Tips to help parents evaluate childcare facilities, staff, daycare programs, and daycare center policies.
Selecting or evaluating daycare facilities, staff, programs or policies is an important task not to be taken lightly.
In an interview with Ann Douglas, author of The Unofficial Guide to Childcare, The Mother of All Baby Books, and Choosing Childcare for Dummies, she recommends the following checklist to help make a good choice for quality childcare:
Questions about the facility
What ages of children is the center licensed to accept?
Are there spaces available at the center? If not, how long is the waiting list?
How many children are enrolled at the center?
How many children are in each group?
What is the age range within each group?
What are the hours of operation?
What are the pickup and drop-off times?
Are there times of the year when the center is closed?
What fees does the center charge for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children?
Are there any additional costs (diapers, meals, transportation, etc.)?
Is there a charge for days when your child is absent due to illness or holidays?
Is subsidized care available? If so, what are the criteria and how does a parent apply?
Questions about staff training
Have all of the members of the staff had appropriate training in early childhood education?
Have staff members had training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), infant CPR, and first aid?
Are staff members responsible for caring for the same children on an ongoing basis, to ensure continuity of care?
Do staff members demonstrate a genuine love of children? How do they relate to the children in their care?
Do staff members appear to be capable of caring for the number and ages of children in their care?
Will any non-staff members have contact with your child (e.g. students, volunteers, etc.)? Have background checks been conducted on these individuals?
Questions about the program and center policies
What are the center's behavior management policies?
What are the center's policies for handling accidents and other serious occurrences?
What are the center's policies regarding the administration of medications?
What are the center's policies regarding caring for sick children?
Does the center have a policy of only releasing children to people whom the parents have authorized, in writing, to pick them up?
How is the day structured?
Are children given a choice of age-appropriate activities?
Do children at the center appear to be secure and comfortable at the center?
Is the childcare environment (both indoors and outdoors) safe and well-maintained?
Is the facility well-ventilated, well-lit, and kept at a comfortable temperature?
Is there enough open space to allow children to move around and explore their surroundings?
Are the meals varied, nutritious, and age-appropriate?
How often are diapers changed?
Are parents encouraged to drop by the center at any time?
Are parents recognized as experts when it comes to the needs of their own children?
What policies does the center have in place to encourage ongoing communication between parents and caregivers?
How does your child react to the center?
Are other parents who use the center enthusiastic about the quality of care their children are receiving?
Douglas also mentions that your gut instinct will tell you a lot about the suitability of a particular childcare arrangement, so pay attention to your first impression of the daycare provider and facility.
For more information please see my article How to Interview Daycare Providers.
