THERE was a time when taking children to day care and pre-school was all about dropping them off and picking them up and once the child seemed alright and fees were paid on time, this routine continued until the child started primary school. But now we have new regulations that stipulate the conditions under which day care centres and play groups throughout the country must operate. The new regulations ensure that children are given the best start in life by emphasising on their play, care and learning and other key components, such as their health and safety.

CHILDREN’S PLAY: Children learn through many methods and play is essential for their development. When they are taken to day care or pre-school, they need to be stimulated and not just left in a cot or put to sit in a corner for long periods of time. While they are playing, staff at these facilities should be supervising, encouraging and interacting with the children: even challenging them to try new things (but not directing them).

Play is very important to early development too: at six months, when children learn to push buttons and turn knobs on toys, this helps with their brain development, as they find the ‘effect’ to the actions they make. This is known as ‘cause and effect’; in addition, during this stage of development, children have a habit of putting things in their mouths: tasting is just another way of them testing things out. They use their mouths like a sensor, just like they do when they touch and feel the world around them e.g. soft, smooth and hard materials and surfaces, water and sand, etc.

Indoor and outdoor play is equally important for a child’s development. As they get older, children tend to engage in ‘role play’, ‘you are the mother and I am the father’, or ‘I am a nurse and you are my patient.’ Role play helps to develop their imagination, their thought progress and social skills, as they interact with their peers. Childcare facilities should have resources in place that meet the criteria for each of the areas of child development. These are the kind of things that the new regulations ensure.

CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY: The set-ups at most childcare facilities have been revised because of the new regulations. Most aspects of revision involve the health and safety of the children who are cared for on a daily basis. Every facility must have a fire escape and children who cannot walk must not be cared for on the top floor. People used to think it was cosy to have carpeted areas for children to play on, but this is no longer allowed. Too many germs are transmitted and stored in the carpet which can lead to children developing allergies. Mats or rugs are advisable, as they can be moved around to facilitate the children’s various activities and they can be easily cleaned daily.

Strict regulations as to where detergents, and other potentially dangerous substances to children must be stored and how food must be handled and prepared are also part of the new regulations: a food handler’s certificate is essential. The monitoring of staff members is also high on the agenda when it comes to health and safety, as staff must be trained in childcare (first aid etc.) and obtain a police clearance as well as be medically checked, before they can care for children.

The Early Childhood Development Unit (ECDU) at the Childcare and Protection Agency is tasked with the inspection and registration of every childcare facility across the country. The facility must firstly be registered and reach the minimum standards required and secondly, the owners must obtain a licence. The licensing of childcare facilities is an intricate process which requires a series of relevant assessments to be carried out by the fire service, building inspectors and other local authority departments.

If you know of any childcare facility that has not been registered, or you would like to register your childcare facility, please contact the ECDU at the Childcare and Protection Agency on 227 7542.

One last tip for parents: parents, please encourage your children to construct their own play with safe, discarded materials such as margarine containers, boxes, empty plastic bottles etc. This helps to build their imagination, their creativity, and assists with their development.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com

A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection