COLORADO SPRINGS — With many people returning to work as part of safer-at-home guidance, daycare centers are reshaping the way they operate, while also following guidance from the state.

Here in Colorado Springs, Early Connections Learning Centers (ECLC) talked to FOX21 about how it’s working to follow orders and guidelines.

“I think the challenge has been information changes quickly,” President and CEO, Diane Price, said.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, attendance has dropped.

Price says, “Over the last six to eight weeks, our attendance has been dropping, we are averaging 20%.”

However, with the ‘Safer-at-Home’ order in place, attendance is expected to pick back-up. Governor Jared Polis has placed restrictions on child care facilities.

Some of the biggest changes include limiting ten children to a room, daily temperature checks, constant cleaning, and limiting certain toys.

ECLC says it continues to follow those guidelines and going the extra mile

“We implemented every hour that we’re open, cleaning our common areas doorknobs, light switches, areas that may be touched by people during the day, and we don’t think about those are being done every hour at all of our sites,” Price said.

The demands of increased cleanings can be difficult for child care facilities to accomodate.

Kelly Fugate, who owns Sister Sister Family Child Care, also in Colorado Springs, says, although her home daycare has been open for the duration of the pandemic, she’s been closing up on Fridays in order to deep clean.

And she has other measures in place as well, such as allowing parents to drop kids off without coming inside, having children wash their hands upon arrival, and sanitizing throughout the day.

For parents who are still concerned about taking their children back to care centers, Price says: do what’s best for you and your family.

If you need to look at places to care for your children, go to this site.

Keep in mind all child care centers are operating with limited capacity at this time, so space isn’t guaranteed.