Top 5 Qualities To Look For in Ottawa Daycares
When it comes to choosing a daycare facility, the number of options available to parents can be overwhelming, especially in the National Capital Region. Picking the best daycare in Ottawa for your child (not to mention your peace of mind) goes without saying, so when you’re touring a variety of facilities, make sure you look out for these qualities that help identify excellence.
1. Cleanliness
This might seem like a pretty obvious quality, but there’s more to cleanliness than meets the eye. Ask the owner of any Ottawa daycare you visit about what products they use and how often their facility is cleaned and maintained by professionals. Regular, thorough cleaning is a must, so make sure their schedule is frequent enough that your child won’t be at risk from excessive germs or bacteria.
2. Safety
Who can pick up your child from the facility? Do parents need to show ID? Who has access to the building during daycare hours? What security features does the facility have? These are all questions that the staff should be able to answer confidently and to your satisfaction, since the safety of your child is the most important thing to any good daycare in Ottawa.
3. First aid
All daycares in Ottawa—and indeed, across the country—should have an easy-to-access first aid kit and a designated health and safety representative with emergency first aid training. Accidents happen, so make sure your daycare facility is well-equipped to handle them.
4. Visibility
Lots of natural light and open areas are key to a safe daycare facility, as they allow caretakers and supervisors to keep children in sight at all times. Supervision can help prevent injury, first and foremost, but it also gives children a greater sense of security and comfort knowing they’re being cared for. Plus, if they need help with anything, they always know where the nearest adult is.
5. Organization
Good habits at daycare makes for good habits at home. A daycare facility that encourages tidiness by putting toys back in their place and disposing of garbage properly will generate similar habits at home. Daycare is as much an opportunity for growth and development as it is a way to ensure your child is looked after when you have to go to work.
You should never hesitate to ask any questions or be very thorough on your tour of any Ottawa daycare facility. You should feel absolutely comfortable registering your child at a facility that has all the features listed above. There are going to be a lot of options and it’s always worth it to take your time, do the research and find the absolute best daycare that will suit your child’s need and your standards.
