Developmental Goals for Your In-Home Daycare

For most families enrolling their children in daycare is a time of great expectation and hope. Many families see daycare as the first step to a lifetime of learning.

Unfortunately in todays fast-paced society most families no longer have the privilege of being able to leave their children with a relative or stay home with them. As daycare providers we have the opportunity to make their experience as close to home as possible.

At the same time we need to strive to provide a learning environment that provides numerous books, toys, and educational material. It is our responsibility as daycare providers to work with the families in our program to nurture their child's cognitive, physical, emotional, social and spiritual development.

The following is a list of goals for each area of development.

Cognitive Development

1. To enable the children in our care to show curiosity about their surroundings and instill in them a desire to learn.
2. To provide children with basic skills to think and problem solve on their own.
3. To enable children to become active learners in their day to day life as well as in a daycare setting.
4. As daycare providers we are responsible for helping each child in our care develop to their full potential.
5. We should strive to provide children with diverse experiences through a learning environment.

Physical Development

1. To create a safe a healthy environment for the children in our care.
2. To encourage small and large motor skills through the use of developmentally appropriate toys and equipment.
3. To provide plenty of opportunity for active play, both indoors and outside, and an equal amount of time for quiet play and rest.

Emotional Development

1. As daycare providers it is our responsibility to provide the children we care for with loving teachers and caregivers and a warm secure environment.
2. To help in the development of independence and self-confidence.
3. To help the children in our care develop a positive self-image through praise.
4. To encourage and help the children learn to express their feelings in a positive and acceptable manner.

Spiritual Development

1. We must vow to be a positive part of every child's life.
2. To help each child reach his or her full potential in every aspect of their life.
3. To encourage cooperation and commitment between school and home.

As daycare providers we should dedicate ourselves to being a positive aspect of every child's life. This impacts a high level of self-esteem in the children in our care. Self-esteem impacts a child's ability to be happy or unhappy in life, attain success, the ability to learn, and to whom a child choose to make friends.

As daycare providers we are the stepping stone in preparing tomorrow's leaders to have a positive impact on our community and world.