Children spend their first year - and sometimes their second - with their families all the time. Then comes the kindergarten stage, where the child is separated from his family for the first time and spends hours away from them. While this stage is important in developing your child's cognitive and social skills, we must not overlook the fact that he has not yet found a way to express himself, and it is not possible to know everything that he experiences during kindergarten hours. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to all the details related to kindergarten to ensure that he is in a safe environment.
After a period of research, tours, and asking friends to choose the best kindergarten for you and your child, there are some obvious things that will become clear to you, and there are some signs and red flags that you may not notice, warning you of the need to search for a new kindergarten for your child.
The children look bored.
When you first enter the kindergarten, what is your overall impression of the place? Do the children seem energetic, engaged, and responsive to the teachers, or do they seem bored and unenthusiastic about interacting with each other?
It's not just about how happy your child is at kindergarten. General negative feelings and boredom are red flags in kindergartens. This could indicate that teachers aren't engaging enough with the children and aren't interested in building a warm relationship with them, that the environment isn't age-appropriate, or that the activities and games aren't stimulating. This isn't a place where your child will have fun and feel connected to their friends and teachers.
Change parameters quickly
Constant changes in kindergarten staff can be an indication that they are not being treated well, and that the work environment is not conducive to retaining competent individuals. This constant change in staff affects the children, who need a sense of stability, bond with their teachers, and look forward to seeing them.
Try asking the teachers how long they have been working at the nursery, and you will see if most of the teachers are new or have only been working for a few months, or if there are some who have been working for years and feel secure in their jobs.
Confusion from surprise visits
It is acceptable for the kindergarten to establish a system for parental visits to protect the child from feeling upset when his mother is present during the day, or to prevent him from becoming attached to her and wanting to leave with her, and being negatively affected when she leaves him.
But in general, if the kindergarten completely rejects visits without prior notice, especially during familiarization time, this is not a positive sign at all.
Information is incomplete
Parents have the right to know all the details regarding their child's safety at the nursery. If you find that the teachers or nursery management avoid answering your questions, hide details, or do not seem forthcoming about the school's policies, this could be a warning sign and you should look for another place.
Difficulty communicating with staff
The relationship between parents and kindergarten staff, including administration and teachers, is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of children. If communication is generally difficult or slow, this is a clear warning sign and may affect your sense of comfort and reassurance about your child and your ability to discuss issues related to them.
There is no specific schedule.
Routine is essential for children, and not having a clear schedule or daily routine can be an indicator of insufficient attention to children's education and skill development in a systematic and structured manner.
This can be observed more accurately if the parents, or one of them, spend some time observing the children's day in kindergarten before enrolling, to gain real information about the daily routine and the teachers' interactions with other children.
Parents' experiences are not encouraging.
Reviews are an important indicator when deciding on the right place for your child. Pay attention to what parents who have previously dealt with the kindergarten have to say, and take note of their comments. If you notice the same complaints from parents, it may be time to rethink the place and determine whether it's a good fit.
The place is not safe
The safety of children in kindergarten is not debatable. The place may appear clean and tidy, but it is not safe for children. To ensure the safety of children in kindergarten:
- Cover windows and secure exits with childproof gates.
- Play areas are free of any protruding walls or ground obstructions that could injure children.
- Tables, chairs, and children's utensils should not be easily broken or have sharp edges.
- Large games are subject to regular maintenance.
- The stairs are closed with gates controlled by the teachers.
- No toys with small parts that could cause choking.
- The presence of teachers trained in first aid procedures, the availability of fire extinguishers, a well-stocked first aid kit, and easy access to the exit in case of an emergency.
- There are enough surveillance cameras to ensure the safety of children and to review them in case of any accidents.
Neglecting regular cleaning
A nursery's lack of cleanliness is a big warning sign.
Of course, children make a mess in their play areas, and this is part of their development and discovery of things around them. However, the cleanliness of classrooms, play areas, and restrooms should be at the top of the priority list.
Make sure staff wash children's hands regularly, and clean toys and all surfaces regularly to avoid exposing your child to illness from dirty toys and unsanitary conditions.
The number of teachers is small for the children
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends one staff member for every 3 to 5 young children, and one staff member for every 7 to 10 older children.
These rules vary from place to place, but this measure can be taken into account to determine whether the number of teachers is sufficient to care for the children. If the difference is large, it may mean that another location should be sought.
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