For your child's safety, please insist on qualifications for providers!

[Skysue]

I have never gotten the whole police check concept. When it first came out it was for organizations and the sole purpose of protecting their butt in case something occurred. But for general use it became the be all and end all. But what does it really prove to anyone. It only tells you if the person has been convicted of a crime in the past 3 years or something like that. If the caregiver can give references to a steady stream of parents going further back then isn't that more important. Besides if there had been a breach against children by the caregiver her own children would have been removed from the home for safety would they not? And then they turn around and say you should renew it yearly or every other year which sounds to me like a cash grab by the province. In this midst of all this are people such as high school students with no proven background trying desparately to get their police checks to do work either paid or volunteer. I know I am in the minority on this belief but I have been in daycare long enough - 24 years to have seen just about every "band wagon" issue of the moment come and go.

It's more just piece for of mind I think and if that's what it take then so be it! I do see where your comming from though! TRUST is a BIG issue for all of us!

[ConcernedParent]

Trust is earned. And when we send our kids to complete strangers we are desparetely in search of that trust factor. With my first born, I loved his babysitter from the second I met her. She had a beatiful personality and was very loving. Her house was clean, bright and toddler friendly. Her husband and children were just as charming. BUT as much as I liked her there was that trust factor because she was a stranger. So yes, the police check gave me a piece of mind. You are right. )

[ConcernedParent]

That was supposed to be a smiley. Oops.