Daycare for Children with Autism (ASD) in Regina SK | Licensed Inclusive Care | Daisy Days

Families with children who have received an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis often ask whether licensed group daycare is appropriate — and the honest answer requires looking at the individual child, the quality of the centre, and the supports available. At Daisy Days Daycare in Regina SK, we approach autism inclusion with honesty, care, and collaboration with families and professional supports.

ASD and Early Childhood Group Care — What Research Says

Early childhood intervention research on autism shows that early, intensive, naturalistic social learning environments are beneficial for many children with ASD. Specifically:

• Social communication — the core challenge in ASD — develops in part through social interaction with peers. Quality group care provides structured, supported peer interaction that isolated home care cannot replicate.
• Consistent routines — a hallmark of quality licensed daycare — provide the predictability that many children with ASD need to feel secure and regulate
• ECE educators trained in positive behaviour guidance and responsive caregiving provide the adult support framework that helps children with ASD navigate group social situations
• Early group care experiences help children with ASD practice school-readiness skills in a supported environment before Kindergarten

However: the appropriateness of group care depends significantly on the child’s specific ASD profile, support needs, and the capacity of the specific daycare to meet them.

Saskatchewan’s Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP) for ASD

Saskatchewan’s ECIP provides developmental services for children under 6 with identified special needs including ASD. ECIP services may include:

• Developmental assessment and diagnosis support
• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or other evidence-based behavioral intervention
• Speech-language pathology
• Occupational therapy (sensory processing support)
• Consultation to licensed daycares on inclusion strategies for specific children

Access ECIP through your child’s pediatrician or Saskatchewan Health Authority. ECIP services can operate alongside daycare enrollment — ECIP professionals may visit Daisy Days Daycare to work with your child and consult with our educators.

What We Discuss Before Enrolling a Child with ASD at Daisy Days Daycare

Before any enrollment of a child with ASD, we request a private meeting with the family to discuss:

• The child’s specific ASD profile — language level, social engagement capacity, sensory sensitivities, regulatory challenges, and any co-occurring conditions
• What works: what strategies, environments, and interactions help this child feel safe and regulated
• What’s challenging: specific triggers, situations that cause distress or dysregulation, and how to respond effectively
• Current professional involvement: speech-language pathologist, behavioral consultant, occupational therapist — can they consult with our educators?
• Our honest assessment of whether and how we can meet this child’s needs — we want to say yes to inclusion, but we also want to be honest if our current capacity isn’t sufficient

Communication for ASD Inclusion at Daisy Days Daycare

For children with ASD enrolled at Daisy Days Daycare, we maintain more intensive parent communication:

• Daily written reports on social interactions, regulatory challenges, and any notable observations
• Regular (minimum monthly) check-in meetings with parents and any active professional supports
• Immediate contact for any situation that significantly distressed the child or that parents would need to know about to understand pickup behaviour

→ Full inclusion guide for licensed daycare in Saskatchewan
→ Daycare for children with special needs in Regina SK
→ Language development and speech delays at daycare

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to discuss ASD inclusion enrollment in Regina SK.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5