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Finding a day care center for your child can be a scary task. How do you know that your child will be happy and well taken care of?
The best way to find a day care is to ask for a referral from a friend or relative. Ask your neighbors and get the names of the ones they use, there may even be opportunities for carpooling. It’s better to try the ones that have been recommended before you look at those whose reputation is unknown.
When you decide on a daycare center to interview, you’ll want to pop in unexpected. Do not choose a daycare which prohibits unexpected visits. Are the children all happy and playing? Are they being watched or running wild? Make sure there are not too many children being supervised by any one person.
If you show up at naptime, check to see if the cribs are in good repair and that the children are resting comfortable. Check the cleanliness of the kitchen area and bathrooms.
Some questions you may want to ask are:
Is the daycare center properly licensed?
Are the providers certified in CPR and First Aid?
How do the providers discipline the children?
Are the toys washed daily with a disenfectant?
What are the centers’ policies for sick children?
What do you need to provide for the child as far as meals and bedding?
Will the center help with potty training?
Once you’ve checked the layout and felt out the center’s policies and child to care-giver ratios, you’ll probably have a gut instinct about the establishment. Always listen to your instincts, if something feels wrong in a daycare center it usually is.
There is nothing more important than choosing the right care for your child. A good barometer for daycare centers is cost as the more expensive centers have more resources for hiring more and better help and they also have the budget to provide more education and fun things to do for your child. Take your time and choose carefully, there are many good centers but just as many are bad. It may even be in your best interest to choose a stay-at-home mom with only 2 or 3 children in her care. Ask around and do your research!
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