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When it comes time to leave your precious child with a daycare provider, whether it is so you can go to work, or so your child will receive some structured socialization before they start school, you want to make sure that the provider is the best one you can afford. Day care centers and private day care providers are both needed. Your circumstances and your child will help determine what is the best type of care for you and your child.
Day care centers typically have a higher child to care giver ratio, while private day care providers may not be able to provide the structured learning that some children need. Your first step would be to find out what daycare centers are available in your community, and if they have openings available for your child's age group. Also look at the number and availability of spaces for your child's age group. Some communities have a shortage of space for infants; others have fewer openings for other age groups.
Take a look at the center while they are busy, as well as when they are quiet. Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable? When looking at private day care providers, how willing are they to have you visit, do they insist upon a set time, or are they flexible enough to allow you to choose a time convenient for you? How clean is the center, or day care provider's home? If the area is too clean, that could indicate that more attention is being paid to cleaning than the children, but you don't want a place where the floors are so dirty that they are a health hazard.
Take a close look at the activities the children are engaged in, are they age appropriate, are they too structured, or are they too unstructured? Ask about planned activities and actual activities. If the plans are too structured, worry that your child will not have time to develop their imagination, or social skills. If the plans are too unstructured will your child become bored?
Ask about discipline methods, do they seem excessive, is too much left to the parents? If a child injures another child what is the procedure? What are the rules of behavior for children, are they age appropriate? Are they made clear to the children? Do their rules of behavior match yours? You should worry if the provider says they will do what ever you want in terms of discipline. This can indicate that each child is treated differently which can cause severe discipline problems at home.
How much individual attention is paid to each child? Does each child get time to talk, and play with an adult as well as with the other children? All children need individual attention even when they are in a group, the they don't get it while they are at day care they will demand it upon return home, which can be very stressful for the parents.
Are meals served, and are they served in portions appropriate to the age group? Is enough food available for everyone to have more if they are hungry? Are the children given help as needed to feed themselves, or are they left to figure it out on their own? Do the providers eat with the children to set a good example, or are the care givers meals eaten separately? How do they handle children who have food allergies?
How is potty training handled? Does it match your expectations? How are accidents handled, discreetly, or publicly? Where are the babies changed, how often, and are good sanitary practices followed? Are age groups kept separate, or are they allowed together for a portion or all of the day?
Finally look at the cost of day care centers, and private day care providers. You will need to find something that you can afford, that provides the best care for your child. What is the policy on absences, on illness, both your child and the provider? If you decide upon a private day care provider, will they provide emergency care, or will you have to come up with another day care provider with little or no notice?
Choosing a day care provider is one of the most important things you will do for your child. Take the time to look around, talk to other parents, and choose one that fits your needs as well as your child's. If you are unsure about a day care provider, find another. If you are not comfortable with the care your child is receiving don't hesitate to find a provider that you are comfortable with. You and they will be working together to raise a happy healthy child.
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