What makes a great daycare?
As a parent, you probably have a checklist.
But your child doesn’t.
He or she only knows whether they like a place or not.
Fortunately, all kids, including yours, want the same things.
Same things?
You bet.
That’s because young kids only have a few basic desires. Once met, they’re happy.
Now, this doesn’t mean that all daycares should look alike or follow the same model.
The way any daycare provides for its children varies.
Two daycares with wildly different styles can both serve happy kids.
What makes a great daycare, though, is obvious.
Excellent daycares, where kids thrive, are warm, predictable, spacious, and organized.
It’s what kids expect from daycare, intuitively.
Take away one of the qualities and their enjoyment wilts.
So get out your daycare checklist and see how it lines up.
1. Kids Expect Teachers Who are Interested in Them
The quality of a daycare depends on how well the staff bonds with the children.
Young kids expect their teachers to welcome them from Day One.
From there, they expect their teachers to see them as individuals.
Kids want teachers to study them.
To get to know them.
To approach them when they’re having an off day.
Young kids want a listening ear. They want adults who will laugh at their jokes and track with their stories.
They expect teachers to smile, joke, and play with them.
And these expectations are completely reasonable.
2. Kids Expect a Routine
Most kids have routines at home.
For example, bedtime routines.
A kid might brush his teeth, listen to a story, say a prayer, and give a goodnight hug while Mom tucks him in.
Regardless of the particulars, they learn that you do certain things, in order, every day.
Daycares do well when they provide kids with set routines.
Kids feel secure when they know, for example, that after singing and morning snack, it’s time to go outside to play.
The routine tells them that they’re where they should be — at daycare.
Routines help young kids begin to understand time, the same way adults can read a schedule.
Surprises that change the day’s routine, while fun, should be a rarity.
They shouldn’t interfere with markers like lunch, quiet time, or reading time.
3. Kids Expect Room to Move
Healthy young kids have constant energy. The energy is natural and it needs an outlet.
Indoor space, including classrooms, must be open enough to allow a certain amount of dancing, jumping, and running.
If a little bit of spontaneous play causes an avalanche, it means the classroom is too cluttered.
A lot of daycares have that problem. They’re crammed with things that take up valuable floor space.
It’s often stuff that the kids don’t use.
The temptation for teachers is to try and train the wiggles out of the kids.
Or worse, use screen time as a babysitter.
But it’s a mistake to “domesticate” children.
Instead, the wiggles should be accepted as the norm. If changes need to be made, it should be to make play less disruptive.
That means removing clutter and making space for kids to be themselves.
Outside play is a must for the development of healthy children.
4. Kids Expect Simple Rules
All kids, no matter their home life, have rules to follow.
So rules, by themselves, are not an oddity.
In daycare, the simpler the rule, the better.
Why is that?
First, because they’re easier to remember. When kids remember a rule, they’re more likely to obey it.
Rules, done right, can become catchphrases that young kids love to repeat.
“We’re all friends here” and “You don’t have to sleep (during quiet time), but you do have to rest” are two of the rules at First Things Child Care.
Second, a simple rule grounds teachers.
It frees them from having to think up new responses for the dozens of scenarios they face each day.
Simple rules allow for expounding as needed. However, most of the time a good rule doesn’t need much of an explanation.
Like routine, good rules make kids feel secure.
Kids expect daycare teachers to explain good and bad behavior (with examples).
Modeling expectations builds trust with children.
Done with humor, it’s also a great opportunity to make them laugh!
Managing Your Child’s Expectations
Does your current daycare satisfy your child’s expectations?
Yes? Great. You are truly blessed.
But if it doesn’t, all hope’s not lost.
You can plan workarounds.
Before getting to that, remember this.
You know your child better than anyone.
When visiting daycares, keep that knowledge top of mind.
Some daycares and children mix as well as peanut butter and hot sauce.
It’s nobody’s fault.
That’s just the way it is.
For example, some daycares are big on crafts and art projects. They require participation.
Which means… kids sitting still for long stretches.
That’s OK for many kids. But if you have a high-energy child who needs lots of uninterrupted, vigorous play, he or she will become discouraged in a craft-heavy daycare.
Now, workarounds.
Sometimes your options for daycare are limited. The place where you are might be fine but not awesome.
Thankfully, many teachers and directors (particularly those at small, noncorporate centers) are happy to accommodate parental requests.
You just have to speak up.
Trust me, daycare staff enjoy tweaking how they do things if they know it’ll make a kid happy.
You may also have to shoulder more of the work to get your child what they need.
Let’s say your child isn’t getting enough movement during the day.
You might have to go in the backyard with him or her after pickup from daycare to get good exercise.
The upside to workarounds is that it’ll your child will be more content during the day.
And if he or she’s happy, you’re happy.
Top photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash