One of the biggest decisions parents make is choosing a daycare center for their child. Parents want to find the perfect learning center for their child. While searching for a great childcare center on the internet is a great way to find some information, visiting the school is key when choosing the perfect center for your child. When visiting a center there are many questions that a parent should ask. Parents.com published the list below of what a parent or guardian should ask every child care that they visit:
1. Do caregivers have first-aid/CPR and child development training?
2. Is each child assigned to a primary caregiver?
3. How many children do you serve, and what are their ages?
4. What is the range of activities in which the children participate?
5. How large is the center? (There should be 35 square feet per child in order for each child to have enough room to play comfortably.)
6. Is the center licensed?
7. What happens if I need to bring my child early or pick him up late?
8. Do you let kids attend if they’re not potty-trained or if they have a runny nose or a cough?
9. How do you discipline kids?
10. Is there an outside play area? Do kids use it every day?
11. Do you ever take children on outings off-site?
12. Will I be charged if I take a vacation or my child is sick?
Child care administrators should be able to answer all of these questions with ease. If you find that your questions are not being answered properly, then that should be a red flag when choosing a center. A parent should always listen to their gut and if you are not feeling comfortable then the center is not for you. A quality center includes happy teachers, happy kids, and happy parents. If one of these qualities is missing then something may not be right. Remember this is a big decision and you want to pick the highest quality of care for your precious child, so don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions and spend time in the classrooms with the teachers. Good luck and make sure you bring along a pen and paper to write down your pros and cons. It takes a village to raise a child; the hard part is picking the right one. Armed with these questions from Parents.com, your search for the perfect child care center will be easier.
