If you are a mother or father what would...?

Question

you look for in a Daycare. Whats the most important things you would want for your children? Thanks.

Answer 1

This sounds alternative, but this is what I did for preschools. I literally went down the phonebook and checked out all the places they have in town.
I chose one that I had THE warmest feeling towards. I even had flashbacks to an earlier time in life.......it was an art camp when I was little and the woman had goats. This place had the same feel. Homey, organic, creative, loving.

Answer 2

When choosing a daycare for my kids, i went to each one unannounced to look things over. In some i was given a little tour and in others I just walked out because the place smelled like dirty diaper and was generally unclean. I checked if there were cameras in the rooms, cameras in the outside play areas, what businesses were next to the daycare, and so on. I did not choose one of these I visited because there was a trashy looking convenience store right next to it. I was born and raised oversees in turbulent times and have learned to take notice of the small things that normal people don't see. My parents are both us citizens, just working in the oil field over there and my mom taught us to be very sharp and cautious to keep us from being kidnapped or killed. Sounds dramatic but thats what it was like. Anyway, some drunk could pull into the store meaning to get gas and hit the gas pump and boom, there goes the neighborhood, or the obvious reason, the store could get robbed. I liked the fact that most of the daycares now have cameras, especially outside in the play area. Also, ask the director how many if any of the caregivers are actually certified in CPR or have any education in the early childcare field. Most of them should. Also class size is a biggie for me. If they stick 10 two year olds with one caregiver there is no way she can keep an eye on all of them. Outside play is also important, kids need that. Check out the playground equipment too, and the fence surrounding the playground. If there is no fence, walk away NOW. I am not a neat freak but it should smell halfway nice. I know kids can smell up a place but there is no excuse for nastiness. My daughter had severe allergies so I was also concerned with what they did about pest controll. Ask them, they will tell you, and if they dont' know, walk away asap. Some of that stuff they spray is very dangerous. I would pick cockroaches over deadly fumes from a pesticide any day. Also ask them about their cirriculum, some have a very strick one and some don't. Also about their nutrition program, find out what kind of meals and snacks they serve, if any. I know some daycares you have to pack a lunch for your children, which isnt really that bad of an idea, at least you know what they're eating. Good luck and dont be afraid to ask lots of questions!!! If you get the impression they dont want to answer some, just walk away. Your childs well being and safety are way too important to care if you made someone mad!

Answer 3

Be sure to check out the child to caregiver ratio. They shouldn't have too many kids to take care of at one time.

Also, check out the facility. They may sound great on the phone, but you may see things differently once you've seen their operation. Are their dirty diapers lying around, or the overwhelming smell of them? A few I visited smelled like an old folks home.

What kind of programs do they offer? Just general babysitting or skill growth?

What room will they put your child in? I have a preemie who is almost 2, and although they wanted to put her with the 2/3 year olds, she's physically not up to it. She's half the size they are, and I'm cautious. A few places offered to put her in with the 1 and 1 1/2 year olds because of her size. Even though she's walking and is smart as a whip, I don't want bigger kids running her over or bulling her.

Find out the general feelings of the owners and workers. I once called a lady who charged a heck of a lot more than the competitors. When I questioned her why, she answered that she could get away with it because her clients are willing to pay that much. "Most of my staff drives Jags, and the likes, and somebody's got to pay for it, why not you parents?" was the answer I received. She was very snotty and oversure of herself. I passed the word to all I knew to steer clear. Someone like this is not the least bit interested in your child, but instead, how much money they can make off them.

Also, I read a few of the other responses, and I don't agree with them fully. I had to quit working to care for our preemie daughter, so daycare was not an option, as she couldn't be around any other kids for months. Now that she can, I choose to stay home with her and raise her the way I want her raised - without her coming home with something bad she learned from the other kids. Although I checked a few out, I just don't trust daycares. That's me, and obviously a few of the other mothers that answered.

However, that is just OUR opinions. I am lucky enough that my husband makes enough money that we can just barely struggle and get by. Some people don't have the luxury of a choice and have to work. Don't let the pressures, judgement and guilt of a few sway your decision. You do what you see fit and don't look back. After all, YOU are the mom, not the rest of us.

Good luck!

Answer 4

When I went looking for daycare, especially since I had just moved the to the area, I asked around.

I got 3 recommendations, one the place turned me of, it needed painting, I just didn't feel right about it. The 2nd place was highly recommended, it was a home center, very accomodating, would take kids 24 hours a day and would also take sick kids. I thought great due to my work schedule, then thought this person must burn out, plus my son would be exposed to everything all of the time.

The 3rd place was another day care center, bright and clean. They painted and cleaned from top to bottom, 3 times a year. They spoke with my son, his age put him in a group that had a 6 kid waiting list, but they met him and asked if he was potty trained (I said yes, had been accident free for 2 months at that point). So they suggested I bring him in to see how he fit in with the older kids, I ask when ---their response was what convinced me - any time that is good for you is good for us. Just bring him in, no need to call in advance. He loved the place, did not want to leave.

When I left him, they introduced him to some children, he sat down and played with them, then he found some paints which he loved, they had a water table and a sand table.

They got my deposit that afternoon and he started there the following Monday.

I liked the set hours, the drop in anytime, the cleanliness, the variety of toys, they were somewhat structured, but not too structured. I watched kids come in and leave and hug the daycare worked just like they did Mom and Dad.

There was much socialization, story time, some education 3 year olds learned colors and shapes and nutrition.

4 year olds had numbers and letters. And the interested 3 year old was free to join the older kids.

Kids were free to move to other groups with permission so he could play with other kids. This included their own teacher and the teacher of the other class.

My son liked that in the summer because some of his hockey friends were in the othr group and they could play knee hockey and nok-hockey.

One other thing, this place had catered food, outside food was only allowed for medical reasons. This center had a 4 week rotating menu. And they also put in changes to celebrate holidays- chinese new year they got chinese food, St Patricks day did Irish. They celebrated every event they could find.

Fun!

Answer 5

1) Accredited and trained, certified teachers
2) Cleanliness
3) Fair cost in tuition (e.g. payment plans weekly or monthly)
4) Attendance policies
5) Location
6) Cirriculum
7) Flexibility (e.g. pick up/drop off hours, visitation, teacher/parent commnunication)
8) Reputation or credentials

Note: Word of mouth is always best when recommending a childcare center. If money is an issue, check with elementary schools where a child (ages 3-4:Headstart or ages 4-5: Pre-K) can attend. Check your state's or city's (municipality's)
website, childcare resources center, or Chamber of Commerce.

Answer 6

My kids never went to a daycare. I was their mother and I was the one that raised them not a daycare worker.

Answer 7

I am a mother, and while most of my friends / family just went wth the flow and put the kids in daycare while they continued to work, I decided I would never leave my baby with anyone but my husband and my mom after the many horror stories that I had heard about daycare, nannies, babysitters (some from my mom who worked at a daycare center for a brief time until she could no longer take the abuse of the kids and the director ignoring her complaints...)

So my advice to you, as a mother, is to do WHATEVER you have to do in order to be the one that cares for your children. It is your responsibility. And to risk them being hurt in any way is just too much -- in my opinion.

It is hard, I know, but you have to do it. In my case, my husband went out and got a better paying job so that I could stay home, we decided to stay in a MUCH smaller home (apt actually) than what we could actually afford in preparation for when we had babies, and we do not buy anything we don't need.

Another friend of mine put her baby in daycare at 6 weeks old, but after the second day watching via a webcam her tiny baby being stepped on twice by toddlers she pulled the baby out of daycare and her husband quit his job to watch the baby (very hard for both of them but she made more money than him) -- 10 months later they relocated from CA to FL where they could afford to live on his salary.

And while daycare is the WORST place for children, even having a friend or neighbor watch them is not safe -- look at the info someone sent to a question I had about babysitting: "When we had our sons, both of us tried working soon after the first baby was born. I had a neighbor that I trusted care for our son.. one day my mom stopped by unexpectedly to her home, found our baby screaming. Mom walked into her home straight to where our baby was. He was laying in filthy diapers, and apparently was hungry. I went home as soon as mom's call came. I quickly checked my baby over, after calming him as best as I could,and found he was abused horribly by my neighbors son. There were bite marks all up and down my babies spine. My neighbor said she never knew how they got there! I quit my job, and we struggled. By choice, I was a stay at home mom, and learned how to stretch our money. It wasn't always fun, but my babies were safe."

So do the right thing, find a way to stay home or work at night when your husband or family can watch teh baby (it will be sleeping anyway) and you and your children will be so much happier in the long-run.

GOOD LUCK, I know you can do this even though it is hard and not common (sadly) these days.

Answer 8

Check how long they have been in business,go visit for a couple of days to see how they operate before deciding to leave your children there.Good luck God bless:O)

Answer 9

You would look for a place were your kids look like they would have fun. You would check the place out and see how all the other kids look, and if they all look happy then you could trust that your kid would be happy there to.

Answer 10

Look for people who are genuinely interested in your child. If they seem bored or annoyed when you talk about your child's likes or dislikes... that's not the place you want your kid to be.