New Daycare

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Oriphix

523 posts

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#207592 4-Jan-2017 14:08

So recently I moved my son from one daycare to another (2 year old). The reason being the new daycare just got opened so its brand new and also it costs less then my current daycare. At this point you wondering that sounds great why are you creating a thread? Read on.

He started the daycare today and didn't have any problems with the transition. Some of the kids that were in his old daycare also moved as the new one is 5 minutes away.

One thing I noticed was outside in the play area there is rocks. Now these rocks are pretty big roughly about 60cm tall and a bit wide. My concern obviously as a parent thinking of the worst case scenario him falling down and hitting his head or running and tripping or another kid pushes him etc. So I did some research online:

http://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Early-Childhood/Licensing-criteria/Centre-based-ECE-services/CentreBased2008LicensingCriteriaECECareCentresBookletUpdatedMay2016.pdf

Premises and facilities

PF5 All indoor and outdoor items and surfaces, furniture, equipment and materials are
safe and suitable for their intended use.

PF6 # Floor surfaces are durable, safe, and suitable for the range of activities to be carried
out at the service (including wet and messy play), and can easily be kept clean.

I raised it with the daycares management and the responce was:
"We want the kids to learn to protect themselves. The designers of the daycare are well known as they do lots of daycares which the ministry approves. If this was a hazard we wouldn't be allowed to be open."

Obviously the center has passed whatever it needed has its open.
Now I am not sure if I am being a bit paranoid due to the change in daycare as the previous one didn't have any rocks etc.

What do you think?
Would you trust teachers with your kids with hazards which you can identify?
Does your kids currently go to a daycare where there is rocks etc?

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1078 posts

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#1698361 4-Jan-2017 14:23

Hey there, is this the new one on Eskdale Rd, on the Shore, by any chance?

andrewNZ

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#1698406 4-Jan-2017 14:49

My childs daycare has no large rocks that I've noticed, but it does have small ones, as well as concrete paths and a raised garden made to be a wall between areas. The garden is around 400mm high and has a 90 degree corner, the outside of which would be rather nasty to hit.

IMO, you're being paranoid. Mine has done far more damage to herself at home than she will ever manage at daycare. Your coffee table is probably more dangerous.

My policy with daycare is this. Kids are going to get hurt, so unless there is significant bleeding or lasting damage (i.e. read need a doctor), I'm really not bothered. If a doctors visit IS required, unless a career did it deliberately or there is clear outright negligence, I won't consider it their fault.

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1698408 4-Jan-2017 14:54

gcorgnet:
Hey there, is this the new one on Eskdale Rd, on the Shore, by any chance?

No its not this is in Albany, though I have seen the one you are talking about.

andrewNZ:

Yeah this one also has small rocks etc which I am not bothered about. Met with one of the parents this morning who raved about the daycare so yeah, must be my paranoia getting the best of me.

Loismustdye

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#1698411 4-Jan-2017 15:00

Personally I think the concerns you have raised are a bit paranoid.

Our 4 yo twins have been at the same daycare since 8 months old, with an outdoor concrete trike/wagon track, a number of small raised vege gardens for the kids to grow stuff in, a deck with 3 steps leading to the playground, plus the climbing frame, and the new raised wooden fort and there have not been any incidents to any child on the equipment or as a result of the area they are in........ however the only "injuries" on any child has come from another child (hitting, biting, kicking, scratching etc).

In my mind the rocks you mention are no different to a trike, or a raised garden, or a table top or coffee table, tree etc. All these if a child fell on them would cause as much damage as the rocks.

Inphinity

2780 posts

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#1698437 4-Jan-2017 15:23

Sorry, I feel you may be being a bit paranoid, based on your description. Unless these rocks are placed in a particularly dangerous way or location, their simple presence I wouldn't see as a problem. Really, though, if you are worried about the rocks simply existing in the daycare, you may need to get one of those Zorb balls to put your kid in :)

Does the daycare also have windows? Walls? Doors? A floor? Is there any concreted areas? What if they fall into or onto any of those, they may also get hurt. Are there other children or adults? They could hurt themselves on those, too.

That said, if the rocks are in a particularly dangerous location (e.g. the kids have to actively avoid them in using play equipment, like being at the end of a slide or bottom of a ladder etc), that's a different story, and that I would be concerned about - but about their placement, not their existence.

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1698441 4-Jan-2017 15:39

Loismustdye:

Inphinity:

Thanks guys :)
Yeah I was being a bit paranoid but its always good to get a second opinion nevertheless.
The rocks are placed outside of the sand pit which I guess isn't so bad as its not in the way.
You do find rocks at the beach so yeah, makes sense.

darylblake

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#1698442 4-Jan-2017 15:40

My daughter broke her collarbone at daycare. It was not necessarily anyones fault. It was an accident, she fell off something, put her arms out but unfortunately broke her collar bone. My kids were going to daycare in Albany too when we moved closer to Albany, but I have moved them back to a daycare in Glenfield because I was so impressed with the centre they were at, that I wanted them to remain in that program.

I can understand why you are concerned about this. I would look at the rocks and make a judgement for yourself, are they in place? I can see the argument on both sides where the children need to learn limits around things that could be potentially hazardous, which is why my 4 year old wont run on the road because I have taught her. But at the same time there are potential dangers.

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Jase2985

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#1698450 4-Jan-2017 15:55

what about the playground? the tables and chairs, book cases etc?

being a little paranoid there :)

pctek

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#1698551 4-Jan-2017 19:08

Rocks! OMG! He might want to climb them or something! Make sure there are no trees also.

In fact no dirt either, you never know, might be full of worms, bugs and dirt. He might stuff some into his mouth.

Make sure the entire place is surfaced in soft sterile spongy stuff, has no other kids he can catch germs and/or bad ideas like playing from, make sure the staff follow him around constantly to make sure he only plays in a safe healthy way and it p=should probably have no furniture with hard edges either.

freitasm

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#1698575 4-Jan-2017 20:16

My daughter is ten. Loves climbing trees and going up the playground equipment - never afraid of heights. It was like that since very young. We let her do everything. Recently she fell off a tree, a couple of metres only fall. She cried a bit, got up and climbed it again. She needs to learn what works and what doesn't and we can't be around protecting her all the time. She lost the two front baby teeth when a swing hit her. We didn't ask the council to remove the swings, she now knows not to run in front of things.

scuwp

3885 posts

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#1698627 4-Jan-2017 22:26

freitasm:
My daughter is ten. Loves climbing trees and going up the playground equipment - never afraid of heights. It was like that since very young. We let her do everything. Recently she fell off a tree, a couple of metres only fall. She cried a bit, got up and climbed it again. She needs to learn what works and what doesn't and we can't be around protecting her all the time. She lost the two front baby teeth when a swing hit her. We didn't ask the council to remove the swings, she now knows not to run in front of things.

I was thinking of a reply but this ^^ basically covers it. Stop wrapping kids in cotton wool, they need to understand their limits and sometimes that means a few bumps and bruises.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Pumpedd

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#1698628 4-Jan-2017 22:28

Why move your child to that daycare if you wernt happy?

Surely you saw these rocks when you checked the place out?

Batman

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#1698642 4-Jan-2017 23:30

The person that needs to be happy is you. You could try to make yourself happy by asking how the rock garden complies with the new super paternalistic H&S rules. If that still keeps you up at night then maybe you need to send your child somewhere else.

Oriphix

523 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1698661 5-Jan-2017 01:02

scuwp:

freitasm:

I am not worried about the small things, well aware that kids will get bumps and bruises.
My son ran head first at full speed into our bedside table. He wanted to get the plane that was there but missed by a long shot.
Ended up with a cut upper lip that the doctors needed to glue back. Again this is fine he doesn't do that anymore. I am concerned more of damaged for life scenario.
However will agree that I can't protect him from everything.

Pumpedd:

To be honest I didn't think much of it at first when I saw it. Then my wife made a big deal about it.
I still don't see it as a problem hence the post to see what others thought.

joker97:

Its not something that is keeping my awake just wanted to see what others thought.

Does anyone know what the accident was at the daycare in Takapuna, Auckland where the 4 year old boy died?
I couldn't find the information anywhere as to how. There was some mention of play ground equipment but that was about it.

Jase2985

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#1698670 5-Jan-2017 07:35

i believe so

do you let your kids play on local play ground? if the child did die on play ground equipment does this change you or your wifes view on it?

freak accidents happen, people die every day due to freak things happening, walking across the road and being hit by a car, tripping and falling, being hit by lightening. does that mean we should stop living and enjoying things?

yes it wouldnt be nice to have something to happen to your child should they slip and fall doing anything (i have 2 kids 4 and 9 months) but i want them to enjoy life and experience things and learn to pick them selves back up if they can should anything happen. We stand back and watch and are there if they cant. but as they say you need get back on that horse straight away if you fall off.

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