September 05, 2017 by Snupit
Choosing the right crèche for your child may seem like a simple and straightforward task, either the closest or the cheapest? Those are two factors worth considering, but when you are choosing the people and the establishment that will be teaching, caring and playing a primary role in the influence of your little one, you want to be sure that you are choosing quality first. The care and time that is invested into your child will reflect later on. There are simple ways to tell whether a crèche will be a good option for your child or not. Here are simple telling signs to look for.
Choosing a crèche; is it a well run established?
When you visit a school, pay attention to the facility. A derelict building, old and broken toys, torn books and dirty walls, floors or surfaces indicate a careless attitude. The staff that are sitting around and calling out to children is also a sign of laziness and inattention to detail. A well-run establishment should be clean, neat, have a board or a system in place for parents to see, and toys that are in good condition and not a safety risk with broken parts. A school does not need to have a lot of toys, just well-maintained toys. All plug sockets should be covered, and there should be no buckets or ponds of water that children can access. Staff should not be sitting around, but busy among the children. If adults find they are able to sit around, they are not looking after children in the way they should be.
How many staff members do they have per child?
Too many children and too few staff members can be a real recipe for disaster, while it may save the school a bit of money. It is important for the safety of the children that there are enough staff members to watch the children. A good rule of thumb is one adult to three children. This ensures that no child can wander off, fall, go missing or be bullied by other children without an adult noticing. It also ensures that an emergency situation will be easier to deal with, having more hands capable of helping and covering all of the bases needed.
How do the staff members come across to you?
Whether you encountered a cleaning lady, a carer or a teacher, how they treated you is extremely important. Remember those good manners can’t really be taught to children without first being role modelled. If staff members frequently use raised voices with each other or with the children, or if they neglect to say please or thank you, even when speaking to the children, they are role modelling poor behaviour. Make sure you leave your children with polite and pleasant people who are happy they came to work and happy to be there. That way your child will feel welcome in the world and accepted and loved.
Nothing is more important than a loving and happy environment for your child. After all, being away from their mother is a difficult and stressful adjustment to make. Find the perfect creche in your area now, look on Snupit.