Choosing the right place for your child to stay during the day can be challenging. Every parent wants the best for their little one, but they also have a budget and may be limited to a certain area. How do you choose the right place for your child?
The first step is to ask some questions. Here are a few you can start with:
1. What Nursery Supplies Are Included?
You should find out what is already provided at the day nursery. This will let you know what you need to send with your child, as well. For example, nappies, milk, snacks, etc. If you do need to supply food and other items, be sure to find out what the rules are. Some places do not allow sweets or peanut butter, for example.
2. How Will My Child’s Special Needs Be Handled?
Does your child have any special needs? Are they allergic to anything? Do they require toilet training?
These are all things that require some special attention. Ask how the day nursery will handle these requirements and what their policy is if a child needs to take medication, etc. Who will be responsible for ensuring your little one is looked after properly?
3. Can I See Examples of Child Activities?
The best part of the day nursery is the child activities that are arranged for your little one. The teachers use these activities to give your child the opportunity to learn new skills and reinforce old ones. It’s also a good way to entertain the children while they learn. You want a good mix of sitting activities and movement-based fun, to keep children active and engaged.
Activities for children should also be age-appropriate. While it’s fine to stretch their learning muscles, very small toddlers will not learn at the same level as preschoolers. The activities and lessons should be designed to help everyone advance.
4. Are There Outdoor Play Areas?
Being indoors all day can be tedious, especially for small children.
However, you will want to ensure the day nursery has outdoor play areas that are well-suited for your little ones. It should be more than merely a patch of grass and should include different areas for play and exploration. Ideally, there will be child activities planned for the outdoors, as well.
5. What is the Child-Teacher Ratio?
Something else that is very important is how many children will each staff member be responsible for. You want to be sure that your child will be well cared for, which can be difficult if there are too many children for each person to watch.
Once you are fairly sure you have the right place for your children, you’ll want to ensure you visit. Your child can often take a tour of the building with you, as well. This gives them a chance to see what the place is like and to get excited about joining.
Are you looking for a day nursery for your children? At Little Acorns Day Nursery, we have the teachers and activities that your child needs to grow and be happy. Contact us today for more information.
