PREPARING FOR DAYCARE 

You’ve decided to send your child to daycare and have realized the research has just begun. After browsing the Alberta child care subsidy for applicable licensed facilities, a wealth of questions remain for you to feel at peace with your choice. 

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON CHILDCARE?

Philosophies are important in childcare as indicators that the day’s activities are done with a purpose and that actions are rooted in strong values that shape the program. Little Angels Airdrie daycare’s program is unified under the belief to nurture the whole development of a child, where play-based learning is revered to create a lifelong curiosity for discovery.

WHAT IS YOUR TRANSPORTATION POLICY? 

Having an easy-to-reach day-care with multiple pick-up and drop-off points makes juggling work with daycare and family time easier. If you have another little one attending elementary school, look for a daycare in its vicinity or with pick-up and drop-off points attached to the school. Little Angels drop-in daycare offers transportation options at E. Cole Edwards Elementary School, Windsong Heights Elementary School and A.E. Bowers Elementary School.

WHICH CERTIFICATIONS DO YOUR STAFF HAVE?

Little Angels daycare provides 10 years’ experience in childcare with our belief in the more we know, the better we can look after those under our care. The quality of a childcare program depends on the experience of its caregivers in their attentiveness to each child’s needs. On your private tour, meet the caregivers who will be taking care of your child, ask what training they have, if they have been trained in first aid and how long they have been working in the childcare profession. 

WHAT IS THE STAFF-TO-CHILD RATIO?

Attending a daycare tour allows you to experience first-hand the amount of space the facility offers. Low child-to-staff ratios ensure each child is being prioritized and receiving quality care. For children 19 months to less than three years, the primary staff-to-child ratio is allocated at 1:6 with a maximum of 12 children per group under the new Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulation. 

WHAT DOES YOUR DAY-TO-DAY SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE? 

One of the benefits of choosing which daycare facility your child will attend is that you have ample opportunity to research your top choices’ daily schedules. Each daycare centre will structure their day’s meals, play, discussion, story-time, rest and creative activities differently. Choosing the right routine for your child is important for them to feel comfortable and engaged in learning.

WHAT ARE YOUR SECURITY MEASURES?

Your questions should also take into consideration how qualified the daycare’s facility is to provide ultimate security. Does the daycare centre have locked doors? How are visitors greeted and accepted when entering the building? Who is allowed within the building? Spend time talking about the daycare’s emergency protocols so that you know even in worst-case scenarios, you can feel rest assured your child is safe. 

When touring daycare centres, keep your list of questions the focus of your attention. Feeling complete peace of mind when sending your child to daycare is not without the nerves that come with a new facility. Let your questions offer you security in your choice while your bonds with the daycare grow to form close connections. Registration for Little Angels daycare is open. Book a private tour of our accredited Airdrie daycare center any day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. We are excited to answer any and all of your questions!