Choosing a nursery for your little one is a very important decision. I have prepared several tips for parents that will help you choose the best place:
Safety and hygiene: Research shows that this is the most important factor for many parents. Pay attention to:
Cleanliness of the facility.
Safety features, such as no sharp edges and covered electrical sockets.
Whether the facility complies with sanitary standards.
What procedures are followed in the event of accidents or illness?
Staff qualifications:
Check the teachers' qualifications and experience.
Find out whether the staff attend regular training.
Ask about the caregiver-to-child ratio. Smaller groups and sufficient qualified staff can support responsive care and supervision.
Curriculum and Teaching Methods:
Find out about the nursery's main educational aims.
Find out which teaching methods and materials are used.
Ask about the daily routine: is there time for play, learning and rest?
Communication with Parents:
Find out how often the nursery updates parents on their child’s progress.
Ask whether regular meetings with teachers are held.
Find out whether parents are able to see what happens at the nursery during the day.
Physical conditions:
Check whether the facility is spacious and well lit.
Look at the space available for outdoor play.
Ask about the quality of the meals and the menu.
Adjustment:
Find out how the nursery supports a child's settling-in process, particularly during the first few days.
Ask whether you can stay with the child for a while to help them settle in.
References:
Ask other parents who have used the nursery for their opinions.
You can also check reviews online.
Additional services:
Check whether the nursery offers additional activities such as music, dance or foreign languages.
Financial terms:
Find out how much it costs to attend the nursery, what the payment terms are and whether there are any additional fees.
Communication between nursery staff and the child:
Communication between carers and young children at nursery plays a key role in developing children’s independence, sense of security and creative thinking. To achieve this:
Active Listening: Carers should listen attentively to what a child is trying to communicate, even when the child cannot yet express their thoughts fully in words. This can help the child feel heard and valued.
Positive reinforcement: Praising children for their achievements, even small ones, encourages independence. Instead of saying, 'I'll do it for you,' it is better to say, 'Try again. I know you can do it!'
Setting Clear Boundaries and Consequences: Children may feel more secure when they know what is expected of them. Consequences should, however, be appropriate to the child's age and the situation.
Encouraging children to express their feelings: Teaching children how to talk about their feelings gives them tools for coping with difficult emotions. Questions such as ‘How are you feeling?’ or ‘What is making you feel sad?’ can help start a conversation.
Encouraging creative thinking: Instead of giving ready-made answers, carers can ask open-ended questions that encourage children to think. For example, instead of saying, ‘The sky is blue’, they can ask, ‘Why do you think the sky is that colour?’.
Through effective communication, nursery carers can create an environment in which every child feels understood, valued and encouraged to think and act independently.
A young child's development during the nursery years is very dynamic and multifaceted. The nursery has a significant impact on the child's sleep hygiene, intellectual development and sensory processing. Here are some additional points worth considering when choosing a nursery in the context of these three aspects:
- Sleep Hygiene:
Regular nap times: Young children commonly need daytime sleep. Ask whether the nursery has a nap routine and how it adapts to each child's individual needs.
Sleep conditions: Is it quiet? Are the rooms dimmed? Does each child have their own place to sleep?
Comfort: Check whether mattresses, pillows and blankets are provided or parents need to supply their own. Are they washed and disinfected regularly?
- Cognitive Development:
Varied learning materials: Children learn through play. Make sure the nursery offers a variety of toys and educational materials that stimulate thinking.
Cognitively Stimulating Activities: Ask about everyday activities that support language, early mathematical thinking and understanding of cause and effect, such as puzzles, reading aloud and counting games.
Interactions with other children: Playing and interacting with peers are crucial to social and emotional development; they also stimulate problem-solving and develop communication skills.
- Sensory Processing:
Varied sensory experiences: Children of nursery age develop through a range of sensory experiences. Check whether the nursery offers activities involving materials such as sand, water, clay or paint.
Safe spaces for exploration: Check that the setting provides an age-appropriate environment where children can explore through touch, smell, sight and sound, with any tasting activities closely supervised and designed to prevent poisoning, allergy and choking hazards.
Support for Children with Additional Sensory Needs: If your child has particular sensory-processing needs, make sure the nursery can make appropriate adjustments and provide suitable support.
Working with the nursery and communicating regularly with its staff can help you monitor and support your child's needs in these key areas of development.
Every child is different, so choose a nursery that can meet your child's individual needs and aligns with your family's practical and care expectations.
Emilia Adamczyk