Tips For Selecting A Good Day Care
by: Adwina Jackson
Selecting a daycare is one of the most important decisions
you’ll make before returning to the workforce.
Why? The center you choose will ultimately be responsible
for your child’s well being and safety the 5-9 hours a day they are left
in the care of the center.
Whether you are looking for a home child care provider
or an official daycare center, there are several things you should keep
in mind before signing your children up for care.
Location – first and foremost, you have to decide where
you would like to have your child cared for. This could be in a center
close to your home, your job, or you may even prefer care in your home.
Once you have decided on location you can start investigating the available
centers or providers in that area.
Ask for References – Ask your friends and other family
members with children for references about good daycare centers. These
are often the most reliable source of information about daycare.
Interview Daycare Staff – Never place your child in a
daycare center without first meeting the staff. Make a point to meet the
director and the caregivers that will be looking over your little one.
Feel free to ask them questions about their standards, disciplinary procedures,
sleep and even feeding routines. You should be looking for staff members
that are enthusiastic, dedicated, warm and caring. Their love of children
should be evident in everything that they do. If you are not comfortable
with the staff, look somewhere else.
Check References – As we mentioned you should check with
your family and friends for references to a decent day care center. You
should also ask the center for a list of references you can call to confirm
their qualifications. One thing you might also inquire about is staff turn
over. The higher the rate of turn over the more likely there is to be trouble.
Remember that a good day care center will have a clean
environment, a good reputation, solid rules and a curriculum that includes
lots of playtime, physical activity, learning activities and even quiet
time.
When determining whether a daycare is good or not, also
keep in mind staff ratios. Generally for babies the ratio should be one
caregiver for every three children when there are six infants and one for
every four if there are eight.
For toddlers aged 12-24 months the ratio is usually 1:3
for six children, 1:5 for ten and 1:4 for 12.
Check to see if the ratio falls within recommended guidelines
but is also acceptable to you.
You should also make sure that the daycare facility is
operating using a valid non-expired license. You can check to see if a
license is valid by calling your local social services department.
About The Author
Adwina Jackson is a wife and mother of a young boy. She's
also the editor of Inspiring Parenting, an online source of valuable parenting
information. Please visit http://www.InspiringParenting.com
for helpful and free parenting info. Observe your children's health, growth
and development by clicking the website.
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