ChildCare Readiness

There are so many footwear options out there, some of them being very cute and trendy. Cute or trendy does not always mean practical though, and it is important that the footwear children wear while in child care be practical.

In Ontario, The Child Care and Early Years Act is legislation issued by the Provincial Government which governs how child care centres operate within the Province. The Act states that children who are in child care for 6 or more hours in a day must have at least 2 hours of outdoor play time, weather permitting. This means that footwear for children attending a child care centre needs to be outdoor friendly.

It’s very helpful to take your child with you when you go shoe or boot shopping, to ensure that the footwear you purchase is easy to put on and fits your child properly.

Shoes that have velcro instead of laces allow children to more easily put on their own shoes, giving them a sense of confidence and independence. They are also much easier for Educators to help children put on, saving valuable time!

Sandals that have a covered toe and heel strap, allow children to play safely outside during warmer months, without their toes being stubbed or run over by speedy wheels. The back straps, or heal straps, allow children to run, jump, and make quick turns without their sandals falling off or twisting.

Crocs, or similar shoes, are very popular footwear for children during warmer months. They are a handy shoe for times when children are playing in water because they are easy to clean and they dry quickly. However, during outdoor play times without water, Educators have anecdotally reported higher rates of children tripping and falling while wearing Croc like shoes, due to the front of the shoe appearing to catch on paved surfaces.

Winter boots should be waterproof; wet boots quickly lead to wet and cold feet, and no one wants to be outside in the winter when their feet are wet and cold. Winter boots should also be tall, so that snow pants can be pulled over top of them to keep snow from getting inside the boots.

It can be very expensive to buy footwear for growing feet. Consider looking at children’s consignment shops for used footwear at a reduced price, as well as online options for gently used children footwear.

Keep smiling everyone : )

Accompanying sleep at the top of the parenting pyramid is food/eating. When children eat, how much they eat, what they eat or what they don’t eat, are all frequent concerns for parents.

In a child care setting, Infants sit in high chairs or other specialized seating specifically for Infants which securely supports them. While Toddlers and Preschoolers use age appropriate tables and chairs.

In an Infant Program, children are encouraged to feed themselves, either with their hands or a spoon. In Toddler and Preschool Programs, children are expected to feed themselves with occasional support from an Educator. If your child is unable to feed themselves due to a medical issue, speak with the Educators to figure out the best way to support your child.

It is not possible for each child to be individually fed by an Educator, and independent eating gives children control over what goes into their body. Through this independence they gain confidence, as well as enjoyment from mealtimes.

An Infant will only be given foods that the child’s parent(s) have previously introduced and confirmed are safe for the child to eat. The Educators will not introduce new foods to a child before the child’s parent(s) have introduced the food at home first.

While sitting for mealtimes, give your child time to practise feeding themselves; time to explore food and try new flavours and textures. Try to make mealtimes a relaxing, shared experience.

A great resource for food related questions: https://www.janetlansbury.com/tag/mealtimes/

Keep smiling everyone : )

Along with food/eating, sleep is right up there at the top of the stress inducing pyramid that is parenting.

In a childcare setting Infants sleep in cribs, while Toddlers and Preschoolers sleep on cots. While every effort by Educators will be made to make a child feel safe, secure and comfortable, there are not enough Educators to stay by each child simultaneously until they are sleeping.

Sleeping independently can be very scary for children who are accustomed to sleeping with someone next to them (ex. co-sleeping), or children who are regularly assisted in falling asleep (ex. held/rocked/fed).

It will put far less stress on a child beginning group care if they are confident in self-soothing, and falling into sleep on their own without an adult’s assistance. If a child is confident sleeping independently, they will have much needed restorative time, in which their body/mind can absorb all the fresh stimulus surrounding them.

Before your child starts group care, give them time to practise falling into sleep on their own, sleeping in a crib or child’s bed on their own, and settling back into sleep on their own if they wake prematurely.

If you have a child starting in group care who is transitioning to shorter naps, or no naps at all, then you can speak with the Educators on how best to support your child.

A great resource for assisting children with independent sleep: https://www.janetlansbury.com/tag/sleep/

Keep smiling everyone : )

With so much focus on ‘school readiness’, preparing your child for childcare seems to have fallen through the cracks! It is no less important, however, when we are talking about setting children up for success.

The intent of this blog is to fill that information gap, and facilitate an easier transition into childcare for both parent and child.

Helping your child get ready for group care will significantly reduce their stress/anxiety upon integration, and allow them to feel safe and confident in their new environment faster.

While there is a certain amount of flexibility within a childcare program in regards to welcoming new children, that flexibility is limited by the constraints and reality of providing care to multiple children at one time.

Keep smiling everyone : )