With so many daycare options to choose from in Vaughan, how do you decide which is the right place for your child?
When you are visiting any child care facility to determine if it’s the right fit for you and your child, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Do they have an open door policy?
- How does the daycare communicate with parents?
- Do they provide daily notes, send photos home, and invite you to view the program at any time? The more open the child care facility is, the more comfortable you may feel leaving your child for the day. It is also an indication that they are open to dealing with any questions or concerns you may have or any issues that might arise once your child is in their care.
2. Who are the teachers and support staff?
- What are the qualifications of the staff that will be caring for your child?
- Is the centre complying with Ontario regulations for child to staff ratios?
- Does the daycare invest in their teachers’ development to continuously ensure they are upgrading their skills as educators? A recent study conducted at Rutgers University in New Jersey, links early learning and development with teacher qualifications. Specifically, the study found that three- and four-year-olds learn the most — socially, emotionally and cognitively — when their teachers have diplomas that specialized in early childhood education (ECE).
3. Is it a safe and clean environment?
- Is the facility clean?
- Is the daycare secure? (Strangers should not be able to walk around unaccompanied) Look for child proofing techniques (covered outlets, door latches, medicines and other hazardous substances kept out of reach)
4. What is the learning environment like?
- Does the daycare invest in new toys & equipment that stimulate and encourage learning?
- Are the toys age-appropriate and is there a variety of learning areas set up? (e.g. books, puzzles, drama/dress up, art)
5. Do they provide balanced nutritious food?
- What steps does the facility take to make sure your child is eating balanced, nutritious meals? (You should be able to see a sample menu posted in the centre)
- Are they able to handle any allergy or dietary requirements?
6. What are their operating policies?
- The daycare centre should have clear policies in place for everything from pick up and drop off procedures to how to handle emergencies. They should be able to provide a copy of the policies. These policies can help avoid misunderstandings and having them in place shows that the facility is serious about the responsibility of caring for your child.
If you are looking for a child care facility that provides meets all of the above criteria, plan a visit to one of two Peekaboo Child Care Centres located in Vaughan. Their philosophy of care focuses on the whole child. They believe that children learn best through active exploration, experimentation and problem solving in a safe and stimulating environment. They also believe it is important to involve parents in their program and were the first child care centre in Canada to offer Video over the Internet technology. (This technology allows parents to see their child at any point during the day simply by logging onto the internet.)
Peekaboo Child Care Centres received the ‘Best of Vaughan Gold Award’ in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the best daycare centres. To learn more about their child care philosophy and their facilities, visit www.peekabookid.com.
They have two Vaughan locations to serve you:
Woodbridge location – 90 Trowers Road (Pine Valley & Hwy 7- near 407 & 400) 905.264.1255
Maple location – 2077 Rutherford Road (Rutherford & Keele – across from GO Station) 905.417.9440
