care centre is a place where your child is taken care of at times when you are engaged elsewhere. It is a professional environment where a baby’s holistic development is emphasized. Faith Day Care is one such facility. Here a child’s spiritual needs are also catered for. ‘We do not try to replace a mother; we help in nurturing the baby when there arises need,’ says Catherine Nyambane, the principal of Faith Day-Care Centre. There is a definite need for day care centres as majority of mothers are forced to continue working when the baby is only a few months old. And the thought of leaving the child under the care of the untrained house helps, is also unfathomable to many parents, as some of them are not to be trusted.

Can’t a house help take care of both baby and household chores?
A house help is basically suited to do house work. He or she does not have formal training in baby care and may not be in a position to know a baby’s needs as much as the parent or a professional. Then again, house work is sure to divert their attention. The thought that a baby is being handled by a professional should get rid of any worry from a parent’s mind.

What prompts parents to take their babies to day care centres?
In most instances, the absence of a house help is what leads most parents to opt for day care centres. The idea that you can leave your baby in a day care when you have a house help at home is still new to most parents. They feel that a house help is adequate. Other instances when parents bring their children to a day care are when they have to travel and/or to work.

How does a child spend a typical day at the day care?
The children are brought in the morning; they are then fed a healthy, balanced breakfast. After that they are guided in singing and playing. The older ones, like three year olds’ engage in easy learning, like identifying various shapes of objects. Then there is a Bible story telling session followed by play time. The children have a snack at ten.
Lunch is offered at 12.30pm. In the afternoon they take a nap. They then do little activities like playing with toys. There is hot chocolate and a snack at 4pm as we ready them to leave. For the really young ones we constantly talk to them and play; we select activities that aid them in speech development and muscle and eye coordination.

What benefits accrue from a day care?
Today you find that most parents opt to get just one child or two. Many children therefore are closed up with no play mates and some develop characteristics like shyness. In day care, we expose children to mixing up with others. The child is hence able to grow up comfortably with his peers. In the day care we also expose the babies to activities that will teach eye and muscle coordination. We constantly talk to the children and you find that children who are constantly spoken to develop speech fast. The first 12 months are important to a child. We ensure that the children get a good foundation.

At the least level of education, what should the teachers have acquired?
The first thing any day care provider should know is the ABC of First Aid. They should also have training in early child development (ECD). At Faith Day Care we have taken the responsibility of training parents, parents-to-be, house helps and even young people on the first aid skills in children. A child minder course.

Is there an age limit for children who should be brought to a day care?
At Faith Day Care, it is from age zero onwards.

What misconceptions do parents have about day care centres?
Some do not trust that day cares are manned by professionals. Many would rather leave the baby at home with a house girl.

Today you find that most parents opt to get just one child or two. Many children therefore are closed up with no play mates and some develop characteristics like shyness. In day care, we expose children to mixing up with others.

END: BL18/57-58

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.