How do you choose a child care center?

Answer 1

Check out the Daycare center any or all of the ways mentioned below. Pay them a visit any time of the day and see if the activity going on looks like it should. (I once walked all the way through a daycare during naptime without being noticed!) Finally, leave your child there for a couple of hours before signing up. If s/he is returned to you with other children's bottles, etc. or is especially fussy, then it might not be the right place for him/her. Here is advice: * "Begin looking at daycare centers ASAP. Get onto lists early (we submitted as soon as we had a confirmed pregnancy. It varies by country/state/city but if you're on the list early it removes a stress. Funny thing - I was skulking around centres, checking them out, before we even announced we were trying (let alone successful :-)) and we were worried about getting caught by somebody we knew :-). Both of you check out a set and make a shortlist. Revisit the shortlisted ones * "I'd suggest checking your options early. Recommendation: 'What to Expect the First Year' has a section on just this topic, including how the father gets involved. Check it out." * There is a new program that rates the day care centers by stars. Its called the 4 STARS program the more stars that the center has the better. * I'm not sure about all states, but when I lived in NE, we could call our local Social Services office and they would give an 800 number to call in the state capital. When you called, you could give them the name and address of a day care, and they would send what were called "Compliance Request Forms". These were the forms the state inspectors filled out when they visited daycares. These forms would list any exceptions found, complaints lodged, etc. They were very helpful and I would only take my child to a center that got high percentages when inspected. It's not a guarantee of care, but it's great at eliminating those that you shouldn't be considering. You can also ask the center if you can review their copies. A good one will not have any qualms about sharing them with you. One that I used posted their results for the parents. * I have worked in daycare in VA and this is true here also. You are entitled to see past records of inspections. These will show all 216 (or so) regulations they check and whether the center passed or failed. A good daycare will allow you to drop by unannounced whenever you want, to observe whatever you want, will not allow anyone not listed in the file to pick up your child (and then they will need to see photo ID to confirm), will call you when you child is ill ( this also means that they will follow the laws about ill children and will not allow your children to stay or come back the next day if they have had a fever, etc), makes sure the teachers have over 6 months of actual experience in daycare before allowing them alone with children (some things you can't learn from college :), has bleach water for sterilizing that they check to make sure it isn't too weak or too strong, send home notes every day on what your child did, does not allow a child to eat choking hazards (even if you packed them in the lunch), does not allow your child to eat any foods you have not okay'd, and in general follows these guildlines: 1-(most important)-Child is safe all day. 2-(fairly important)-Child is generally happy. Sometimes this means making your child sad (time-out, no cookies until you finish your sandwich) to ensure a larger good though. 3-(semi-important)-Child learns something. You cannot stop a pre-school age child from learning. It is what they learn you have some control over. If your school is not succeeding at teaching your child to use the potty or count to 20, but it is a safe, friendly, cheerful environment where your child has friends, it is a great school anyway. You child will go to school from 5-18, they deserve the chance to learn to be kids. If they learn their ABC's while they are at it even better, but if not, don't worry. They will learn them if you expose them to it at home. * One of the BEST ways is by "Word of mouth"- speak to anyone you know in your area that uses daycae. Base your choice on; convieniencce to your home (so you are not frazzled every day- which affects the child) ; cost- so money does not present a family problem). Keep a pencil and pencil in the car and whenever you pass a daycare, jot down the number; HOWEVER, THE MOST IMPORTANT consideration is the safety and welfare of our young children who are vulnerable After you have a small list, start calling and ask when you might be able to stop by and see the place. Be slightly vague about a time. See how they react. A good daycare should not freak out about "unannounced visits".. Go to your initial visit a little early, and see how they react. Ask them to put you on a waiting list or whatever, explain you haven't decided which one you will go with Visit all on the list in the same manner. Then I would stop by each place one more time, UNANNOUNCED. This might be a slight inconvienience to the daycare, but I'm sorry, s slight inconvienience is nothing compared to the safety of our LITTLE ONES! Ask them if they are licenced with the state and also check the state agency which issues licenses. ALSO the daycare you vist shouldn't be overcrowded, ask how many kids are enrolled there. LAST but not LEAST, trust your GUT instinct.

Answer 2

Here is advice reprinted from a child care FAQ in the usenet newsgroup alt.childcare:

Finding the right kind of child care takes time. If possible, begin looking a few months before your child will need care. Allow several weeks for visiting different child care centers and family day care homes.

When looking for child care, it is important to visit a child care facility when children are involved in program activities. That will give you an opportunity to see if the children like the program and how they get along with program staff. This may also give you an idea of how well the program suits your child. If you find a facility you think is suitable, try to come back for a second visit and take your child. Does your child seem comfortable there? After the visit, try to find out from your child how he or she felt about the facility.

Before you visit any child care setting, you should call and talk with the family day care provider or center director to get some basic information.

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

What time do you open and close? How much do you charge, and when are payments made? Weekly? Monthly? Does the price include meals and snacks, or do I need to bring food for my child? How many other children are in your program, and what are their ages? Are your services and fees written down in the form of a contract or service agreement?

If you are uncomfortable with the answers to any of these questions, the facility is probably not the right one for you.

When you visit the facility, there are three main things you should look for to make sure the program is the right one for you and your child. These three things are: the caregiver, the children, and the space within the facility which is used for child care.

Look at the Caregiver

Can you talk easily with the caregiver? Are you comfortable with the person? Do you feel you can trust the caregiver? Does the caregiver seem to enjoy being with the children? Is he/she really listening and responding to them? Is the caregiver able to keep up with the children, or does he/she seem overly tired? Are the children supervised at all times? How does the caregiver discipline the children? Does the caregiver use a calm voice? Does he/she speak to the children on their own level? Does the program have written policies and procedures? If so, do parents receive copies?

Look at the Children

Do the children seem to enjoy being with the caregiver? Are the children given a chance to make choices? Are they able to "explore" on their own? Do the children seem to understand and follow the program's rules and routines?

Look at the Space Used for Child Care

Is the provider's child care license or registration displayed? Is it current? Does the program area look clean and safe? Do the children wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet? Are cleaning supplies, sharp objects, medicines, and other dangerous items put away out of the children's reach? Is there enough space indoors and outdoors so all the children have room to play? Is the outdoor play area safe? Is there enough heat, light, and ventilation? Are there fire extinguishers and smoke detectors? Are all toys and materials in good condition? Are they suitable for the children's ages? Can the children reach them easily? If meals and snacks are provided by the program, are they nutritious? Are they the kinds of food you want your child to eat? In general, does the program have a safe, healthy, and happy "feel" to it? Is it a place where children can be children?

If you can answer "yes" to all these questions after your visit, you probably found the right facility for you and your child. But you also have to listen to your instincts: if you feel uncomfortable with the facility for any reason, you should look for another one.

: You also want to be at a center that will have no problem with a parent dropping in to see their child unannounced. If you have to schedule a time to come and visit your child, you have to wonder what they might be hiding if they only schedule a parent visit at a specific time.

Answer 3

Child care is a difficult choice at best, but look at the kids who are already in child care with your provider. Are they happy, cheerful, playing well, and you should get a feel for the placed. Ask to stay for a session to just look around, and as always there's nothing worth more than a personal recommendation from one of your friends.