| The type of childcare services offered by a | | | | often do not give the child easy access to a drink |
| daycare center can vary from business to | | | | of water at any other time. |
| business. All should operate under the same | | | | Children are very much like sponges. They will |
| principle: provide quality childcare and ensure child | | | | soak up the environment in which they are placed. |
| welfare. This may seem basic but there is so | | | | Therefore, it is essential to provide them with one |
| much that goes into caring for children. | | | | in which they can learn and grow. Childcare |
| Parents are placing a sacred trust in a preschool | | | | services often incorporate some form of teaching |
| by letting them protect their most precious gift. | | | | or lesson plan. Ask the individual care givers what |
| As a parent, there are some questions that you | | | | their qualifications are or if they have a certain |
| must ask and have answered by the facility. | | | | educational philosophy or instructional method that |
| Some of the most common topics to consider | | | | they follow. |
| when inquiring about the services being offered | | | | It would be great if all child care centers were |
| are: food, napping, education, staff and healthcare | | | | completely germ and disease free. Life does not |
| services. Each is a vital component of a quality | | | | work out that way though. There are some |
| center. Many may seem like common sense | | | | parents who knowingly send their child to school |
| items but asking about them shows an interest in | | | | while he or she is sick. This creates an |
| both the center and the welfare of your child. | | | | atmosphere in which other children are exposed |
| With so many horror stories of children being | | | | to contagious conditions. |
| abused or neglected while at a daycare center, | | | | If you are one of these parents, then shame on |
| parents must do everything in their power to | | | | you! A preschool's responsibility is to provide |
| ensure that their children are well guarded and | | | | childcare services to healthy children in a healthy |
| receive the services for which they have paid. | | | | atmosphere. They are not there to nurse sick |
| Proper nutrition is a vital part of a growing child's | | | | children or help pass contagion. If your child is sick: |
| life. Even children that attend part time will still | | | | keep them at home or with alternative sitters. |
| need snacks, so get an understanding of what | | | | At some time in a child's life, the parents will have |
| type of nutrition the childcare services include. Ask | | | | to rely on someone else to take care of their |
| to look at a typical day's menu or look inside the | | | | prodigy. If the parents remain diligent and stay |
| kitchen cupboards and refrigerator. | | | | abreast of the childcare services offered at the |
| Studies have shown that more and more children | | | | preschool or daycare, the child will be in good |
| are overweight, so make sure the facility offers | | | | hands. It is difficult allowing a stranger to watch |
| healthy meals and nutritious snacks. Also, how | | | | over your children but you, or any parent, can |
| often is the child given the opportunity to have a | | | | make that stranger into a friend by keeping the |
| drink of water? Some facilities think nothing of | | | | lines of communication open. |
| putting juice in a cup at snack or meal time, but | | | | |