A high-quality daycare center plays a vital role in the appropriate development of children. While many children attend daycare centers and spend six hours a day on average in these facilities, the quality of such facilities is not necessarily satisfactory. Such factors as adequate attention to each infant, encouragement of development, attention to health and safety, professional and responsive caregivers can yield both significant results and critical information for parents and center administrators.
One of the most vital parameters which influence the overall quality of daycare centers is group size. According to Susanne, a caregiver at Giraffe daycare center, group size is a “major indicator” of the high-quality daycare center. Fewer children per caregiver facilitate the excellent organization of the group and cause less stress for children and caregivers. The child-to-adult ratio at Giraffe daycare center is low; two trained adults oversee no more than seven young toddlers. On this basis, each infant receives adequate attention from caregivers. According to Susanne, at such a “fragile” age, children require more attention and communication. To eliminate jealousy or a sense of indifference from adults, each child receives an equal amount of attention and care.
Another key to the high quality of daycare is the encouragement of development that caregivers provide. Every high-quality daycare center should contribute to “early learning, cognitive, language, and socioemotional development” (Shpancer, 2018, p.2). The cooperation and communication between caregiver and child are the most significant indicator of the intellectual development of a child. Anna, a mother of two toddlers, believes that when caregivers provide more individualized attention, manage activities in a structured way, and engage in more social interaction with the children, latter gain cognitive development.
As seen from above, a caregiver plays a crucial role in the lives of children and has a direct influence on their experience. The primary responsibilities of caregivers are to provide children with required development and entertainment. Thus, the level of success of children largely depends on their relationship with caregivers (Shpancer, 2018). In a case when a caregiver is warm and affectionate, and physically demonstrative, children cooperate successfully and do what is expected.
Nevertheless, the factor of professionalism of a caregiver is vital since work with children requires a specific area of expertise and experience. According to Anna, a caregiver must be a “good psychologist and teacher” to comply with the child’s needs. The high quality of a daycare center depends on the qualifications and skills of caregivers. Depending on their knowledge, caregivers will know what to do in emergencies, communicate with each child, and entertain them.
The last factor which contributes to the overall quality of a daycare center is attention to the health and safety of children. Each high-quality daycare must prioritize keeping everything under control and complying with the safety rules (Shpancer, 2018). According to Anna, the essential things for health and safety are dangerous areas of the space, which are childproof and secured heavy items and furniture.
Hence, the goal of every high-quality daycare center is to entertain children and contribute to their development. However, this can be achieved only when a daycare center employs highly qualified staff who have skills and specific knowledge for their field of work and comply with all safety rules. These factors not only benefit children but assure parents that their offspring is under control and safe.
Reference
Shpancer, N. (2018). Day Care. Encyclopedia of evolutionary psychological science.