Roughly one in five Texas families struggle with acquiring consistent childcare services throughout the year. Some put the blame on closures and high costs, while others cite safety concerns.
Not every daycare facility indeed offers the same level of security and staff training as others. These are important factors for working parents, especially if they’re expected to leave their children there every day for hours at a time.
Here’s how both parents and daycare owners can ensure Austin childcare is secure and a safe environment for their children.
Understanding the Importance of Austin Childcare Safety
It goes without saying that safety in a childcare setting is of the utmost importance to parents. They need to know that their child is in a safe place where they can be a kid while also learning the essentials.
At the same time, there are standards that daycare centers must meet to operate. These include:
- Qualified staff
- Specific child-to-caregiver ratios
- Health and safety requirements
- Space requirements
- Fenced-in outdoor play areas
- Nutritional meals and snacks provided
- Record keeping
Failure to comply with these rules can result in various levels of fines as well as the closure of their facility. Most importantly, an unsafe environment opens up the daycare to lawsuits from parents.
Childcare Security Systems
One of the best ways to improve safety at a daycare is to invest in comprehensive security systems. These systems should all work together to make sure that the children are where they need to be. In addition, they should keep out any person who doesn’t belong.
Daycare Surveillance Cameras
Security cameras are one of the most basic forms of security around. They help property owners keep track of who comes and goes, and video footage can help identify individuals after an incident.
In a daycare, surveillance cameras are often monitored in real-time by staff to make sure the children are in the right areas at all times. They can track visitors, as well as anyone who comes onto the property.
Access Control Systems
Access control systems control who can enter and exit the facility. The most advanced forms of these systems include keyless entry, biometric scanners, and swipe card systems.
A central monitoring station can trigger an alert if there are any unauthorized access attempts. Emergency exits may trigger alarms if someone attempts to use them.
Emergency Response Protocols
Emergencies can occur, regardless of how many security measures are in place. When they happen, childcare providers need well-documented emergency response protocols in place.
For example, Austin, Texas, may encounter weather conditions such as flash floods and tornadoes. Daycare centers need to plan for how to handle these scenarios.
Communication systems, such as intercoms or emergency radios, can help staff stay in touch with emergency rescue workers. They should also have a way to quickly get in touch with parents just in case cell service goes down.
Best Practices for Protecting Kids in Daycare
Austin childcare providers also follow certain practices to ensure the safety of their children. These include:
- Background checks
- Staff training
- Visitor management
- Childproofing
- Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment
You can follow some of these daycare safety tips to better protect the children you’ve been tasked with.
Background Checks
All daycare employees and volunteers must undergo background checks. The goal is to screen out any adults who have had issues with children in the past, such as a history of abuse or neglect.
At the same time, directors must have specific education and experience requirements in child development or other related fields.
Staff Training
The minimum standard for daycare staff is that they be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or an equivalent. After that, all employees are required to complete initial training before they can begin work. Some of this training includes CPR, training in child development, and health and safety practices.
If a staff member is expected to care for children under 24 months of age, then they’ll need an additional hour of training. These topics cover early childhood brain development and safe sleep practices.
Visitor Management
One of the most important parts of running a daycare center is making sure every visitor is accounted for. There should never be someone wandering around who hasn’t received some kind of approval in advance.
An easy way to keep track of visitors is through nametags and a check-in book. Most daycare centers won’t even let someone in if they don’t already have approval from the child’s parent.
Child-Friendly Environment
A daycare facility needs a specific square footage allowance per child so they have ample space to play, rest, and socialize. Outdoor areas need to be fenced and safe, although staff will still need to watch the children at all times.
Restroom facilities need appropriate child-sized fixtures and equipment. Staff must also keep them clean and well-maintained.
Health and Hygiene
Daycare centers must provide nutritional meals and snacks for their children. Staff needs to take into account any dietary restrictions or allergies. All food must be prepared, stored, and served according to food safety standards.
On top of that, it’s essential that staff keep all facilities as clean as possible. Children can spread bacteria and viruses, and staff needs to stay on top of cleaning duties to prevent that.
Adapting to Local Needs
Austin is a growing city with a diverse population, which may present challenges for childcare providers.
Workers with non-traditional schedules need flexible childcare options. Families come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, which childcare providers must consider. Hot summers mean that children can only spend so much time outside without issue.
Make sure that your daycare center and staff can deal with a wide variety of factors such as these.
Improve Austin Childcare Security
Austin childcare security essentials go past the equipment and cameras you can install. It’s also about the lengths the daycare center goes to prepare its staff and train them to deal with children from a wide range of backgrounds.
Happy Bunnies Child Care in Austin follows a well-proven British curriculum for all ages, babies to pre-K. Our program is the highest-rated early learning center in Austin with 5 stars on Yelp, Google, and Facebook. Book a tour today and reach out to learn more.
