| Questions to Ask a Day Care | | | | go from there in choosing the right group center |
| A lot of you out there are really wondering what | | | | or family day care. |
| kind of "educated" questions you should be asking | | | | Here are some questions to ask a daycare: |
| when choosing the right daycare for your child. | | | | 1. For each childcare that you visit be sure to |
| It's probably one of the most important decisions | | | | bring a pad of paper and pencil to write down |
| you will make, making the wrong choice for your | | | | your notes, questions, feelings. |
| child could amount to a inconvenience or a life | | | | 2. When looking for a childcare centers to visit, |
| threatening disaster. | | | | ask for recommendations from your friends, call |
| There are many questions to ask a daycare, and | | | | your local resource and referral agency ( number |
| over the years I've met all kinds of mothers . | | | | located under childcare in phone book), listings in |
| Some of which are very organized in their search | | | | your newspaper, phone book, bulletin boards in |
| and others who are not sure of what they want. | | | | your community, local schools. |
| I'm here today to help you make some choices | | | | 3. Don't base your thoughts about a childcare |
| and hopefully give you a better understanding of | | | | over a phone conversation. Give the center a |
| what the child care profession is all about. | | | | chance by visiting them and meeting those who |
| First of all, you need to decide whether you wish | | | | work there. |
| to attend a family childcare or a group childcare. | | | | 4. Collect all information regarding policies for a |
| Each type of daycare has it's own set-up and | | | | center. Make sure you are aware of all rules, and |
| arrangements. Here's a brief summary:o Family | | | | regulations. |
| child care normally has one caregiver who is the | | | | 5. Rely on your gut feeling. If you feel that you |
| owner of the childcare. There is no teacher | | | | would not be happy, chances are your relationship |
| turnover, and the environment tends to be small | | | | would not work out in the long run. |
| with a variety of ages present together in one | | | | 6. Check any reports that are posted from the |
| environment. A family childcare center is usually | | | | licensing bureau. Find out what infractions the |
| out of the providers home. Sometimes in a | | | | center has received. |
| basement, or separate room in their house, or | | | | 7. What are their emergency polices? |
| perhaps the second level in a home.o Each family | | | | 8. Do children look happy? Is the environment |
| daycare has its own set of rules, and regulations. | | | | clean? It's ok to have toys laying around, but are |
| When choosing a provider be sure to understand | | | | those toys sanitized each week to prevent |
| what his/her policies are.o When choosing a family | | | | sickness. |
| daycare, your relationship (based on trust) is | | | | 9. Who will be taking care of your child? And what |
| primarily with one provider.o Sickness is usually | | | | happens if that person becomes ill? |
| less than at group childcares. Less children=less | | | | 10. What if my child become's ill? What is your |
| sickness.o Group centers have all children | | | | policy? |
| separated according to age. For example all babies | | | | 11. What type's of accidents have you had where |
| are in one room, toddlers in another, etc.o Group | | | | you have had to call the parent? |
| centers tend to have a professional environment. | | | | 12. How many years have you been in childcare? |
| Bright lighening, commercial equipment. Family | | | | Are you licensed? What is your education? What |
| daycare's are based in a home like environment.o | | | | types of classes have you taken for child care in |
| Group centers may or may not have large | | | | the past year? Are you CPR certified? |
| enrollements. Some group centers are small with | | | | 13. How long have your current children been |
| 20 or more children and others may have | | | | enrolled here? |
| enrollment of 250 children.o Group centers may or | | | | 14. Do you provide references from parents? |
| may not have consistant providers. Depending on | | | | 15. And most of all do you trust that provider? |
| age groups, staffing issues, etc.o Group centers | | | | Do you feel that the provider is loving, level |
| are directed by "directors". The director staffs all | | | | headed, energetic, and generally loves all children? |
| rooms, is supervisor for the teachers, and | | | | 16. Do you see children's art work on the walls? |
| oversees all problems that may arise.o Groups | | | | Most of all take your time making a decision, and |
| centers can involve well known corportations. | | | | don't base your decision on price, fancy |
| Kindercare, Children's World, La Petite, to name a | | | | equipment, and convenience. |
| few. | | | | Your choice should be based on finding a provider |
| Those are just a few distinctions between the | | | | who especially loves children. |
| two types of choices you may have. It's up to | | | | Blessings To You, |
| you to decide which one you feel most | | | | Christine Groth |
| comfortable with. Once you decide, then you can | | | | (c) CG Groth Inc. |