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Generally speaking childcare allows kids to be better prepared for success in school and in life. There are two kinds of daycare centers – commercial care centers and out of home care centers. Both can be equally good if they provide a safe, clean place for kids to learn, and a quality staff with the appropriate training. There’s a lot to consider when evaluating childcare centers: safety, values, nutrition, language, personal beliefs. Here are a few things to look for and a few questions to ask during your visit: Daycare Centers vs. Family Child Care Daycare centers are generally set up more like classrooms with larger groups of kids and several teachers available. Generally these centers serve ages two and up and the groups are divided into various programs. There are also specific programs just for infants which you’ll find outlined on a separate page. Oftentimes after school care is available, summer programs are also a nice perk for working parents. In home centers are generally set up “in-home” and run by the owner. The groups are generally smaller which allows the kids to develop strong bonds with their teachers. While these centers are generally run by a sole proprietor, they often have assistants to help out. Well-Trained Directors & Responsible Adults There are many questions to ask of the people who will be looking after your little one day after day. Some of these questions can be answered by observing daily routines and seeing how the kids and teachers interact. Ask yourself:
Does the staff talk to the kids? The best daycare providers interact with the kids on their level. Do they get down on their knees and sit on the floor? Are they laughing and smiling?
How does the staff discipline the kids - are they patient and guiding or punishment driven?
What is the staff to kids ratio? The fewer children that each staff member is responsible for, the better. For California's provider/child ratio breakdown by age group and type of center, click here.
Does the director have a degree in child development or related field?
What is the turnover rate amongst the staff?
Does the staff take continuing classes to keep their skills fresh? Well-trained staff members need to be educated in child development, basic first aid, how to identify child abuse, and how to prevent injury. National California Child Protection Program
Information for the health and safety issues, laws and regulations. National Association for Child Care Professionals
Accreditation procedures and requirements for childcare facilities. Accredited schools and teachers meet these higher guidelines and use these tools as standard practice and procedure in their school environments. Association for the Education of Young Children
A resource for teachers, students and families on accreditation, research and public policies and issues. California Association for the Education of Young Children National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Facts and figures, public policy, licensing information and standards, parent information, costs and State specific information, also a partner with Childcare aware. California’s Childcare Coordinators Association Child Development Administrators Association California Community Licensing California Childcare Resource and Referral A Clean Place to Learn Not only should the center be organized, there should be specific areas for eating, diapering, and for kids who are sick. There should be separate containers for each child’s blanket and personal items. And the whole center, but especially these areas, should be cleaned and sanitized nightly. The caregivers should wash their hands frequently and always after diapering and before snack time. The kids should do the same – frequent hand washing is the single best way to prevent the spread of germs. Keeping Kids Safe The most important thing you can do to keep your kids safe is to ask them what happened that day. But don’t forget to look for common, everyday things like first aid kits, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, outlet covers, cabinet locks, emergency phone numbers and emergency plans. Likewise pools, hot tubs and ponds should never be accessible to kids. Medications should be locked away, baby gates should be at the bottom of the stairs and there should not be guns in the home. Sick Days Most centers have specific policies when it comes to sick kids. These are in place to protect kids from spreading illness to other kids and teachers. Sick kids also require more attention and can upset the apple cart when it comes to the others. Look for a designated “sick room” for kids that come down with minor illnesses and ask when sick kids are required to stay home. Ask about the necessity of physical exams and the center’s vaccination policies. Ask About Center Policies Hours of operation, paid & non-paid holidays, vacation schedules, discipline, sick days for kids. Centers have policies in place to cover these important issues. Ask your director what their policies are and ask for a copy in writing to prevent any misunderstandings in the future.
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