How to Choose the Best Daycare for You and Your Child
First of all, the facility must meet your needs. Consider your work hours and the hours of operation for the center. Then, factor in location-both in proximity to your house and proximity to work. In the end, the most important part is finding the right fit for your child, but these early factors may help pare down the options and also offer you the best options for your busy schedule.
Second, you will have to make sure the childcare facility accepts children in the age range yours fall into. Some centers only accept school-age children, while some only accept infants and toddlers. Make sure your child fits in one of the ranges; also determine what ages you want your children to be around. Do you want them to get the broad range of experience of spending time with all age groups from six months to thirteen years old? Or, would you rather keep them within their own age range?
Third, you must decide what kind of center you want your child to go to. Some before and after school programs are merely for play. Other childcare centers offer curriculum programs for young children as well as school-age children. Younger children will definitely benefit from the school like setting of a learning-centered daycare, while older children may want something less learning based after a long day at school.
Once you have factored in these possibilities, you should have a list of childcare facilities in your area that cater to the needs of your child. One of the most important things to do with this list is visit each center. Almost all daycare centers offer tours to parents and children who are interested in enrolling. If a facility does not offer it, find one that does. This is your child and you deserve to see the building as well as the conduct of staff at least once before you pay money to send your child there.
Once you set up a tour, keep a few things in mind. First of all, bring your child along so they can see the building as well. This will help them be involved in the process and feel less apprehensive about being away from you. Also, they may see something of concern you might miss or they might see some highlights that you never would have thought of.
Observe the staff and the children. Remember, you can’t base all your decisions on a first impression. Sometimes, especially with younger children, irrational children will be present. Just because a child is screaming or upset, doesn’t mean the center is automatically bad. Instead, focus on how the staff handles the problem. Are they firm but kind or harsh and unforgiving? Think of how you discipline your child and see how the staff handle problems. Making snap judgments will leave you with no suitable place to take your child.
Another important thing to consider is staff to child ratio. Ask the director what the ratio is before the tour, and then observe if that is enforced throughout the center. You want your child to be safe, and enforcing staff to child ratio is important in maintaining a safe environment.
Make sure you feel comfortable with the center director. Is he/she helpful? Do they answer your questions or find out the answers if they don’t know? Do they give you a full tour? Watch how they interact with staff and students while on your tour. Your center director will be your main contact. Make sure you feel comfortable bringing any problems or concerns to them. If they are unhelpful or rude, keep looking.
Your child means the world to you. Taking these things into consideration while you look for a childcare facility will help you make an educated and informed decision. But, most of all, it will ensure that you and your child are happy.
