Accomplishments You Expect of a Childcare Provider

As a loving and responsible parent, you are already well aware of the obvious duties of childcare. It would therefore be natural for you to expect an acceptable level of knowledge and experience of those duties from a professional childcare provider.

Such duties are based on basic physical and emotional care, positive and healthy discipline, and enough play time. Here are a few minimal things you would love a childcare provider to be accomplished in.

Setting a good example

It is extremely important that the caregiver provides a role model of good behavior which includes avoiding the use of offensive language, practicing safety and acting as a sensible and mature adult. Apart from this, she should avoid display of extreme emotions.

At young ages, children are extremely impressionable and they tend to copy both good and bad characteristics from those around them. If you want your child to learn good behavior, it’s important that the caregiver is a good role model herself.

Practicing hygiene

Kids do not, in general, understand the concepts of health and hygiene. Therefore, one of the biggest responsibilities of a caregiver is to keep the kids clean. This includes blowing noses, face and hand washing, taking them to the restroom at regular intervals and changing diapers. If the childcare is for the entire day, tooth brushing and bath time too will be needed.

Providing nap time

Toddlers need a lot of sleep hours every day, or they get irritable. Familiarize the caregiver with your children’s nap time routines and durations. In case you are going to be out late, give the caregiver a list of routines and bath time supplies. The atmosphere should be peaceful and comforting enough to help the little ones relax and sleep. Excited toddlers refuse to sleep, even when they are badly in need of it.

Developing a feeding routine

The caregiver in most circumstances needs to feed kids throughout the day. A good feeding rule is to give a kid three healthy meals and three snacks in between at regular intervals. Keep nutritious options in your house such as vegetables, fruits, juices, whole grain snacks, and water.

Feeding should be done in small quantities so as to prevent choking; feeding nuts, popcorn and seeds should be avoided, as it can lead to choking hazards. Apart from this, you must provide the caregiver with a list of foods that cause the kids aversions and allergies.

Inculcating discipline

Kids are well known for their frequent tantrums and tendency to test the limits of your patience. Let the caregiver know it’s all right for her to discipline them when they become naughty. Explain to her the ‘what’, the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of your approach to disciplining kids; for instance, what would be bad behavior, when to take away toys, or how to give time out. Familiarize the caregiver with your own successful ways of dealing with your own kids.

Encourage the childcare provider to follow a consistent and gentle approach to discipline, rather than a stern and fear-instilling one. Also, it’s extremely important that she gives a word of praise or reward for good behavior, and a firm word or gentle punishment for bad behavior; this should help the kids understand the clear line of demarcation between the right and the wrong things.

Even an experienced childcare provider may hopefully benefit from these tips, as every family is different from every other. Creating a basic list of do’s and don’ts will help your caregiver know exactly what you expect of her; it will guide her give better care to your kids.