Practical Parenting

Day Care – how much should I care?

I am entrenched these days in the world of day care options for babies. My daughter Myrah will turn one in a couple of months, and as much as I would like to postpone it, it will soon be time for me to get back to work. For the last couple of months I have been researching day care options, visiting them and consulting other parents.

It is one big world with many options. And there is no right universal answer, making it pretty difficult to make a fully satisfied choice.

First, and most expensive, are the day care centres. Very institutionalized and structured, these places have about 10 infants (12-18 months) under 3 caregivers. The children follow a sort-of-set schedule during the day which includes outdoor time, stories, rhymes and playtime. If you are the kind of parent who likes discipline and lots of activities for your child, this one is for you. Children get to befriend other kids, play together and share. The downside, I am told, is lots of germs picked up from lots of other kids!

    Pros: structured, lots of interaction, activity-based, social skills

    Cons: lesser flexibility, more rules, germs

Then there are the home-based day care centres, which are affiliated to a government approved agency. These are typically women who run an establishment from their basements or homes. One pays the agency for access to these home centres and a monthly commission. The agency, in turn, promises minimum standards of care under their supervision. Or that’s what they say. In my research I visited homes with barely any toys and facilities, to well-established and thriving home centres, all under the wings of the same agency. I would take the promise of “minimum standards” with a pinch of salt.

    Pros: flexibility, home environment, possibility of more personalized attention (I say possibility because I am not convinced it is a given in all home care settings)

    Cons: risk of leaving your child with one caregiver (this could go either way), more children under one caregiver, loosely organized day, not much activities

The third option is other home based centres which are independent, with no approval or supervision from any government body. These are hit and miss options. Some of them are really good, some are threadbare. It really depends on the lady running the show. I found good ones, well set up with lots of facillities, and others run from cramped one-bedroom condo apartments. These are, of course, cheaper.

     Pros: very flexible, cost, very informal atmosphere

    Cons: difficult to find as there is no centralized database for them, lesser accountability, often less organized and fewer facility than others.

Ultimately, you have to decide what works for you. What seems a perfect fit for me may be your last choice. Here are the key points I based my decision on:

1.         Is the place clean and well-kept?

2.         Are there lots of toys, books and other facilities for kids?

3.         Are the caregivers welcoming and do they seem nurturing to the children?

4.         Is there enough activity to keep the kids stimulated and active during the day?

5.         How convenient is the location (close to work/home)?

6.         How approachable and friendly are the caregivers with the parents?

7.         Is the cost comparable?

8.         What are the reviews/opinions of other parents?

9.         Any other perks that seem attractive and unusual that demonstrates the centre goes the extra mile

and finally,

10. What is your gut reaction to the place? Your heart does have a big say in whose care you entrust your little baby.

I have made my decision, by no means an easy one. Time will tell if Myrah proves me right.

Indigo Partners with Artist Gary Taxali for Exclusive Toy Line

Acclaimed and Award-winning artist, Gary Taxali, partners with Indigo to roll out a line of unique retro wooden toys. 

Award winning pop culture artist, Gary Taxali, has partnered with Indigo Books & Music Inc. to roll out a line of six unique retro wooden toys created exclusively for  Canada’s national bookseller and available at Indigo and Chapters stores later this month. 

This is the first time Indigo has partnered with an artist to create Indigo-exclusive toys.  Indigo Kids Vice President, Trevor Dayton conceived the idea to do a retro wooden toy line earlier this year and thought of Taxali after seeing an advance copy of Taxali’s new children’s book, “This Is Silly!”.  Coincidentally, Taxali was also looking to create wooden toys, after having successfully launched his own line of vinyl toy figures through his toy company, Chump Toys.

“I’m thrilled to partner with an artist as singular and talented as Gary.  The toys he created for us are spectacular!  I’m so proud to be able to offer these unique and delightful toys to our customers this holiday.  One or two of these toys along with This Is Silly! makes a perfect gift for kids of all ages on your list,” notes Trevor Dayton, VP Kids and Entertainment, Indigo Books & Music Inc. 

What separates this line is its timelessness – the market is already saturated with plastic, vinyl, plush and entertainment branded toys, all of which are limited in terms of durability and extended appeal. 

Taxali’s unique retro style has appeared on the covers of Newsweek and pages of Rolling Stone, Time, GQ, Esquire and The New York Times.  He has previously collaborated with clients such as Sony, Warner Brothers, Nintendo, Levi’s and Converse.   

This exciting line of classic collectible retro wooden toys are infused with Taxali’s signature pop culture graphics and designs.   They also combine the street art sensibility, 1930’s style packaging and typography that Taxali is known for.   Like works of art themselves, with irreverent names like Whirly, Ladder Fun, Flip Floppy, Peck Peck, Toy Monkey Trapeze and Chalk Draw, these whimsical characters showcase Taxali’s signature retro pop art style already seen in his fine art, illustrations, t-shirts, skateboard decks and other products.

The classic toys follow the recent release of his new children’s book, “This Is Silly!”  and the book launch/signing which was held at the Art Gallery of Ontario – a hugely successful event selling out of all 300 books in  a couple of hours.

The  classic toys, along with Taxali’s children’s book, This Is Silly!, and an exclusive, original limited-edition signed and numbered silk screen print will be available at the Taxali toy launch being held at Indigo’s Manulife location on November 27^th at 2 pm.  Current plans are underway for further products and merchandise based on the book and toys. 

For more information on Gary Taxali and the toy launch, click HERE.

About Gary Taxali: 

Gary Taxali is an award-winning illustrator, fine artist and toy designer.  In addition to working for many clients in the advertising, design and editorial world, he devotes a portion of his time teaching and lecturing at various organizations and schools including Danmarks Designskole (Copenhagen), Istituto Europeo Di Design  (Rome) and OCAD University where he serves on the faculty.  He has won over 500 awards including a Gold from The Society of Illustrators, a National Gold Addy and Shortlist for a Cannes Lion and in 2009, received a Grammy nomination for Best Package  for Aimee Mann's album" "@#%&*! Smilers".  He lives and works in Toronto, Canada.