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- Childcare & Play Services
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- Contact Us
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- Hill View,
Hill View Drive,
Welling,
Kent DA16 3RY
- 020 8303 7777
- Useful Links
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Children's
& Young People's Services
Extended Services In and Around Schools
A Child's Point of View
When parents/carers are selecting suitable childcare provision for their children there are many things to consider such as:
- the type of setting the child will attend
- the type of person/people who will be caring for them
- health and safety issues
- the type of care the child will receive
- the cost of the provision
The list can be endless. However, the essential thing to keep in mind is –
What is important to your child?
Children view things very differently from adults and although the issues we consider as a parent/carer are very important for our children’s safety and well-being, they are often not the things most important to young children.
In this leaflet we have tried to put together some of the things that we think may be important to your child/children with regards to childcare. They have not been put in any particular order and you must remember that they are an adult's idea of what children may think. We hope that they are useful to you when you begin the process of selecting childcare.
Welcome
- Can I visit to see what it is like?
- Does anyone notice when I come in?
- Do they say ‘hello’?
- Can my mum/dad stay if I want them to?
The place
- Can I reach the things I need (toys, handles, toilet)?
- Can I see out of the window?
- Are there any people, or pictures of people, who look like me?
- Is there somewhere safe for my things?
- Is it noisy, are people shouting, will they shout at me?
- Is there somewhere I can be quiet/by myself?
Food and sleep
- What happens if I am thirsty or hungry?
- Is there some food like I have at home?
- Will they make me eat things I don’t like?
- Will they make me go to bed?
Things to do
- Are there a variety of things to play with?
- Can I choose what I play with?
- Do grown-ups let me finish what I am doing?
- Are there some things like I have at home?
- Do grown-ups tell us what is going to happen?
- Is there something different to do each time?
- Can I play outside?
The people
- Do grown-ups call me by my right name?
- Do they listen when I try to tell them something?
- Are they interested in what I think?
- What happens if I don’t understand something?
- Do grown-ups do what they say?
- Do they notice when I try hard?
- Who do I tell if I don’t feel well or I’m not happy?
The rules
- Does anyone tell me what I am allowed and not allowed to do?
- What happens if I do something wrong?
- What happens if I wet my pants? Will they be cross?
- What happens if other children tell me I can’t play?
- What happens if they hurt or frighten me?
- Is it fair? Will I get my turn? How?
- Do they notice when I get upset?
- Will they give me a cuddle/read me a story/play games with me?
- Who do I tell if something is wrong?
- If I really want my mum/dad one day, will they get them for me?
- Can I choose who I play with?
- Can I bring my teddy/toy/comforter with me?
As explained earlier in the leaflet this is only an adult’s impression of a child’s view. It has been compiled in the hope of assisting parents/carers to look at childcare provision with a slightly different eye. The issues that parents/carers consider when selecting a form of childcare are still very important, but some of the points mentioned on this leaflet may give a few ideas to other questions you may wish to ask or things you would like to observe.
Bexley FIS can provide you with information on all available services for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years.
Our information officers can discuss your family's requirements and then send you information about the provision you have selected.
FIS is an information provider only and therefore cannot recommend or endorse
any childcare providers and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of
this information
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