FAQ

Q: Is the Diki Daycare Center is a licensed child care facility?

Yes, our center is licensed and consistently inspected by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Our Center works diligently to follow and exceed all rules and regulations set forth by Article 47 of DOHMH.

Q: What are our hours of operation?

Our Center is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00am – 6:00pm.

Q: What ages do you serve?

2y-5y

Q: What are the tuition fees?

Tuition at our daycare center varies based on the age of the child being enrolled. Full-time & Part-time programs are available for all age groups.
To request our current tuition rate please call 718-278-1570 or email us at dikidaycare@gmail.com.

Q: Do parents have to pay fees for days that their child does not attend due to illness or vacation?

Yes, once the space is reserved for individual child, the fees are needed regardless of child’s attendance to maintain spot and quality of our service.

Q: Can my child bring toys from home?

Unfortunately, we ask that no playthings be brought to the center from home.

Q: Can I visit my child during the day?

We have an open door policy so parents are always welcome to observe their child as long as it is not interrupting our program in action.

Q: What are the discipline procedures at the center?

We view discipline not as a means of punishing a child who has acted inappropriately, but rather as a means of teaching a child.

Preschoolers benefit from having a few simple classroom rules. For example: Being kind to others, Walking Feet, Listening Ears, Soft Hands, Inside Voices. When a behavior problem arises, our staff use this as a teaching opportunity and calmly remind children of the classroom rules and why we have them. Our staff models the appropriate behaviors, use reinforcement and redirection that is developmentally appropriate for the children involved.

Q: What will happen in the case of an emergency?

Parents/guardians will be notified in case of any emergency.

Q: What are the qualification of your staff members?

All of our other staff meet the licensing requirements for the DOHMH, Office of Child Care.  In addition, many of our staff have their Child Development Associate (CDA) and are working towards early child hood teaching certification. All of our staff members have a thorough background clearance and most of them are certified in First Aid, CPR, and Epipen.

Q: Will my child be taught to read and write?

The focus of our program is on social and emotional development and learning through play. Our children start learning the skills necessary to read and write by interacting with books, painting pictures, singing songs, and using crayons.  As the children get older we provide additional hands-on activities to make learning come alive and help children begin to recognize letters of the alphabet and numbers and increase their exposure to mathematical, science, and social studies concepts.  Children are provided with individual work sampling/portfolio box once they reach 4 year old program that enable them to move at their own pace and continue to master those skills necessary to begin reading and writing. Individual work boxes helps our educators and parents to see the child’s progression, strength and areas of needed development.

Q: My child does not speak English, how do you work with children who are not native English speakers?

It is not unusual for us to have children start with us who do not speak English.  Our caring teachers are adept at making each child feel welcome and included in all activities, and parents will notice a burst of language early on.  Children learn languages quickly, and our teachers are proficient in encouraging children to gradually begin to express themselves confidently.

Q: How can I be involved in my child's school experience?

We gladly welcome parents to join us for special celebrations, birthdays and presentations. Additionally, parents may volunteer in their child’s classroom. A teacher may also ask for parent volunteers to help with a particular activity. If you would like to participate you may always ask the teachers for opportunities.

Q: Are you affiliated with any religion?

Diki Daycare Center is not affiliated with any religion.

Q: Does my child need to be potty-trained to attend?

We fully understand that “toilet learning” is a process and welcome the opportunity to partner with you as your child goes through the steps of toilet learning.
For children participating in our two-year-old preschool program we have a diaper changing area for those children who have not yet started the process and will work with your child on toilet learning if they are currently in the process.

Q: Are you able to give my child medicine?

Unfortunately we cannot provide any medicine to children as Diki Daycare Center is not licensed to administer any type of medication (prescription and/or non-prescription) to children.

Q: Does Diki Daycare provide food for my child?

We offer a professionally catered nutritionally balanced hot lunch daily according to our weekly lunch menu.
If a child has special / different food preference parents can send in their lunch for that day. (Our center is Peanut free zone)

Q: Do children go outside during the day?

Yes, children are taken for walks around the neighborhood and to the local park when weather and scheduling permit. Every child leaving Diki Daycare Center is dressed in a blue polo shirt or sweat shirt, easily recognizable with our logo and is walked to and from the park on a preschool approved walking rope. Once at the park children are often allowed to play in a secured area supervised by Diki Daycare staff members.

Q: Do I get a daily report or information about my child’s day?

Yes. Parents receive a daily emailed progress report that includes detailed information about the child’s day including feeding, napping, and diapering (if applicable), along with photos and sometimes videos of their child in action.

Q: What is your child to teacher ratio?

For 2yrs-3yrs – class ratio is one staff to every six children,  For 3yrs-4yrs – class ratio is one staff to every ten children,  and For 4yrs-5yrs – class ratio is one staff to every twelve children.

Q: What happens if my child gets sick during the day?

Diki Daycare has a strict illness policy ( please see parent handbook). If your child falls ill during the day then you will be asked to pick up your child as soon as possible. In the meanwhile your child will be made as comfortable as possible until you arrive. We kindly asked parents to keep contagious children home until they are no longer sick or cleared through a doctor’s note to return to school.

Q: Might there be any changes in my child's daily activities, when they move up to a new class?

Yes, there will be some transitional changes as we meet their developmental needs with those of their peers.

Q: What is the process of enrolling my child to your center?

Call or email to request a tour of our center, confirm possible availability, either fill out a waiting list or enrollment form to submit the needed documentation.

Q: What kind of documentation will I need to enroll my child?

A copy of child’s birth certificate, School health examination form with up to date vaccines, Parents/guardians legal photo ID and completed enrollment form.