Active Supervision: How We Ensure Professional Childcare Safety in Edmonton
Jan 2, 2026
For parents seeking safe childcare in Millwoods, Edmonton, supervision is the most important factor in preventing accidents and ensuring a positive experience. At Ideal Daycare & After School Care, supervision is a core responsibility that we take very seriously. Our staff are not just present, they are active participants in primary caregiving tasks, ensuring your child is monitored every second they are in our care.
The Principles of Active Supervision
Our Alberta Government certified educators follow strict supervision procedures to meet the needs of every child.
- ** Scanning and Positioning:** Staff position themselves to see the entire playroom and continually scan for issues.
- Engagement: Educators stay down at the children's level, participating in play to ensure safety while fostering the child's development.
- No Multi-tasking: While supervising children, staff do not perform housekeeping, administrative work, or material preparation.
- Team Communication: During transitions, staff communicate constantly to ensure they know where every child is and who is authorized for pick-up.
Safety Beyond the Classroom: Field Trips and Outdoor Play
Supervision extends to our after-school care transportation and off-site excursions. Whether walking or using a vehicle to travel, we maintain enhanced staff-to-child ratios.
- Headcounts: Attendance is taken before leaving, during the trip, and immediately upon returning to the centre.
- Identification: Children wear identification tags with the centre's phone number (but not the child's name, for privacy and safety).
- Buddy Systems: We use walking ropes and "buddy systems" to guarantee children stay together during walks.
Prevention of Lost Children
At Ideal Daycare, we utilize strict precautions recommended by the Edmonton and Area Child and Family Services Authority to prevent lost children.
- Safety Assessments: We conduct daily safety checks of the facility and play spaces.
- Secured Premises: Our play areas are fenced, and doors may be equipped with extra safety measures like chimes or alarms.
- Emergency Readiness: All staff members carry a cell phone and have access to accurate portable emergency cards with child photos.
Tailored Care for Every Age
Our supervision style changes according to your child's growth. For older children (9-12), we implement distal supervision, which is a form of supervision that consists of intermittent, direct checks during planned activities (only after obtaining parental consent). For younger children, supervision remains constant and direct to protect their growing autonomy.
At Ideal Daycare, our supervision policy behaves as a protective shield, allowing children the freedom to explore and learn while parents can have a peace of mind knowing that their child is in safe hands.