Welcome
Dear Parent(s):
Congratulations on becoming a parent!
This is a big job that takes lots of dedication. You will have many big decisions and child care might be one of them. Some choices are child care given by relatives, or child care at an early learning and child care centre. Choosing a quality child care option is a very important decision.
Child care programs are intended to meet the needs of children and give them a safe and caring place to grow and develop. There are a variety of child care programs across PEI. Each has it's qualities that reflect the leadership and experience of the childcare providers there.
Our organization is not directly involved with the daily operations of child care programs. This guide has been written to explain the basics of quality child care. It suggests some questions to ask when you visit child care programs and some things to look for.
The link below will take you to a list of licensed Centres on PEI. It is important for you to understand the licensing type and requirements of that license for your choice of child care and also pay close attention to matters of children's safety.
The choice of child care arrangements is a family decision, please give it the time it deserves.
Choosing Child Care
Start early. Choosing child care is an important decision. This decision must be made with your's and your child's needs in mind. Regulated child care means that the child care centre is licensed by the Provincial Child Care Facilities Board and therefore must meet basic requirements.
The Early Childhood Development Association in partnership with the Early Childhood Care and Education Network has published a booklet entitled "A Parents Guide to Quality Child Care on PEI". This guide is intended to assist parents in searching for quality child care. ( French Version)
Download the Checklist for Parents
Is My Child Ready for School?
All Children are born ready to learn. Nature creates pathways in the brain that enable children to develop the abilities that they will need during their lifetimes.
Remember your child's first year? Remarkably, your child learned to communicate, to move independently, and to express a unique personality. The next few years were busy ones. Your child learns constantly from you and from their environment. In fact, science tells us that the years from birth to age five are the busiest learning times in the entire life span.
Now, it is time for Grade One and you may be asking yourself, Is my child ready for school? Well, there is no magic checklist that will enable you to determine yur child's level of readiness.
School readiness develops over time and in different ways for different children. There are, however; some general questions you can ask yourself as you observe your child in their fifth year.
How mature is my child?
- Does my child demonstrate self control?
- Does my child show aggressive behaviour?
- Does my child seem overly anxious or sad?
- Is my child too impulsive?
How does my child do socially?
- Does my child show respect for other children?
- Is my child eager to play new games?
- Does my child have self-confidence?
- Can my child work independently?
How well does my child communicate?
- Can my child articulate clearly?
- Does my child understand what I say?
- Can my child communicate their needs?
- Does my child understand other people's needs?
How is my child doing physically?
- Does my child appear to be overtired?
- Can my child go to the bathroom on their own most of the time?
- Can my child hold a crayon?
- How much energy does my child have?
What about language and thinking abilities?
- Is my child able to engage in imaginative play?
- Can your child tell a story?
- Is your child interested in books and reading?
- Can your child recognize and compare numbers?
Watch your child's development over time. If something concerns you, please share your observations with your child's kindergarten teacher. Together, you can help your child get ready for school.
Activities for home
Easy Activities For Parents To Do With Children
Interesting sites for parents and caregivers to visit
www.pbs.org/wholechild/abc/communication