Choose the best creche/day care facility in Rustenburg
This is probably one of the most difficult decisions mothers face. The happiness and well being of your precious child depends on this decision which has so many practical and emotional points to consider. We have outlined a few things to look at and questions to ask, but in the end you will have to trust your gut.
The first decision would be to decide if you want your child to go to a creche, play school or Pre-school, but what is the difference between these facilities?
Creche/Day care
Takes in babies from a couple of months old. Provide supervised play for babies and young toddlers where the focus is on childcare rather than education. Staff may have certificates but not necessarily degrees in early childhood development. These facilities provide a full daycare service.
Play School
Takes in children from ages 2-3. The emphasis is more on play, socialization and enjoyment. The groups are usually small and is a half-day or mornings only service. The service may also only be for a couple of mornings per week.
Pre School
Takes in children from ages 3-5 and may include Grade R. Pre schools are more formalized than play school and more educational with the focus on getting the child ready for school. Teachers may have degrees in educational fields and the Grade R should follow the same syllabus of government and private schools.
Once you have decided on one of the above, it is time to make a list of your options and here you will have to consider location, operating hours and cost.
Location
Most parents opt for a daycare that is either close to home or close to place of work. If it is close to work it has the advantage of you being closer to your child in case of your child being sick, but the disadvantage is that of your child having to spend more time travelling. With daycare closer to home, the advantage is that parents and children get to know other parents and children from their neighborhood.
Operating hours
This should be compatible with the working hours of the parents.
Also enquire on flexibility with dropping off and picking up of children, as a crisis at work or a traffic jam might land you in trouble with daycare and even being fined.
Ask what their policy is on holidays and other breaks.
Cost
We all want the best for our children but unfortunately our childcare should fit our budget. This is why it is so important to visit these facilities to get an overall picture and feel of the place. The more expensive place might not necessarily be the place your child will be more happy. Having said that, a cheaper facility might surprise you with hidden costs like additional fees for extramural activities or it might be lacking in other important areas like care, meals or security.
Other considerations:
Is the facility registered?
Any facility with 12 or more children up to the age of 6, should be registered with The Department of Social Development.
What will my child be doing every day?
Whether you want the focus to be on education or on play and socialization, ask about the activities, the equipment and toys that will be used and make sure that it is age appropriate, safe, clean and in good condition.
Ask about the curriculum being followed and also about their policies on discipline and safety.
With who will my child be spending most of his/her day?
Enquire about the teachers and other staff. They should be qualified and professional with a passion to work with children. Show up unannounced and use your eyes and ears to get an impression of the atmosphere at the facility.
Teachers who want to inspire kids’ creativity will be proud of them and brag with their art on walls, so have a look at the walls of classrooms and also the behaviour of the kids in their teacher’s presence.
Have a look around to see if the children look happy. The classrooms should be well lit and ventilated with a happy, cozy atmosphere.
Screaming and shouting is a definite “no” and should raise an alarm.
Ask about class sizes. The recommended teacher to child ratio is: 1:3 for children under 2, 1:4 for children between the ages of 2 and 3 years and 1:8 between the ages of 3-5 years.
Extra activities
Does the facility provide extra activities and if so, if it will it be on the premises and what are the cost involved.
Meals
Find out if the facility provides meals and snacks. Ask for the menu to see if the food is healthy and balanced and inspect the place where the meals are prepared to see if it is clean and hygienic.
Sleeping
Discus this with the daycare facility and ensure that you are happy with their policy. Some facilities force all children to sleep while others might have alternative arrangements for kids that won’t take afternoon naps. Also make sure that mattresses and bedding are clean or personalized.
Safety and security
A childcare facility should provide sufficient security features e.g. walls, fences and access control.
If there is a swimming pool on the premises, it should be covered and closed off.
Ask if there are staff members with first aid training on the premises and ask to see their training certificates. Also enquire about the facility’s policy with regards to emergencies.
Policy with regards to illnesses and medication
Childcare facilities should have strict policies with regards to sick children attending as well as sick staff members. Know the rules, it is in everyone’s best interest.
Medication sent to daycare should be kept in a safe place where kids can not get hold of it and should be handled by a responsible person.
These facilities should have an open door policy, make use of it. Ask as many questions you want, drop by unannounced and trust your gut feel.
Once you’ve made your decision and your child is attending the facility that is the best for him/her, remember to keep the communication channels open, speak up when you are unhappy about something, give praise where due, be supportive and stay involved.
Creches in Rustenburg:
Platinum Stars 014 592 6952
or have a look at the ShowMe Rustenburg directory for more creches in Rustenburg.