Daycare Rules for Children

Day care done right can be a rewarding experience for all concerned, offering extra income for providers, peace of mind for parents and safety and relaxation for children. To achieve those results, it's important to establish simple, clear expectations for your young charges. Most children feel safer and more comfortable when the rules are fair and clearly understood.

  1. Safety Rules

    • Bicycle helmets for children are required by law in most places.

      Look around your facilities. If there are "attractive nuisances" such as roads, ponds or thickets, consider carefully what is needed to keep everyone safe; certain areas may need to be completely off-limits. Set clear boundaries a few feet nearer to home base and farther from the problem area than they need to be. Make sure there is plenty of welcoming, safe space that your charges can enjoy.

      Make sure safety helmets are provided and worn and adequate supervision is provided when children are engaging in activities such as bicycling, skateboarding or jumping on a trampoline.

    Social Rules

    • Playing together well is an art you can help the children master.

      Very young children don't comprehend ideas such as sharing very well, and it is a good idea to practice distraction and redirection: "Look! Here's another sifter for the sand, a green one!" Slightly older kids can begin to get the basic idea of treating other people the way that they'd like to be treated themselves.

      Hitting, kicking, pinching, shoving and any other form of aggression should be strictly off limits. Bear in mind that these are the result of frustration and lack of experience in communicating. Separate the children in conflict, and have both of them take a rest; do not attempt to determine who did what and assign blame and innocence. Instead, offer solutions that meet the needs of both sides.

      Behaviors such as taking turns, helping each other and cooperating should be praised and rewarded immediately when observed.

    Health Rules

    • Make sure children are dressed for the weather when they play outdoors.

      Washing hands as needed, taking a rest after snack and remembering to block coughs and sneezes will help your clients stay at their bright-eyed best and decrease your odds of getting every little germ that hits town. A no-shoes policy indoors will also help maintain sanitary surroundings.

    Miscellaneous Rules

    • Some day care providers find it effective to have the kids refer to them as Miss, Mr., or Mrs. and their first or last name, rather than by first name alone. Whatever your choice is in this matter, it is essential to make it clear in a friendly way that you are in charge. Treat children with the respect you would like them to show to you and to each other. It's also useful to have a pre-arranged signal -- a clap, a whistle or a bell -- that means "Everyone, quiet and listen up!"

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Helping an Anxious Child
      Q For the past week, my first-grader has been throwing up before school - hes obviously very anxious. He says hes nervous about the end of school and second grade. What can I do to stop his anxiety? A Arrange with the second-grade teachers for your s
    • Kids Who Lie
      Q My six-year-old son has started lying. We can tell hes lying just by the look on his face or because he wont look at us at all. Hes lying about things that he doesnt even need to lie about. We dont understand why hes doing this. Do you have any sug
    • How to Tell If Youre a Helicopter Parent
      Are you a helicopter parent or do you know someone who is? While most adults can agree that it is important to be involved in your child's life, many argue that a kid should be given room to simply be a kid. Here's how to tell if you'r