| Deciding on the facility and the people who you | | | | CPR Certifications |
| will entrust with the care of your little one | | | | It's critical that the place you choose require its |
| deserves careful research and fact-finding. This | | | | staff to have current First Aid and CPR |
| article will help you with tips on what to look for in | | | | certifications. Additionally, there are companies |
| a day care center for your child. | | | | that offer choking demonstrations to the |
| A Current License | | | | workers. |
| If your prospective day care center has a lapsed | | | | Teacher-Child Ratios |
| or revoked license, steer clear. This may seem to | | | | Ask about the day care center's teacher to child |
| be a no-brainer, but no less important of a point | | | | ratio and make sure you are comfortable with it. |
| to make. The centers must maintain certain | | | | Though there are state-imposed ratios, some |
| standards to keep licensure active and these | | | | facilities offer smaller classroom sizes to remain |
| standards are the minimum that you should | | | | competitive. |
| demand for your little one. | | | | See For Yourselfyour own investigation will |
| Age-Appropriate Curriculum | | | | provide more insight into this monumental decision |
| Make sure your the center properly divides age | | | | than anything else. Trust your instincts and also |
| groups of children. Sometimes play times and | | | | your gut feeling. Last but not least, study the |
| lunch are exceptions, but generally children should | | | | children there. Are they happy and engaged? The |
| be with others their same age. Ensure the | | | | centers encourage you to bring your child for a |
| curriculum is exciting and fun for your child's age, | | | | tour and to meet their prospective teacher. Allow |
| and if appropriate, challenging. | | | | your kid some time to play in what could be his |
| Reputation | | | | or her classroom and observe them in this setting. |
| Friends and family in your area with children in | | | | Lastly, talk to the parents you see dropping their |
| these facilities can provide a fountain of | | | | children off there. They will likely be a wealth of |
| information on facilities around town. Ask around | | | | knowledge. |
| at your job as well, at church, or at any other | | | | Now that you are armed with tips on what to |
| social events. You may even ask your pediatrician | | | | look for in a day care center, you are ready to |
| for recommendations. Do go ahead and search | | | | take the next step in researching centers in your |
| online. Go through the phone book and ask for | | | | area. |
| references from day care centers. | | | | |