Articles

What to Look for in a Childcare Facility

Finding the best childcare for your situation is no small task.  Whether you take your child to someone's home or to a childcare facility you want to feel comfortable leaving your child there.
 
After you speak with potential provider on the telephone, plan to make an unscheduled visit to the day care center.  You want to see the condition of the facility and of the children without any preparation for them to "get ready" for your visit.  Below are a number of things to look for.

You should visit the facility more than one time.  Go once early in the morning and again on a different day later in the afternoon.  Children get tired and run down in the afternoon and it gives you a good chance to see how the center runs in less than ideal circumstances.  Bring your child with you. This gives you an opportunity to see the interaction between the two.

Does the facility look clean?  There's a difference between messy (from children playing) and unclean.  Do the children appear clean?  Or do they have lunch all over their face and dirty diapers on?  Are they plunked in front of a movie?  What are the sleeping arrangements? 

Questions to ask: How do they help potty-train the children?  What is the ratio of adults to children?  Is their license current?  What is the education/background of the providers?  What is their policy on contacting parents for injuries?  How and for what reasons do they discipline the children?  What are the payment policies?

Ask for references.  Talk with parents who leave their children with that childcare center. Ask them why they chose that child care facility to care for their child?  Ask what they like best about it?  Ask what is one thing they would change if they could (there is always room for improvement in any business).

Some parents hope to find a place where their child "can get in."  The mindset really needs to be the other way around.  You should find a place that will be fortunate enough to have the opportunity to care for your child.

Back to Articles