Almost as soon as Danielle Hennessy found out she was pregnant, she put her name on a waiting list for daycare.
After 18 months of being on the registry, the P.E.I. woman says she finally got a great spot for her one-year-old.
When able, Hennessy says, families should consider the questions they want to ask the daycare provider before making a final decision, so they can feel good about leaving their child.
In fact, parents should put at least as much time into finding quality childcare as they would when purchasing a new car, says Lila Hope-Simpson, former owner of the Home & Heart Family Day Care Agency, who had been in the early childhood education sector for 44 years prior to her retirement.
"There are many childcare options these days and, as a parent, it is important to ask the right questions to make the best choice for your family," she says.
The first step, says Hope-Simpson, is to understand the different types of childcare available.
Types of Childcare
Running a licensed childcare means you must follow government legislation, explains Valerie Collins, coordinator of Family and Child Care Connections, a non-profit organization in St. John’s, N.L. that recruits, approves, and supports family childcare providers who care for children in their own homes.
In Nova Scotia, licensed facilities, whether they are located in a private home or a centre, must follow guidelines regarding communicable diseases, food and nutrition guidelines, fire marshal regulations, and the environmental department's regulations for childcare, adds Juli MacHattie, owner of Little Pumpkins Early Learning Centre and an after-school program in Kentville, N.S.
'Unlicensed' means you are unregulated and have no support from a governing body, says Collins.
"It can refer to your neighbour or a babysitter," says MacHattie. "There are fewer rules around the number of children per age, per caregiver that is allowed."
The onus is on the parents to ask questions and make sure that the program offered meets their needs, says Hope-Simpson.
How to Decide
When deciding which facility or home is best for your child, MacHattie says much depends on the family’s expectations or what they value for care for their children.
Rachael Cameron, a former Charlottetown, P.E.I. preschool teacher who operated an in-home daycare for a few years, says ideally, families would interview potential childcare options like they would interview new employees.
Cameron says key things to consider include the daycare’s location, affordability, whether it is available during the hours needed for your family, and if they are first aid certified.
Shelley Richard, who has operated a home daycare in P.E.I. for over 20 years, says parents also need to ask about the daycare’s daily routine, what activities for learning and fun do they do, what types of food are served, how they deal with picky eaters and food aversions, sleep schedules for various ages, outside playtime, sick days, days off for appointments, vacation time, and sick policies for kids. Ask about snow days and school day closures, too, she adds.
Things like WHIMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) and food safety aren't really necessary in a home environment, says Richard, but if these are important to parents, ask questions and look around.
"If there's something that is very important to a parent, they need to be sure to ask before starting care," she says.
Also, look around for safety issues. For example, check what type of cleaning products are used and where are they stored, says Richard.
“Experience and good references are important,” says Richard.
If someone is just starting out or is relatively new, ask how long they intend to do daycare, she continues. A parent doesn't want to have to search for a new daycare in a year or two.
Parents should also look at the overall childcare program to ensure it is a quality program, says Collins. This means that the childcare provider is offering activities, an environment, and a routine that will meet the developmental needs of all the children in care regardless of age and stage of development.
Toys and equipment provided should stimulate all areas of development, explains Collins. There should be a variety of activities provided for all learning areas. For example, a book area should contain types of books for all ages as well as a comfy, quiet place to sit. A block area should contain different types of blocks for different levels of play, she says.
Record checks are a heavily weighted regulation for childcare centres to acquire and maintain for anyone who oversees children in a classroom, even for a teacher's bathroom break, says MacHattie.
Anyone who is approved with Family and Child Care Connections requires all record checks, including certificate of conduct, vulnerable record checks, child protection checks, immunization records, and first aid, says Collins.
Other family members in the day home also require checks as well but are not permitted to care for the children in care unless they are designated as a substitute. They are permitted, however, to be around the children.
Collins always tells parents they should ask many questions about what is important for them but in the end, they should also go by their gut instinct. Not all family childcare homes are the right match for every parent.
“If you don’t have a good feeling at the end of the day, then you should continue your search,” says Collins.
The bottom line is to ask questions, look around and observe, check references, and trust your instincts to ensure that your childcare choice is the best option for you and your children, says Hope-Simpson.
Subsidies common question
A subsidy reduces the family's cost of care based on their financial information. For example, if you are approved for $6 per day, the government will pay the daycare that amount, and your daily amount is reduced by $6, explains MacHattie.
There are rules such as how many days you can miss per month and if you go over the allotted days, you will not receive the subsidy and must pay the full daily amount to the provider, she says, adding that it's important for families to learn all the details.
In Nova Scotia, guardians must apply directly through the government through an online form to see if they are eligible.
Check the Fine Print
Childcare policies should be in writing so families can refer to them later, says Hope-Simpson. She adds that parents should read them carefully.
“There are many sticky messes that occur, mostly around not properly reading contracts or not fully understanding the program that is being offered,” says Collins.
There have been times when parents have signed contracts they haven’t fully read, says Collins. They are so excited to find the right childcare for their child but then, two years later, find out they must pay four weeks' notice if they have to end childcare quickly for some reason.
Inadequate Spaces
Despite all the preparation, it can be difficult to find daycare for children.
The reality right now for daycare in P.E.I., especially for those under two years old, says Hennessy, is that there are not enough daycare spaces available. Families have to take what they can get.
“People are sending their kids to childcare providers that they are not 100 per cent comfortable with because they have no other choice,” she says. “That would be a terrible feeling, but people have to return to work.”
Cameron agrees. Unfortunately, she says, it's often those who have an unlimited childcare budget or who can afford a full-time, live-in nanny who can afford to be choosier about where they send their children to daycare.
“It would be wonderful to be able to have lots of options and run through a checklist of questions to pick the best option for their family,” says Cameron, noting this just isn’t possible with the lack of spaces.
Céline Beuvens Nicaise is working with the Association des Centres de la Petite Enfance Francophones de L'Île-du-Prince-Édouard (ACPEFÎPÉ) in P.E.I. advocating for a change in laws to open Francophone home childcare services to help guarantee parents get excellent quality of service because the agency would be there as a regulatory body to supervise the daycare providers. Parents would pay the agency, who then provides a salary to the employees. The agency would provide the daycare provider with equipment and support.
“We have asked for a change in the law because this system does not yet exist in P.E.I. and we are waiting for a decision,” says Beuvens Nicaise, noting this policy currently exists in other provinces like Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Finding quality childcare is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your child, adds Collins.
"Learning begins as soon as a child enters the world and so much brain development happens in the early years. Children deserve to have the best possible experiences for learning. This should be happening at childcare," says Collins. "It's up to parents to know the information and make the best choices."
Questions to ask prospective daycare providers:
Lila Hope-Simpson, former owner of the Home & Heart Family Day Care Agency, who was in the early childhood education sector for 44 years prior to her retirement, suggests parents ask the following questions when choosing a daycare for their children.
- What are your policies regarding holidays, payments and fees, vacation, illness exclusion, late fees, substitutes, outings, etc.?
- Does your program include outdoor play? Is your yard safely fenced, away from the road and does your play equipment meet safety standards?
- Is there a swimming pool or trampoline in the yard? What are your safety measures?
- What items do the parents need to supply and what is supplied by the day care home?
- Do children take daily naps? Are regulation cribs and/or mats provided? What if they do not require a daily nap?
- Are lunches and snacks provided? What about special diets and nutrition guidelines?
- Is there ample opportunity for free play and socializing daily? Are play materials developmentally appropriate?
- Who is authorized to pick up children?
- Are emergency contacts required?
- Is there an authorization form for outings and medical emergencies?
- What is your policy on vaccinations?
- What is your behaviour guidance policy?
- Do you have references?
- Do you provide receipts for income tax purposes?
- Do you have your emergency first aid and CPR training, criminal records check and child abuse register check? What about other adults living in the house? Do you have an approved first-aid kit?
- How many children may be in your care and what ages- including your own children?
- Do you ever provide substitute teachers and if so, what are their credentials?
- Do you ever provide transportation in your own vehicles? Are appropriate car seats provided?
- Regarding fire safety, do you have fire extinguishers and are heating sources (wood stoves, heaters, fireplaces, radiators, etc. child safe? Do you conduct fire drills?
- What is your cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing schedule? Are cleaning products and medications kept out-of-reach from children? What are your COVID policies?
- Has your tap water been tested? Is it safe to drink?
- Do you carry liability insurance?
- What are your parent communication policies? Are confidentiality and privacy respected? Can parents drop in at any time?
Preferably, she says, these policies should be in writing for future reference. Other questions should cover the developmental needs of the child - physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually.
