Selecting a Daycare
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Selecting a Daycare |
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Choosing the proper daycare center for your child should be a carefully
thought out and researched process. With some daycare centers being exceptional
and some being just plain bad, it is important to pick a center that helps your
child grow and develop his skills while also having fun. About 70% of parents place their young children in some type of daily care. Whether you choose in-home or center-based care, a preschool, or someone else's home for your child's daily care setting, you should follow some specific guidelines to ensure receiving quality, professional care. Most important is to know your own child's temperament, likes and dislikes, health, interests, and behavior. For a baby under 1 year old, give careful attention to your child's need to be nurtured and held, any special health needs, and the type of person you want to care for your child during the first year of life. For an older child, developing play and learning styles, interaction with other kids, intellectual curiosity, and need for individualized attention should be considered. The family's own values and emotional needs also come into play. Some parents are overly anxious about leaving their very young child with one person, while others prefer this individual care. But by age 3 or 4, it's good for kids to have at least some exposure to other kids and participate in a structured program like preschool or daycare. Before choosing a care setting, you should be aware of the options available and consider cost, location, and reputation. There are a few basics questions you need to make sure you ask before selecting your Daycare: Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention. The younger your child, the more important this is. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants), while four-year-olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children).Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more like a family? Caregiver Qualifications: Ask about the caregivers' training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops? Turnover: Check how long caregivers have been at the center or providing care in their homes. It's best if children stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things. Accreditation: Find out if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organization. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that are higher than most state licensing requirements. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs. Discipline: Find out how discipline is handled. Centers that are run by churches are state exempt and may be allowed to use corporal punishment! All discipline options should be spelled out in writing, along with other policies. Curriculum: What curriculum does the center use. The best practice is an active learning curriculum where children are allowed to play and explore and learn through hands on experience. Food & Supplies. Find out if the Daycare will be providing meals and/or snacks for the children. If so see if a menu is available and if the meals are USDA certified. Check to see which supplies you will need to supply for your child. Program Assessments: Find out if DCF or other agencies screen and rate the Daycare. Ask for previous scores or write ups to see if there have been problems. DCF write ups are often available for public viewing online, so do your homework! Follow your instincts. Visit your child's daycare several times at different times of the day unannounced. You want your Daycare to have an open door policy where you are always welcome. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable, trust your instincts and find another place for your child. If your child is old enough to talk, ask questions daily and encourage your child to talk about their day at the Daycare and if they are happy. |
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