Eleven Things to Look for in a Daycare

Trying to choose a daycare can be stressful and nerve wrecking. Especially with all the choices out there. After all, it is your child and you have the right to be picky. Here are a few issues to raise when you're visiting one of your potential choices.

1. Is The Center Accredited?

Is the daycare Accredited? Which means is it recognized in your state or elsewhere as a academic institution that holds official credentials of academic standards. A daycare that is licensed which means they have official approval to do so. The requirements may include standards for health, safety, staff equipment, and class ratios. You can find a accredited daycare online by visiting the child daycare directory .

2. Does The Staff Give The Children Individual Attention?

When you observe the potential daycare in question you should watch the teachers. Are they interacting with the children? Do they treat the children with respect, Patience, and use appropriate discipline? Talk to the staff there as well and get a feel of the place.

3. Are Group Sizes Small?

Licensing provides minimum standards for class size. Research tells us that smaller groups work better. The fewer children in a class the more attention the child receives from the caregiver. So, ask for the child to staff ratio. The child to staff ratio is the number of children assigned to one teacher or caregiver. The smaller amount of children assigned to a caregiver the better. This holds true especially for a infant or toddler. High quality centers will have a one adult to every three children as their ratio.

4. Does The Center Have Enough Toys And Learning Materials?

Are the toys clean and are they easy for the children to access in the classroom? This rings true for toddlers! If the toys are not clean and accessible you might reconsider the daycare. The daycare should have a balance of different toys, active play, organized activities, story time, and rest periods.

5. Does The Staff Involve The Parents In Children's Care?

Staff should involve parents in their children's care. They should notify you of events that have happened during the day. They should communicate with the parents and inform them of all accidents, special moments, or other activities they have done for the day. Good communication between caregiver and parent is a plus.

6. Is The Center Clean?

Look around at the facility. Look at the floors,tabletops, and counters. Check out the kitchen area where they cook for your children. Definitely check out the bathrooms or the changing tables. A well organized school will have clean bathrooms, kitchens, changing tables, and clean trash cans. A well organized school will have a plan to keep those areas clean.

7. Are Caregivers Trained for Emergencies?

Are caregivers trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Do they take continuing education courses? Are they schooled in child development? How much staff turnover is there?

8. Is The Outdoor Area Safe?

Is the play area fenced? The playground should have safe equipment that is well maintained. The Play area should have enough room for the number of children.

9. What Are The School Policies?

A good school will have policies in place for dealing with injuries and illness. Also for dispensing medicine.

10. How Do They Identify Who Picks Up A Child From School?

The childcare should have a procedure for identifying who is allowed to pick up a child if a parent can't. Maybe they have a form for the parent to fill out listing relatives or friends. The first few times a relative or friend picks up the child, the worker should ask for identification. If something seems wrong the parent is called.

11. Would Your Child Be Happy There?

A safe loving environment is important. However, if your child does not seem happy there then you should look elsewhere.