Daycare Vacation & Absence Policy — Family Travel Guide | Daisy Days Regina SK

Family vacations and travel are important — and navigating your licensed daycare’s absence policy doesn’t need to be stressful. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, we understand that families need to travel, and we work to make absences as manageable as possible. Here’s what every enrolled family should know.

How Licensed Daycare Absence Policies Generally Work in Saskatchewan

Licensed daycares in Saskatchewan typically operate on one of two billing models:

Model 1: Monthly Fee Regardless of Attendance (Most Common)

Your monthly fee covers your child’s enrolled spot regardless of how many days they actually attend. Whether your child is there 22 days or away for 2 weeks, the monthly fee remains the same. This is similar to a fitness membership — you pay for access to the spot, not per-visit.

Why: The daycare incurs the same staff costs, facility costs, and operational costs whether your child attends or not. The spot you hold prevents another family from enrolling — you pay for that reservation.

Model 2: Per-Day Billing With Absence Credits

Some centres bill per care day (with CWELCC at approximately $10/day) and allow a limited number of “vacation days” — days when your child is absent but you don’t pay. The number of free vacation days varies by centre and enrollment agreement.

Contact Daisy Days Daycare at 306-807-3233 to confirm which billing model applies to your enrollment and what our current vacation day policy is.

What to Do Before Taking Vacation From Daycare

1. Check your enrollment agreement: Review the vacation and absence section to understand what fees apply and whether there’s a limit to free vacation days
2. Give advance notice: Inform Daisy Days Daycare of your planned absence dates as early as possible — minimum 1-2 weeks, longer for extended absences
3. Confirm your child’s return date: Confirm the exact day they’ll be returning so educators can plan and so your invoice is accurate
4. Ask about extended absences: If you’re planning a trip of 2+ weeks (common for extended family visits in country of origin for newcomer families, for example), contact us specifically to discuss the impact on enrollment

What Happens to Your Child’s Enrollment During Vacation

Your child’s spot at Daisy Days Daycare is held during an approved vacation absence — that’s what the continuing fees cover. When your child returns:

• Expect a 3-5 day re-adjustment period, especially for toddlers and younger preschoolers who thrive on routine
• Some children show temporary separation distress at drop-off when returning after a break — this is normal and usually resolves within a few days
• Update educators on any significant experiences from the trip (new language words learned, family members met, time zone adjustment if crossing multiple zones)

For Extended International Travel — Important Considerations

Families with ties to other countries sometimes travel internationally for 4-8 weeks. Key considerations:

• Contact Daisy Days Daycare well in advance — extended absences may have specific provisions in your enrollment agreement
• Confirm whether your child’s spot is held for the full absence duration or whether a different arrangement applies
• If your child’s spot cannot be held for the full absence, you may need to re-enroll on a waitlist upon return — this is something to clarify before booking non-refundable travel

Balancing Family Travel and Daycare Routine

Travel disrupts children’s routines — and children thrive on predictability. Practical tips for minimizing post-vacation adjustment disruption:

• Maintain as much of the home routine as possible during travel (similar sleep and meal times)
• Talk about returning to daycare positively during the trip: “When we get home, you’ll get to see your friends at Daisy Days again”
• Plan the return for a Tuesday or Wednesday if possible — re-starting mid-week is often easier than a Monday full-week restart
• Give yourself and your child an extra day home after return (if possible) before the first daycare day — jet lag and travel fatigue are real

→ Statutory holiday closure schedule 2026
→ Full daycare fees and billing guide

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to discuss your planned vacation absence.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5