Getting to know the Day Care!

GETTING TO KNOW THE DAY CARE! A guide for families

This guide has been produced as a thesis project by students of social work at Turku University of Applied Sciences in co-operation with the City of Turku.

Text: Jaana Karjala, Outi Koskinen and Maria Sinkko Children’s drawings: Day care centres in the Varissuo-Lauste service area

Welcome to the day care centre!

The name of your child’s group is ______________________________________ The adults in charge of the group are ___________________________________ The day care centre supervisor is _______________________________________ The telephone number of the day care centre is ___________________________

Table of contents Day care activity 6 When a child starts day care 7 A typical day at day care 8 Co-operation between day care and home (education partnership) 12 Children of two languages and cultures 13 When your child falls ill 14 Things to remember!

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1. Day care activity Children from 1 to 6 six years can participate in full-day or part-time day care. The city of Turku also offers pre-school education. If the parents do shift work, there is also evening- and weekend care at special day care centres.

Day care supports the child’s growth, development and learning. At day care, children are divided into groups according to their age.

Day care is a chargeable service and price depends on the income of the parents.

Pre-school education A child starts pre-school education in August of the year when he/she turns 6. Pre-school education is four hours per day. In pre-school education the child learns skills that he/she will need at school, and is prepared for the start of school Pre-school education is free of charge. If a child needs day care in addition to pre-school education, this can be arranged, just ask the day care supervisor.

At day care, your child will learn: - the Finnish language - to get to know other children and make friends - to play and be active - different skills - about Finnish culture

2. When your child starts day care Parents make a care agreement with the supervisor of the day care centre. This agreement covers such matters as what times the child will be brought to and fetched from the day care, the number of days he/she spends there and who is authorised to bring and fetch him/her. The times for bringing and fetching are agreed based on the family’s individual needs. If the child’s time and number of days at the day care centre change, a new care agreement is drawn up. The time and number of days spent at day care influence how much the parents will pay for the service.

Starting day care is a new and exciting experience for a child. Especially during the first weeks, the child might be frightened of being left at day care and may be tearful. This is normal and soon passes.

It is important for the child and the parents to visit the day care together and get to know it, before the child starts day care. During this visit, the child can get used to everyday life at the day care, to other children and to adults. Such a visit should be agreed separately with the day care supervisor. A sufficiently long visit makes it easier for the child to start day care.

3. A typical day at day care Daily routine Each group has its own daily routine. This routine is the same every day.

An example of a daily routine:

Daily programme for Little Bears: - Child arrives at the day care - Breakfast at 8.00 am - Morning circle - Morning activity (supervised activity or free playtime) - Outdoor activity - Lunch at 11.00 am - Rest period - Snack at 2.00 pm - Free playtime - Outdoor activity

3. A typical day at day care, 2 When parents bring their child to the day care, they should help him/her to take off his/her outdoor clothing, wash his/her hands and bring him/her into the group with the responsible adult.

When you fetch your child, make sure that he/she says goodbye to the group’s responsible adult. If someone other than a parent fetches the child, the day care must be informed of this in advance. Children are only allowed to leave with people about whom the day care staff have been informed. Children may only be fetched by persons who are at least 18 years old.

The times for bringing and fetching the child are set out in the care agreement. Parents must always inform the day care staff of any changes to these times.

Why is keeping to agreed day care times so important?

- If the child arrives late, activities will already have begun. It is important for the child to participate in all activities.

- The work shifts of day care staff are planned according to the children’s times of arrival and departure.

Dressing and going out Each child must have his/her own indoor and outdoor clothes.

Bring your child indoor footwear or slippers and a change of clothing.

During the day, clothes may get dirty or wet.

Put your child’s name on each item of clothing.

Children often have the same clothes as their friends and they can easily get mixed up.

Dress your child in comfortable everyday clothing to go the day care.

At day care, children do much painting and handicraft and clothes can get dirty.

At day care, the children go outside every day. It is important for each child to have clothing suitable for weather conditions.

When it rains:

Raincoat

Waterproof trousers

Waterproof gloves

Rubber boots

When it is cold:

Padded overalls

Scarf

Warm hat

Padded mittens

Woollen socks

Winter boots

Eating At day care, the children eat breakfast, lunch and a snack. Breakfast is served from 8.00 – 8.30 am. Children may also eat breakfast at home. When eating, a child is taught good table manners and how to eat different kinds of food.

If your child is allergic to certain foods, please bring a doctor’s certificate to the day care.

If your religion forbids the consumption of certain foods, please inform the day care staff.

Daytime rest After lunch, the children visit the toilet, take off their thick outer clothing and go to their own beds in the rest room for a short rest. An adult is always present whilst the children are sleeping. At the start of this period, the children listen to a story or to some calm music. They do not have to sleep but everyone must rest.

Playing Day cares have plenty of space and toys for children to play with.

A child learns by playing. Every day at day care, the children are given plenty of time to play.

Children play with each other and learn new skills.

Supervised activity Every day at day care, the children engage in activity supervised by an adult. In such activity, the children learn different kinds of skills. Supervised activity includes music, handicraft, games, physical exercise and listening to stories.

Outings and festivals Day care centres sometimes take the children on outings, about which the parents are always informed in advance.

During the year, they also celebrate special festivals that are part of Finnish culture. Such celebrations and preparing for them are an important part of day care activity. Come along and celebrate with your child! A child may feel an outsider, if he/she is not allowed to participate in the festivities.

If, however, you do not want your child to take part in day care parties or outings, please inform the day care centre staff in advance.

4. Co-operation between day care and home (Education partnership) At day care, matters concerning a child’s upbringing are always discussed with the parents. News about the child is exchanged when parents come to drop them off or pick them up. Whenever a parent so wishes, a time for discussion can be arranged the adult who is responsible for a child at day care. Day care staff have a confidentiality obligation. Matters concerning a child and his/her family are never discussed with third parties without the parents’ consent.

An early childhood education and pre-school plan for the child are drawn up together with the parents.

If the parents or day care staff are concerned about a child’s development, extra assistance for the child may be arranged. The matter is always agreed together with the parents.

Parents’ evening Day care centres organise parents’ evening once or twice a year. At such events, parents hear about the day care activities and other important matters. They can also get to know the staff and facilities of the day care as well as the parents of other children.

5. Children of two languages and cultures At the day care, your child will learn the Finnish language and become familiar with Finnish culture. The learning of Finnish is supported through nursery rhymes, playing, stories and games. As an aid, many day care centres use picture cards, which help children to understand what happens during the day.

The family is responsible for preserving the child’s own mother tongue and culture. If a child is good at his/her own mother tongue, he/she will learn Finnish more easily. A child needs time to learn Finnish.

How to promote your own mother tongue and culture at home: - Always speak to your child in your own mother tongue, even if the child replies in Finnish - Talk with your child about everyday things in your mother tongue, for example what clothes to put on and what to eat today - Read him/her stories, nursery rhymes and poems in your mother tongue - Listen to and sing songs together in your mother tongue Be proud of your own culture and language and show that to your child!

6. When your child falls ill A sick child must not be brought to day care. If your child falls ill, inform the day care centre. If a child falls ill at the day care, a parent must take him/her home.

Please make sure that your child has fully recovered before you bring him/her back to the day care. If he/she is brought back too early, he/she may fall ill again and other children and/or carers may also fall ill. Keep your child at home for at least one day after his/her fever has gone.

7. Things to remember!

What does your child need at the day care?

- his/her own nappies - a dummy/soft toy - slippers/indoor footwear - a change of clothing: one set of clothes, socks and gloves - rainwear: waterproof trousers, raincoat, waterproof gloves and rubber boots - warm outdoor clothing - indoor clothing - clothing for physical exercise Write your child’s name on each item of clothing!