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Home › Articles › Child Care › How to Select a Quality Daycare for Your Child

How to Select a Quality Daycare for Your Child

Exploring Your Childcare Options

By Jill Eggleton Brett

Pages:  1  2  3  

baby at computer Use all of your senses as you observe how the day care functions. How do the caregivers talk to the children? Are they warm and patient? Look at how the area is decorated and organized in general. Do the children have access to several different activities and play areas? Are the rooms bright, uncluttered and attractive to children? Observe sanitation practices and overall cleanliness. Then put yourself in your child's shoes and ask yourself: Would I like to spend a day in this environment?

"Go with your gut instinct," says Barbara Dulaney of the Dulaney Family Day Care. "If the parent is not completely comfortable with the daycare and its caregivers, then nothing else really matters."

Once you've taken a few moments to absorb the environment, use the following check list during a brief interview with the facility's director or primary caregiver.

  1. How many children are there for each adult? Ideally there should be one adult for five children or less.
  2. Does the provider have training in early childhood development?
  3. Do the children seem happy and encouraged to explore and learn?
  4. What is the philosophy of the program?
  5. Does the discipline policy and techniques match your own?
  6. Is there a balance of activities? Indoor and outdoor as ag-appropriate?

    7. Pages:  1  2  3  

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