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Child care design resources

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Resources for Designing & Developing New Child Care Spaces in BC

There are a great many questions that arise when developing a new child care program. Quality child care design brings together a lot of moving parts. Knowing what’s involved, how to start and things to consider when it comes to child care design is critical. Below are several resources specific to child care in BC that will be of assistance to individuals and organizations considering establishing new child care spaces in BC.

Child Care Licensing Regulation

The recent funding for new child care spaces in BC is for the development of spaces that are licensed. It’s important to note that licensed child care facilities are required to work in compliance with the Child Care Licensing Regulation. These regulations are the minimum requirements that all licensed child care programs in BC are required to meet. In many ways, the Child Care Licensing Regulations serve as a foundation for a high quality program to be built upon. That said,  where possible — it’s a good idea for programs to not only meet —  but to exceed the minimum requirements that have been established within the Child Care Licensing Regulation.

Understanding what’s involved in designing a quality child care program can be confusing. The Provincial Government offers quite a helpful range of information  to support child care program development and operation. You can find more about that here.

Outdoor Child Care Play Area Under Construction
Outdoor Child Care Play Area Under Construction

Where To Find More Information on Child Care Design and Development

How a program goes about meeting the child care licensing regulation is based upon many factors. A lot depends upon budget, available space, program type, ages of children to be served, program philosophy etc. There is a lot to consider when it comes to the development of new child care spaces.

Below are some additional resources related to the design and development of early learning and child care spaces.

  • The City of Richmond – Child Care Design Guidelines

The City of Richmond has an excellent and very informative document explaining the guidelines recommended in the design of and the technical considerations necessary for the development of new child care facilities within urban environments. From safety to security concerns, this document covers a lot of helpful and easy to read resources and recommendations for the creation and development of safe and secure, educational, and fun child care spaces.

  • The City of Vancouver – Child Care Technical Guidelines

The City of Vancouver provides another resource that is useful in terms of designing and creating new child care facilities. Much like the City of Richmond’s document, this document provides technical and design elements necessary to the development of new child care facilities. This document delves further into the technical and architectural aspects of creating the actual buildings, spaces, and programs within a child care facility, citing multiple companies that have proven successful to use in the past when it comes to building good quality child care facilities with appliances and fixtures specifically designed for child friendly environments.

  • Vancouver Coastal Health – Design Resource for Child Care Facilities

Vancouver Coastal Health provides a design resource for creating new or renovated child care spaces that incorporates the needs of the children, families, and communities involved in its designing and budgeting.

  • The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society  – Many Resources Available!

The BCACCS has produced several publications in partnership with various colleagues in the field of Early Childhood Development. Many of these publications include information about best practices and approaches in Indigenous early childhood programs. It is beneficial for programs to take into consideration the needs of Indigenous children when designing new child care spaces.

  • Let’s Play Project – Creating Accessible Play Spaces

While this toolkit speaks to ways to make school play spaces more inclusive; it’s still a valuable resource for early childhood programs when it comes to the development of outdoor play areas for child care programs.

  • Child Care Options – Child Care Design Architects/Outdoor Playspace Designers

Several years ago Child Care Options put together this list of architects who work in the area of child care design and outdoor play areas.

Jane BoydCCMake Sure You Have a Voice for Child Care at the Table

One of the critical elements to designing a high quality child care program is ensuring there’s an experienced and educated voice for child care at the planning table — right from the beginning of the project. This will help the project to go more smoothly, to more easily meet the child care licensing regulation and will also reduce the possibility of costly design errors when the project is under construction (or renovation.)

Need Help with Child Care Design or Program Development?

45 Conversations provides an array of consultation and program development services related to early learning and child care projects. If you are working on a project that you need assistance with please contact Jane Boyd to further discuss the needs of your project. Employers who are considering the development of workplace child care might also find this information helpful.

This post was researched and written by Pricilla Westlake and Jane Boyd.

Jane Boyd — I write because . . .

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It’s one week since my dad left this earth.

And in this moment I am reminded that he has not left my heart for even one second.

This past week was a tough one. The weeks and months prior were even tougher. It is so very hard to watch someone you love struggle with chronic illness. And to then have to finally say goodbye. It’s more than heartbreaking.

Yet — as hard as all of this is — and was — I am at peace knowing my dad is now at peace.

Without question my dad was loved. And he loved us. He has left a legacy — in me, with us and for many. It’s a legacy that can’t ever be taken away from any of us.

++++++++++

As I think about my dad tonight I realize that he gave me so much. You see — he taught me the value of relationships, of generosity and of believing in others.

Of course — guess what? My dad was human. There were many moments that he made me frustrated and crazy too. Times that I felt he was a little too critical of me or more than tricky to communicate with.

Yet — I know this: My dad loved me.

Some of you may recall my being adopted. More than a few times I have written about this part of my life. I’ve been pretty open about it here in the online space. And like all stories — there’s also a back story.

This one is mine.

From the earliest of days my dad told me a “story” about how “I chose” he and my mom to be my adoptive parents. Of course — there was no truth to this in reality. But for me — growing up — this was very much the truth I understood about my life.

The story he told me went something like this —

One day, he and my mom got a call from the adoption agency to go and choose a new baby. So off they went to the hospital. When they got there they were allowed into a room that was full of tiny babies who were in cribs. As they looked at all the babies in that room they were thinking which baby they would choose to take home. Of course it was a hard choice. Suddenly my dad saw me looking right at him. And I winked.

The story goes that my wink — in that exact moment — told my dad that I was the baby for them. That I had chosen he and my mom to be my parents. And so he knew that I was THE baby that was to go home with them.

We were a family from that moment forward.

I grew up believing that story for a great many years. That my wink to my dad was what made them decide to bring me home and make me their little girl — that they were honouring my choice.

Really — when you think about it — it’s quite the story for an adopted child to grow up with.

Over the years I have experienced many mixed emotions about my adoption. I’ve never really been able to explain why this is so. And then tonight — as I’ve reflected and thought about this simple story I have realized something . . .

My dad gave me a true gift in making that story the very first narrative of my life.

You see — from the get go my dad empowered me to believe that I was in total control of MY life. That I was the one in charge of my choices and decisions.

Now if you ask me — there really is no better gift that could be given to a child who had just been given up for adoption. Something they had absolutely NO control over.

Hindsight is 20/20.

It took my dad leaving this world for me to understand how important this story was and is. And what a role it has played in my life.

It’s a story that has made me stronger, more grounded and actually in complete control of my life.

I haven’t always understood this. And yet now I see it as clear as day.

My dad gave me this control of my life — from the very beginning. And he gave it to me at a time when he could have made it all about he and my mom. Instead — he made it all about me. And the choice I made.

He made my life my story.

Wow — was I ever fortunate.

My dad was a very intelligent man and he constantly encouraged me to think about things more broadly. To believe that people are here to help others. That everyone deserves a chance. And that giving to others is always good and right.

My dad also taught me a love of the written word. To this day I still have memories of reading my very first book. It was early one morning and I was stretched out on the floor on his side of the bed. It was long before he and my mom were awake. I vividly remember the magic of the moment when I realized I could actually READ the words on the page. I just could’t wait to wake him up so that I could read to him — my dad.

Over the years my dad often told me that he didn’t care what I read — a book, the newspaper or the back of cereal box — so long as I was reading he was happy. And so I read. Anything and everything.

As a grew up my dad encouraged me to expand from reading to writing. He saved many of my earliest stories. Tiny pages of messy words written in faint HB pencil. My stories mattered to him because they were my words and thoughts. And — because my dad saw value in my words and thoughts — I saw value in continuing to write.

As I worked to get better at writing, my dad was always available to edit my work. Even when he would be traveling for work, I would fax my writing to him. From wherever he was, my dad would edit my words and then fax them back to me. It was our version of google docs — just in fax format. This kind of support of my writing went on into my mid twenties. And then one day, quite suddenly, my dad told me I no longer needed to send him my work. He said simply “You are a better writer than I could ever hope to be. You don’t need me to edit your work anymore.”

From that day forward, I never sent my dad any more of my words. Of course, he told many people the story of my writing in the years that followed. My being a better writer than he was indeed something he was very proud of.

Yes — hindsight is very much 20/20.

My dad telling me that he no longer needed to edit my words actually had very little to do with my writing skills. The reality is that he was actually telling me how much he believed in me. That I was ready to go fourth and put my words and the person I had become out into the world.

I didn’t see this then — but I see it now — with more clarity than I ever have before.

++++++++++++++++

A week ago, my dad was looking at me and winking. He did this over and over — right up until twelve hours before died.

We had come full circle.

I used to think that I write because of how much I love writing. Of course this is true — but — there’s more. . .

I write because I grew up with a father who not only believed in the brilliance of the words I put on the page — but who unequivocally believed in me from the very moment we first met.

+++++++++++++++

Did I ever make the right choice when I winked at my dad on that day way back when. Because of that choice — he became my dad and my mom became my mom. And we became a family.

What a lucky girl I am.

At least that’s the story I’m going to keep on telling myself — because it’s the truth. And it’s my story.

Thanks dad. I love you.