Looking for a Trustworthy Child Care Provider?

After I had my daughter, I needed to decide who I would trust to take care of her while I was working. I just didn't want to open a phone book and put her in the first daycare with an opening. Here is a list of five suggestions:

1. Get referals: Ask friends and families if they have a provider that they would recommend. Word of mouth goes a long way. These are the people that can steer your towards a fabulous care center and steer you away from a center with less than desirable levels of care.

2. Call around: Call and ask basic questions about the ages of the children they care for and rates. But remember just because a center has the most expensive tuition fee doesn't mean they are the best. A long waiting list doesn't mean they are the best either.

3. Go for a surprise visit: Don't set up an appointment to visit. Pop in. Ideally it isn't best to catch them first thing in the morning or a few minutes before they close. But pop in and look around while you are waiting for the director to help you. You can learn alot from the surprise visit. First of all, how easy was it for you to just walk in? If you were able to just walk in, how long did it take before someone realized you were there? How clean was the facility? How did the employees act?

4. Go on a tour: Ask to see the room that you child will be in. Also ask to see other areas that your child may be in such as playgrounds. Look for safety hazards. Ask about their schedule. See if the children are generally happy and if the teachers are friendly or gruff.

5. Check their evaluations: Ask which government agency monitors their facility. Sometimes it is a called Family and Children's Services. If you call them, you can find out what their score was on the previous evalution and they can tell you what the problems may have been. They can also tell you if there have been any compliants.

After you decide on a care center, don't let your guard all the way down. Still continue to look at the details. And the first time something comes up, make sure to speak up and make your concerns known. These are the people caring for children that don't have a voice yet. Always follow your gut feelings.