Baa Baa Black Sheep is back: Ontario allowing singing, visitors in child care centres
Baa Baa Black Sheep is back in Ontario child-care centres as new provincial COVID-19 guidance for the sector allows the return of singing indoors, eases cleaning rules and lets visitors inside.
The updated guidance follows calls from parents and operators for the government to review some of the rules that were brought in last summer when centres reopened, and brings some rules in line with Ontario's recently announced back-to-school plan.
Singing indoors is now permitted, and visitors are allowed inside, though some child-care operators say they need more clarity on the latter. Many are now waiting for word from their local public health units on how each region will be implementing the new guidance.
Previous guidance said parents should not enter, so centres have been doing drop-offs and pickups at the door, with staff running kids to their rooms -- and some are unsure if the new guidance explicitly allows them to stop this.
Toronto mom Cristina Adams welcomes the return of singing, saying her four-year-old daughter has really missed it.
"They're definitely running around, shouting with each other and playing, so I don't see the difference with singing," she said.
But Adams said she'd be all right with parents continuing to stay outside, especially since she doesn't know if everyone is vaccinated.
"I miss going in there obviously ... My son who started during COVID, I don't know the teachers at all," she said.
"I miss seeing (the teachers), but for them too, having all kinds of people in there might make them feel scared … I think for their peace of mind too it might make them feel better not having us all come in there."
Maureen McLeod, whose son will soon start kindergarten in Toronto, said she too would defer to a centre's comfort level.
"I know as a parent I would love to go in there and see kids play…(but) I'm OK with them still saying no parents in until we're clear on how this impacts kids with the Delta variant."
Child-care operators said the language around visitors in the new guidance is too vague to act on just yet.
"It doesn't really say that parents can actually drop off their children anywhere," said Amy O'Neil of Treetop Children's Centre. "We're under the understanding that we still have to escort the children from the screening station up to their classroom."
Providers have said that the extra staff needed to take every child in and out of the centres is a huge strain on their budgets, but they want to operate safely and according to the rules.
Alana Powell of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario said having parents go into child-care centres may not be possible at many places right now.
"The operators I've spoken to have said the current changes … won't reduce any of their need for screeners and runners, still," she said.
"If local public health units don't change their guidelines to match, then of course operators are going to follow through with whatever guidelines are more stringent."
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Stephen Lecce, whose portfolio also includes child care, said the new guidance comes with the chief medical officer's stamp of approval.
"By following and implementing expert medical advice, we have kept child care centres safe and open throughout the pandemic," Caitlin Clark said in an email. "Health and safety training, adherence to protocols, practicing hand hygiene, consistent screening, mask use and distancing have been key factors contributing to the safety of children and staff within child care centres."
Under the new guidance, staff could also now move between locations and age groups, though it's still not encouraged, and don't have to wear masks outside or face shields when working with kids in Grade 1 and up who are wearing a mask.
The guidance acknowledges that because the risk of surface transmission of the virus is low, the focus should be on hand washing rather than having to clean a shared toy between each child who uses it, and that group sensory materials are allowed.
Kim Yeaman of Simcoe Child Care Services said she was excited to get the water tables out again.
"Playing alongside each other with those sensory materials is something that's been missing," she said. "We feel as though having that group sensory is a really vital, vital part of our program."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Fine dining, at a new high. A Michelin-starred chef will take his cuisine to our upper atmosphere
Six guests are set to ascend aboard Spaceship Neptune to the stratosphere, where they will enjoy an immersive dining experience served up by Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk.
Israel orders new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it prepares to expand operations
Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation and adding that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.