| Parents considering daycare facilities for their child | | | | other parents are unable to guide you about this; |
| need to familiarize themselves with the scope of | | | | having decided the childcare services provider, do |
| activities, safety and standard of the childcare | | | | make it a point to go visit the place with your |
| facilities offered to them besides learning about | | | | child to check out the facilities. |
| the ability of their child to be in an outside | | | | 3. Take your child around for a tour of the |
| environment. A good daycare option need not be | | | | facilities at the daycare and as most service |
| the most expensive one; it can just as well be | | | | providers are only too happy to allow new |
| the neighborhood family daycare facility, which | | | | enrollments (or even potential ones) to play |
| can give focused, individualized attention to your | | | | around freely in order to take to the novel |
| child as much as the larger, more organized | | | | atmosphere, encourage your child to play there |
| center that offers a host of activities and new | | | | and interact with other children and staff at the |
| learning scope. | | | | daycare. |
| 1. You can initiate the child into staying away from | | | | 4. Meet all the people who will be interacting with |
| you in preparation of the daycare program to | | | | your child on a regular basis and even though |
| come by placing the kid with a family member or | | | | your kid may feel homesick initially, allow for |
| known babysitter (such as a local high-school kid | | | | more time and a bit of loving talk on your behalf |
| or neighbor) and have them understand you and | | | | on how much smarter they can be when they |
| your spouse need to be away from them for | | | | learn all by themselves! Focus on the positives and |
| some time, to work. Do keep the sensitivities of | | | | try to rule out as many negatives (safety, |
| a child's needs for a loving, gentle yet firm | | | | hygiene, compliance issues and background checks |
| presence in mind when choosing the child-minder | | | | of the daycare employees) to know your child is |
| as the first impression will influence how the child | | | | at the right daycare! |
| adapts to a more structured environment as | | | | 5. For the first few days, you may ask for |
| daycare later. Ask other new parents placing | | | | permission with the authorities at the daycare if |
| children with babysitters for recommendations - | | | | your child may carry along a favorite toy or |
| stay away from those with too many bad | | | | blanket for seeking comfort in a new |
| reports. | | | | environment; most places will agree - and this will |
| 2. Consult with your child specialist or the yellow | | | | make the change from home to daycare a much |
| pages or even the Dept. of Social Services to get | | | | easier, fun-filled and smooth one for both kiddy |
| a list of licensed daycare providers in your area if | | | | and Mommy (or Daddy)! |