how would i know my 2 year old is safe at daycare.....?

Question

my son just turned 2 this past june. In September he will start daycare/headstart. Its his 1st time he will be away from his family. Is there any way i could check the background/history on a school - to check if they have had any accidents or any thing else ?

1st time mom scared as hell

Answer 1

Lots of things you can look at. If they will tell you much is another issue. Try contacting the better business bureau on line and look the day care up. If they are members it will show complaints and resolved issues. they may not be listed no guarantees but worth a shot.
Ask the Day care for references and contact those references and talk with them and see if they had problems or concerns. It also helps if you know other parents that take their kids to that daycare. They can also testify to the day-cares reputation or their opinion of it anyway.

Keep in mind several things here. You are choosing to take your child to this Daycare and there must be a reason you chose this one. I assure you it is not the only act in town and if it were my kid and I had any reservations about it then I wouldn't do it.

One last thing and that is to contact social services or the child advocacy center that is in your town and ask them if they have had any justified complaints from this facility.

That is all i have for you on this issue. It is admirable that you are showing concern now follow through with it.

Answer 2

well i would definitely recommend a church based or school based program like head start over a daycare run out of someones home
I'm not sure if there is a way to check on the background of a place but the best thing i can tell you here is to trust your instinct, if something doesn't feel right don't sent him there
also, make frequent unannounced drop in visits, you will get a better sense of how things operate when you know people aren't on the best behavior because they are expecting visitors.
i don't know if you could call the health dept or child welfare office for your city to see if they have any places they recommend
also ask any prospective day care providers if they have been inspected by the state (some states require this) and if so can you read a copy of the report

Answer 3

For one, all state registered daycares are inspected not just once a year but several times a year. The State goes in announced once. Otherwise than that they are random unannounced visits or from an upset parent or employee calling them. It could be from something as little as fire ants on the playground to ...(well we all hear the horror stories)
Each time an inspection is done, the inspector MUST leave a copy of the results of the inspection and the daycare HAS to allow anyone access to that report. If it were bad, the daycare would be closed down. It does not take a lot for a daycare to lose their license.
Daycares invest thousands a year in keeping their staff trained the staff has to take sevral classes a year. If the teachers there are not good, the daycare will get rid of them in a hurry.

Answer 4

I'm new to this as well so I can completely understand this you can ask around other parents can be helpful and go to the program talk with the teachers and day care and the person who runs it let them know your nervous and they can talk with you.Most head starts are state operated so they have to be really looked at so and sometimes the state will check it out.Also you can always check though some government or state number and call.I hope this helps it is scary I can so relate my son will start a pre school program 3 days a week and it is my first time as well so I feel your fear but things will be just fine I have heard of Head Start Programs being really wonderful programs .God Bless. Good Luck.....Also they will let you sit in or observe with out your son knowing that way you can see the classroom area and the kids and watch the class.This will make you feel a lot better.

Answer 5

properly i lately had this same problem and that i have a 2 twelve months previous boy. i become stated an area called first mild preschool. it turned right into a touch expensive yet the position ever you're i'm particular there is a few variety of tips that ought to help. this preschool is usa huge and that i imagine you may variety it in on google or askjeeves. in conserving with the position you stay it ought to open at 6am or 5:30am til 6:30pm they have a sequence curriculum and video show gadgets so that you'll be able to watch from the foyer and get entry to codes to get in and OH my it has lots. My admired area is they potty practice yet are not pushy about it. uhh, there's a lot i ought to say to seem up first mild preschools on your area and purely go down and confer with them. for a 2 twelve months previous the following in AZ it become $156 a week, yet i received the help of the state and that i comprehend pay 7 funds an afternoon for the great newborn care position there is.

Answer 6

been there too and sadly that fear doesnt go away in my opinion teachers feed off of you be stern with them but not a ***** and let them know your concerns your feeling and what you expect for your child you probably wont get that info because im sure each family case in confidental
become a part of your childs learning experience ask for forms about his/her day, incident forms, call there check in see how he is doing some centers also have blind windows for viewing them and cameras so you can come in and watch how his day went kids adjust at different times so if he still seems upset adter a few weeks its okay but lingering doesnt help get on his level tell him where you are going and that you are coming back and tell him you love him and go check the room out see what the other kids are like because these kids are around your child daily if you know there are aggressive kids in his class let the teachers know this a concern if they know this they are more likely to make sure he isnt in contact with the child as much but always remeber they are kids they will get hurt sometime or another either by falling being hit with a toy etc. as long as you dont feel that he is being abused or neglected its okay you will know what center is best for your child you will feel it and it will show by your sons reaction to the setting good luck

Answer 7

Some daycares offer webcams where you can look in at any time. I would try to look for one that does that. If that is not an option, I would ask to stay once or twice in the background and observe. Then, you can check in every now and then and look in on your son.

Answer 8

Make unannounced visits, check with your local chamber of commerce, and ask the place for references (or ask parents as they are picking up their kids so that the references aren't screened.) If you're still uncomfortable and you have the dough, there are teddy bears euipped with hidden cameras available. Link below lists the price at $149.99. There maybe cheaper ones available on other sites.

Answer 9

you're lucky, mine had to go into daycare at 3 months old. the only thing i can say is to drop in without any notice and see what's going on. the good thing your child is 2 years old and should be able to talk and tell you what's wrong and what he doesn't like that may be going on, but realistically hope and pray you have decent people taking care of your child. good luck.

Answer 10

You are taking a chance. I suggest strongly you make unannounced visits. Check closely for any signs of physical abuse.