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Tips For Selecting A Good Day Care
from: Adwina JacksonSelecting a daycare is one of the most important decisions
you'll make before returning to the workforce.
Why? The center you choose will ultimately be responsible for
your child's well being and safety the 5-9 hours a day they are
left in the care of the center.
Whether you are looking for a home child care provider or an
official daycare center, there are several things you should
keep in mind before signing your children up for care.
Location - first and foremost, you have to decide where you
would like to have your child cared for. This could be in a
center close to your home, your job, or you may even prefer care
in your home. Once you have decided on location you can start
investigating the available centers or providers in that area.
Ask for References - Ask your friends and other family members
with children for references about good daycare centers. These
are often the most reliable source of information about daycare.
Interview Daycare Staff - Never place your child in a daycare
center without first meeting the staff. Make a point to meet the
director and the caregivers that will be looking over your
little one. Feel free to ask them questions about their
standards, disciplinary procedures, sleep and even feeding
routines. You should be looking for staff members that are
enthusiastic, dedicated, warm and caring. Their love of children
should be evident in everything that they do. If you are not
comfortable with the staff, look somewhere else.
Check References - As we mentioned you should check with your
family and friends for references to a decent day care center.
You should also ask the center for a list of references you can
call to confirm their qualifications. One thing you might also
inquire about is staff turn over. The higher the rate of turn
over the more likely there is to be trouble.
Remember that a good day care center will have a clean
environment, a good reputation, solid rules and a curriculum
that includes lots of playtime, physical activity, learning
activities and even quiet time.
When determining whether a daycare is good or not, also keep in
mind staff ratios. Generally for babies the ratio should be one
caregiver for every three children when there are six infants
and one for every four if there are eight.
For toddlers aged 12-24 months the ratio is usually 1:3 for six
children, 1:5 for ten and 1:4 for 12.
Check to see if the ratio falls within recommended guidelines
but is also acceptable to you.
You should also make sure that the daycare facility is operating
using a valid non-expired license. You can check to see if a
license is valid by calling your local social services
department.
About the author:
Adwina Jackson is a wife and mother of a young boy. She's also
the editor of Inspiring Parenting, an online source of valuable
parenting information. Please visit
for helpful and free parenting info.
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