GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, July 5, 2013
www.vicnews.com • A17
Westshore Family Hunting for the perfect daycare continued from 15
This Family’s Life
in private daycares watching TV all day,” St. Cyr said. Fernwood resident Samantha Walrafen is on the hunt for a daycare for her three-year-old Luke and six month old Mary-Stephanie. “I am just starting to ask around, but it’s hard to find a part-time place,” said Walrafen, who is about to start a master’s program at University of Victoria. “I want a daycare worker that really understands attachment parenting and that the children get a lot of one-one one adult time. I will probably look for a homebased daycare because of these values.” Kim Coy has operated both homebased and group daycare centres. “I tell parents they need to ask themselves, ‘Do you feel comfortable in the environment on your first impression?’” Coy owns Sunshine Group Daycare and operates three centres on the West Shore for about 150 children. Her programs run from infants to after school care programs. “Bring your child to the daycare when you go and look at it,” Coy said. It’s important to check for cleanliness and ask about the longevity and training of the staff. If a centre has children of varying ages playing together, Coy suggests looking at the toys and making sure there aren’t pieces a smaller child may choke on. Coy noted that infant care is exceptionally difficult to find in Greater Victoria. “There is no profit in it,” Coy
said, due to the required ratio of one care provider for every four babies. Once a child is three, the daycare ratio is increased to eight children per care provider. In terms of finding a daycare spot, the easiest time to get a child into a new centre is during July, August and September, when children are moving into kindergarten and vacating spots. The general rule is the sooner the better for finding a daycare. For a home-based daycare, the ratio is a maximum of eight children, spanning from infant to five years old. Some home daycares are licensed through Vancouver Island Health Authority and others are not. “A home daycare needs to be licensed if you have three or more children not related by blood,” said Kim Bruce, VIHA regional manager of community care facilities. Each licensed daycare is required to adhere to requirements for square footage, safety and having an outdoor play area. Daycare operators are required to have First Aid certification and take other courses and training. Licenced daycares are also checked for such details, as the hot water temperature. “You have to find what fits for you. Some parents want more structure, and others prefer it to be more low key,” Bruce said. ● charla@goldstreamgazette.com
Q&A
With two kids active in sports including fastball and soccer, Joy Strandberg can be seen on the sidelines cheering on her girls. Supporting her daughters‘ athletics helps the family bond together and reinforces an active and healthy lifestyle. “I love watching them grow and succeed,” said the proud Highlands mom. Sometimes motherhood is still a surprise, she admits.“ My daughter just had a popcorn kernel stuck in her ear.”
Q A
Joy Strandberg, centre, loves having sport-based activities with her children Mikayla, 10, and Sasha, 8. CHArlA Huber/NeWs stAff
How do you find time for yourself, in addition to your role as mom?
After I put my kids to bed at 8:30 p.m., I try to take some time to read or watch TV before I dive into everything else that needs to be done. Often time for myself is just taking my kids to their ball games and just sitting and watching them.
Q A
What are you reading right now? Nora Roberts.
Q A
What is your favourite activity to share together as a family? We like to have family dinners together and go to the childrens’ sports games and events together.
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the part of your day you most look forward to? I like picking up the kids after school and hearing about their days. I get 100 per cent of the attention for that half an hour. ●
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