Navigating the child care/ educational system for kids in Canada can be a daunting task for parents, especially first time parents, because of all the different options available, lack of uniformity between provinces, and no central information hub for parents.

Although most parents assume that their kids would just attend the daycare/ school by their house when they are old enough, it ends up being a big shock to many of us how much work is involved in selecting the right place for our kids.

For example, Canadian parents quickly realize there is more to going to school today, than just learning to read or to count.

Since this topic often resonates with many parents, here are some lessons learnt and strategies to navigate with fewer headaches the childcare/ school system in Canada based on personal experiences from many family and friends across the country.

1) Between 0 and 2 years old:

Decide on your child care options and weight the benefits versus the costs: Daycare, day home, at home babysitters, or stay at with grandparents or one spouse until ready for school.

 

Always visit and interview couple places for comparison before making your final choice. Always ask for credentials/ qualifications, experiences, and references.

Be aware that interacting with other kids after 12 months of age promotes healthy development for kids.

 

Open a RESP account and save monthly at least a portion of your Canada Child Benefits towards future college university costs.

 

Pay attention to early screening tests at the public health center: Do your kids meet their development milestones? Delays in speaking, walking, hearing may indicate needs for early learning support.

 

Limit as much as possible screen time and encourage interactions with kids through play and family activities

 

Familiarize yourself with parenting resources in your community.

2) Between 2 and 4 years old:

Again, pay close attention to early screening tests at the public health center: Do your kids meet their development milestones? Delays in speaking, walking, hearing may indicate needs for early learning support.

 

Familiarize yourself with family resources in your community and recreational centers for activities.

 

For kids who stay home with grandparents and do not learn to speak English or are not exposed to the mainstream culture in their early years, be aware that health care professionals/ educators have a tendency to diagnose them with a range of developmental delays because of the types of screening tools they use. Always seek advice from multiple sources in this case.

 

Be aware that all daycares are not equal. Some offered more educational activities to kids than others, while others are more a form of babysitting services.

 

Explore educational options available to your kids: pre-school programs (also called pre-Kinder garden programs), community play schools, dayhomes and daycares are not equal in educational opportunities because of staff training certifications, legal requirements, funding models, and availability of educational resources.

 

In some provinces like Alberta, early learning programs (structured and regulated) are available starting at 3-4 years old and take place in elementary schools. Some are free for kids who experience some development delays such as speech delays.

3) Between 4-5 years old:

Make a list of your kids’ learning priorities: Is a second language or sports a priority? What about strong numeracy and literacy skills in preparation of traditional careers? Do you prefer arts-based or religion-based school programs? Do your kids need extra support in the classroom?

 

Consult school performance reports on national exams such as the Fraser Institute to learn about elementary and high schools’ academic performances in your areas. Consult schools’ websites for details on mission, values, and program descriptions.

 

Attend school orientation sessions usually early in the year and interview teachers and students on their experiences at the school.

 

Verify school anti-bullying strategies and other initiatives to address current challenges in the school system: mental health; cannabis, drugs and smoking; sex education; support to children with various learning needs, including development delays; integration of indigenous and multicultural education, including working with children of various background; technology skills; physical education; maths and literacy skills.

 

Verify transportation options from/ to schools against your job schedule.

 

When your kids start school, pay closely attention to their experiences (such as progress in school, interactions with peers, mental health) and support them as much as you can or find the right resources for them.

 

If your children are facing barriers to enter a particular school and school officials would not cooperate reasonably with you, you can contact the school board overseeing the school for more information and guidance.

 

Volunteer in school activities or in parents’ associations as much as possible.

 

Partner with family and friends who have kids of similar ages to attend the same school or to get involved in same sports programs outside schools to build your own family support networks.

 

Why this topic is important? Every parent should have the opportunity to make educated and informed choices in shaping the future of their kids and every kid deserves the best education possible! The secret in any case is to plan early and seek as much information as possible not only from government sources, school boards, schools, but also parents who already have kids in the school system.

Good luck parents!

If you need additional resources for any point discussed above, please email us at kqxmedia@gmail.com

 

References:

Child Care: Tips for Choosing Good Day Care Centers | Parents. [Youtube video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/

CallingWood Elementary FunTeam Young Leaders Program Fall 2017. [Youtube video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/