Daycare Centers and Child Care Providers - Assignment Example

Introduction Daycare centers and child care providers are among the most sought-out services for any family in which there are young children and both parents are employed, or it is a single-parent home in which the only adult is working or attending school. Finding a child care that not only suits the needs of a child but also ensures their safety is critical to a child’s development and wellbeing. Deciding on the proper facility takes a lot of research and consideration, oftentimes expanding outside of the daycare facility itself, such as viewing background reports on the child care providers within the daycare center and the history of the daycare facility itself. Further research should be undergone to see what kind of feedback the facility holds. If I were a parent and wanting to put my child into a daycare facility, for an added peace of mind while being away from my child for any length of time, I would look for a facility that is both physically and emotionally safe and educationally sound. Nothing is more important to a growing child then safety, compassion and knowledge. It is vital that these characteristics exist in an environment that will potentially aid the growth of a child. It is especially important to realize the existences of these aspects when the parent is not going to be around their child during this time; it takes a while for a child to adapt to the absence of their parents, so a warm and welcoming daycare facility will prove to be comforting to the child. A surefire method to ensure that a child is going to an appropriate and well-designated facility is to check in with the local Child Care Resource and Referral. This company can refer quality daycare facilities and services, as well as information on state licensing of the daycare providers and feedback from other parents who have used the designated service (NACCRRA, 2010). The referral company also keeps track of any negative feedback that a facility receives and if improvements were made in response to the feedback. The website also lists the qualities that make a daycare facility worthwhile and family-friendly. Physical and emotional safety The environment that a child is in needs to be safe for that child. Especially in a location that holds numerous children, there should be no means of harm or danger that the child could get themselves into or be involved in. The daycare facility needs to be free of dangerous chemicals or items, such as cleaning supplies, knives or other sharp utensils. Doors and drawers should be inaccessible to children. In the case that children do have access to a room, the room should not be left unattended as long as children are able to enter it. If an adult is unable to be in the room, then it should be situated that children no longer have access to said room. If the facility has a pool on the premises, gates with locks should be set around the pool and adults should keep their eyes open for curious children edging near to the gates. Any doors leading to a pool should always remain locked. Furthermore, the child to adult ratio should be small, allowing children to have the care and attention that they require. When it comes to children, there is no such thing as too much attention or too many watchers. Children always need to be in the sight of an adult to avoid trouble or potentially dangerous situations. These adults need to be trained in emergency situations, such as choking, drowning and minor to major injuries. They need to know how to react in the case that something of the sort happens to one of the children that they are watching. As these adults are working in child care, in most states, they are required to be licensed to give the proper treatment to a child, like CPR. If they are not licensed, it is not an environment that a child would be safe in. With children, it is always a matter of better to be safe than to be sorry. In regard to emotional safety, the child care providers need to be able to tend to the emotional needs of a child, especially when the children are without their parents for a long length of time. Children require compassion, sympathy and love, and they should be able to get these from any adult who plays a big role in their life, whether it be a parent of a child care provider. Children, especially younger ones who tend to be more impressionable, need to be around adults that are aware and understanding of the emotional needs of children. Children do not need to be around adults who yell, swear, or become easily angered. Even in the case that a child misbehaves, the child care provider should be able to attend to the situation without becoming angered or giving the child a harsh punishment. The wellbeing of a child is put into question when they are subjected to negative emotions and reactions. The last thing a child needs is to be placed in a hostile environment. Education When selecting a child care provider, it is essential to pick one that can benefit the mental growth of a child. As child care often comes before the child’s enrollment in preschool or kindergarten, sometimes taking the place of preschool, it is in the child’s best interest to choose a child care facility that engages in educational activities (Ellis,1996). Even simple things such as coloring or playing games helps a child’s mental development; better yet are activities that can stimulate the mind as well as provide the child with exercise to keep them healthy and active. Other things that a child should be able to learn in a daycare environment is how to get along with others and how to respond to situations that involve them working in pairs or in groups. These skills are vital to children while they are in school, and should therefore be taught to them prior to enrollment in a larger school. Learning social skills is something that should be taught as children, as they are the most impressionable the younger they are. Activities, games and projects that allow children to work together will help to hone their social skills and learn how to work well with others. A daycare facility should not only be a safe place for children to be, but an educational one as well. Children need to start adapting life skills at a young age, especially skills that will allow them to be successful as they progress throughout school. Also, learning some of the basic skills of education, such as simple math, grammar, and the recognition of colors and shapes will help them as they further their education. Reflection A well-designated daycare facility is important to the growth and wellbeing of a child. It also allows the parents to work and maintain a household, knowing that their children are in good hands and in a safe place. The characteristics aforementioned are good things to look for in a quality daycare establishment. The characteristics include the safety of the building and of the staff, the activities that occupy the children, and the basic education and social skills that a child can gain from being in child care. Safety and education are important to a child. Even more so when the child is left alone with strangers, being away from its parents. The providers and employees of a daycare facility need to be understanding of the situation that a child is in once they have left the care and comfort of their parents. The child needs to feel safe with the people that their parents leave them with; if the child shows any discomfort, negative emotions, or behaviors that they did not display prior to daycare, then the parents need to consider placing their child with others. Children are important, and what happens to them when they are younger will effect them throughout life. Growing up is the most important time for children to have pleasant and beneficial experiences, and these should not be put at risk due to incompetent providers. To feel further assured, parents should look at their local Child Care Resource and Referral services. Through them, parents can be guaranteed good experiences with daycare services. The referral services has done all of the work to make sure that daycare services are appropriate and right for children. If the services do not pass the requirements for the referral service, it will be listed as such on the website. References Ellis, M. (1996). Child care: Yeow! I’m in charge of a human being! Logan, IA: Perfect Learning Corporation. NACCRRA. (2010). About Child Care Resource & Referral. Retrieved from http:// www.childcareaware.org/en/parent_information/about.php Daycare Checklist The facility is free of all danger, sharp objects, and harmful chemicals Doors and drawers are locked or inaccessible; pools are inaccessible There are plenty of activities to enrich a child mentally, physically and emotionally The daycare providers are warm and welcoming I learned how important it is for children to be in proper care when they are away from their parents. Their environments, especially for learning, are vital to their growth, health and overall wellbeing. A child can benefit from being in a good daycare environment, more so if daycare is taking the place of preschool. Read More