Choosing a childcare center for your child(ren) is one of the most important tasks you will ever perform as a parent. First, you must locate childcare centers with available openings. You must then take into account factors such as quality, affordability, and the locations convenience. Of course, it is also crucial that the childcare center provides a safe and loving environment for your child that is not only fun, but also conducive to learning. This is not always an easy feat, but with proper planning it can be accomplished.
Make sure to allow yourself ample time to find a childcare center that is the best “fit” before you return to work, enter the workforce, or go back to school. It can take several months to collect all the needed information to insure that you chose a center that meets or exceeds your requirements. Some invaluable resources to locate childcare centers in your area would be:
- Friends and coworkers with young children in daycare
- The Department of Health and Human Resources – They are usually affiliated with or can refer you to a childcare referral agency.
- The public school system – They often offer Head Start or pre-kindergarten programs.
Once you have several childcare centers to consider, you can narrow your search further by contacting each center by telephone to ask pertinent questions. These questions can be categorized into four main categories: hours and location, availability, quality issues and cost.
Hours and Location: Is the childcare center close to your home or work? If your child is in school, is transportation provided to and from the center both before and after school? What are their hours of operation?
Availability: Are there presently openings? What ages do they accept? If there are presently no openings, how long will it be before they have an opening?
Costs: What are the fees and when are they due? (Make sure to specify the age of your child as this usually determines cost.) Is there a straight weekly fee or do you pay only for the days your child is at the center? Does the fee include all meals? If you go on vacation or your child is otherwise out for a week or more, will you still be charged for that time period? If you have more than one child that needs care, would there be a discount rate? Would there be a fee if you pick your child up late? Are there additional fees for supplies?
Quality: What is their adult to child ratio? (The caregiver to child ratio is different depending on the age of the children in a classroom. For example, a class with 2 year olds should have one caregiver for every 4 children. Whereas, a class of 3 year olds should have 1 caregiver for every 8 children.) Is the center licensed and accredited? What education and/or experience are caregivers required to have before they are hired? Are all workers involved with teaching and caring for the children required to have ongoing education? Can you visit the childcare center and if yes, when?
Once you have contacted several childcare centers, there should be a few that are of interest. It is at this point that you need to visit each center. Only by taking a tour of the childcare facility, witnessing the daily routine and how the caregivers interact with the children, asking questions and getting a “feel” for the environment can you choose the one that would be best suited for your child. Some pertinent questions to ask the director would be:
- Are the children allowed to watch television? If the answer is yes, how much viewing time is allowed?
- Ask him/her to describe a “typical” day at their facility.
- How are children disciplined?
- If your child is not potty trained, how does the center handle this issue?
- How are emergencies dealt with? How often do they execute fire drills? Are the caregivers offered CPR and first aid training?
- Ask for a copy of the weekly meal menu.
- What types of play and learning activities are offered?
- Is the facility properly childproofed?
- If the children are transported to and from the facility, do they enforce proper use of seatbelts and car seats?
Before leaving each childcare center, ask for references. If they are a reputable facility, they would gladly provide you with a list of parents that you could contact. References are an invaluable source of information. You may find that parents with children, who attend or have attended the center in the past, can provide you with information that you would not be able to obtain by other means.
Once you have gathered all pertinent information, you must then decide on the childcare center that best suites you and your child’s needs, expectations and unique situation. It may be difficult to find one that meets all your requirements, but by weighing the pros and cons of each facility you would be able to make the most informed choice. Also, when deciding on a childcare center, head your gut instincts. Even if everything appears satisfactory, if you are not comfortable with the facility, find another childcare center. Never underestimate your instincts when it concerns your child.
Finding the right childcare center is a time consuming process. It may take several months to gather information and choose the one that is affordable, of high quality, fits your work schedule and most importantly, that you would entrust the welfare of your world, your child with. However, the payoff of this endeavor is priceless; your child’s well-being and your peace of mind.
Ginny Woody
Web designer specializing in childcare and child related web creation and marketing.
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