{"id":220,"date":"2020-09-02T03:35:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T03:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kinderpass.com\/blog\/?p=220"},"modified":"2022-07-18T06:55:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T06:55:46","slug":"reopening-a-daycare-during-a-pandemic-a-guide-for-daycare-centers-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kinderpass.com\/blog\/reopening-a-daycare-during-a-pandemic-a-guide-for-daycare-centers-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Reopening a Daycare During a Pandemic: A Guide for Daycare Centers in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed every aspect of our lives\u2014but the biggest unknown many parents now face is the inevitable return to school. Yet, this big unknown affects more than just parents\u2014it affects childcare providers as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For those of us in the daycare industry, the pandemic likely meant you had to close your business for several months. However, as the number of new cases continues to flatten in most countries, many childcare centers are in the process of planning their reopenings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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And as expected, governments all around the world have created a strict set of guidelines for these reopenings. We\u2019ve put together some practical tips that will help you reopen safely and create a safe environment for your employees, children, and parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Safety Tips and Measures We Should All Follow<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The normal approach to common cleaning tasks, administrative processes, parent communications, and safety will change in 2020. <\/span><\/p>\n

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How are you preparing to implement these changes to create a safe and secure environment? Let\u2019s begin by taking a look at some practical health and safety tips childcare providers will need to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Social Distancing Where Possible<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anyone who has worked with young kids in the past will know that telling them where to go and what to do is a lot easier said than done. While older children may understand the seriousness of the situation and keep a safe distance, social distancing will be challenging to enforce with younger children. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Try to enforce distancing where you can. We recommend making social distancing a fun activity. You can turn basic procedures into a game by praising and encouraging children who follow floor markings. You will also need to designate areas for children to stand and sit, mark off approved play areas, and more as you work to encourage social distancing in your facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Make Hand Sanitizing Part of the Routine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Proper handwashing is one of the easiest ways to minimize transmission. Set up a hand sanitizing station at the entrances to your facility and any classrooms to neutralize germs. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Start asking children to wash their hands before entering and exiting the building. Make sure they practice safe handwashing techniques, such as singing \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d two times. You could even introduce a star system to make the routine more enjoyable for your kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Temperature Checks Where Appropriate<\/span><\/h3>\n

Checking staff members\u2019 temperatures on a daily basis will help you to catch potential illnesses early on. If you are able to check the children\u2019s temperatures too, this will help you to identify kids who should stay home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Remind parents that they should keep their children at home if they show any symptoms at all. Proactiveness is the best defense against COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reduce the Number of Toys and Separate Per Child<\/span><\/h3>\n

High touch items like toys can help to spread the virus. Plus, they\u2019re quite difficult to clean. In most daycares, children all share and use the same toys. <\/span><\/p>\n

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If you can, create separate toy boxes for each child. Ask children to only use their own toys. Try to include the same toys in each box\u2014the last thing you need is a jealous child reaching for someone else\u2019s toy box!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Create Class Cohorts<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet, you\u2019ll need to create specialized cohorts (or bubbles) for your groups. These cohorts are designed to ensure that the same group of teachers and children are interacting with each other every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While these measures may seem difficult to navigate, they will help your staff enforce safety measures and keep your children at a safe distance from one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Always Keep Parents in the Loop<\/span><\/h3>\n

Parents are sure to be feeling anxious about their children returning to daycare. Start sending them a weekly newsletter with updates on the daycare. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Keep them updated on everything from local infection numbers to your cleaning procedures. This will help parents feel a little more at ease with the processes you have in place.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcoming Back Your Children: Tips for a Smooth Transition<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You should also expect that some children will be confused with this new dynamic. While masks have become the norm\u2014a pandemic is an unfamiliar concept for most children. Here are some ideas of how you can make your children feel calm and safe when they return.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Teach Them About the Virus in a Clear, Unintimidating Lesson<\/span><\/h3>\n

Kids are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for. They\u2019re bound to notice the changes happening in their classrooms. Every family will tell their kids different things about the virus, so it\u2019s important that you and your staff give them the correct information in a calm, reassuring way. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Create a lesson that informs the children about what\u2019s going on and what they need to do to stay safe. We recommend creating a hygiene checklist for basic tasks like washing your hands, cleaning up your space, and maintaining social distancing. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask your children questions, see what they know, and encourage them to think critically about COVID-19, how it\u2019s impacted them, wearing masks, and other relevant information.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Make sure you use verified data from trusted sources. There are many great videos that you can share with younger children. However, be careful not to go into too many of the scary details!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Spend Time Learning New Ways to Interact with Friends<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another essential lesson plan is to teach your children how to interact with others. Teach them about bumping elbows and waving as alternatives to hugs. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Challenge them to play while sitting or standing a little further apart. Be sure to give them lots of praise when they manage to socially distance throughout the day to reinforce their new good habits.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Play Socially Distanced Group Games<\/span><\/h3>\n

To help children learn new, safe playing techniques, lead them through a few group games that can be played while social distancing. <\/span>Zip Zap Zop<\/span><\/a> is a fun, interactive game played in a circle that doesn\u2019t require any close interaction. Hide and Seek, I Spy, What Time Is It Mr. Wolf, and Freeze Dance, are all good options too.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another great option is the timeless classic\u2014Simon Says. This game is both fun and an easy way to ensure your children are staying at a safe distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Set Aside Time When Kids Can Voice Their W<\/span>orries and Concerns<\/span><\/h3>\n

All of these new routines and rules may prove to be a little overwhelming for some of the children at your daycare. Remember, young children can suffer from <\/span>mental health problems<\/span><\/a> just like adults. <\/span><\/p>\n

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In order to help children who may be feeling anxious or depressed by the changes caused by coronavirus, set aside some time to talk about feelings. Give all of your children the chance to ask questions or express how they feel. You may even want to incorporate some <\/span>meditation<\/span><\/a> time to help your children stay calm and grounded. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Leverage a Robust Daycare to Streamline Your Processes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Running a daycare can be tricky\u2014especially when you\u2019re reopening with new rules and practices for staff and children alike. <\/span><\/p>\n

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KinderPass aims to make your job easier. Our daycare platform was designed by childcare providers for childcare centers to simplify key admin processes, parent communications, compliance, childcare, and more. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Our app streamlines every aspect, so you can reduce your admin time and get back to what really matters: your children! Our software makes it easy to:<\/span><\/p>\n