The National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy established in 2013 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India. According to this, childcare centers like day-care centers, creches, nurseries and preschools need to follow certain regulations. These regulations are meant to ensure a sound foundation for early growth and development in young children.
Choosing a Creche for Your Little One
Look for a crèche with:
- A good location. The ideal place would be close to your home or workplace.
- A good reputation that is accompanied by a warm and stimulating environment: Find out the good daycare centres in your locality by talking to fellow moms, parents in your child’s school, or on online support groups. Always stop by during the afternoon or evening time (usually a pickup time) to talk to other parents whose children are in the daycare so they can give you a fair idea of how the daycare centre operates.
- Transparent, well established policies and open communication:
- A structured, child-centric and age-specific curriculum. One size does not suit all so make sure there are age specific curriculum and activities. Ask the centre managers about this and they will be able to share a timetable with you. Look out for a blend of activities such as a visit from a potter, clay-modelling, splash pool, games, outdoor time, storytelling, dramatics, etc.
- Qualified, dedicated, and professional staff: Personally, meet the teachers about their educational qualifications too, and their ideas on early education. Make casual small talk with cleaners and other caretakers to get a general vibe of the place.
- Clean and safe facilities with a valid operating license: Cleanliness is something that cannot be compromised on and needs special checks, especially in a country like India. Young babies’ immunity is just developing, and they always need to be kept in safe and hygienic surroundings.
- Good Security Arrangements: Check how many entrances/exits the center has, and how each one is guarded. Inquire about who are allowed upon the campus and what kind of checks or screening they need to pass. Also look for CCTV cameras, both outside the campus as well as inside the rooms. You can also ask to see some footage, so you know they work.
- Food Facility: Ask your day-care center how they manage feeding schedules and their facilities for storing and heating breast milk. If your baby is on formula, ask if they know how to sterilize feeding bottles correctly and mix the formula in the right proportion. If your baby has started solids, talk about food you can pack from home.
- Teacher-Child Ratio: Ideally, a group of 12-15 preschoolers require 2 teachers and 2 nannies to manage them. Visit the centre to focus on the temperament of the nannies more than the teacher. If they look to be disgruntled lot, you may want to stay away from that day-care.
- Health Security and Safety: Are there people who know how to do CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, should it be necessary. Find out if the center required children to have basic immunizations. See how aware and sensitive they are regarding food allergies and if your child needs to take regular medication. Ask them about pest control and how they keep away common pests like flies and mosquitoes.
Even after you’ve done your own exploration, don’t lie back and relax. Take your baby and see how he/she feels about the general atmosphere of the place, and don’t forget to listen to your instincts. After all we want is our little one to be happy, safe and healthy, till they’re back in our warm embrace!