What should I ask the day care?

Question

Im a first time mom, my daughter is now 1 1/2 yrs. I would like to get a job and put her into a daycare a few days a week. I have the names and telephone numbers of the centers in my community but what questions should I ask. What is most important to know, anything you learned afterhand that you wish you would have asked about? Thanks, concerned mom

Answer 1

Here is a great checklist:

http://www.secretgardendaycare.com/checklist.htm

It's difficult to leave your child, but important to remember the "kiss-and-fly" technique. Your job is to send the message to your child that daycare is a safe, fun place. By standing there looking sad and doubtful, you set off her radar that "there's something to be scared of."

If your baby is hysterical it's sooo tough to let a stranger comfort her, but you have to show your child that she can trust the teacher and turn to her for reassurance. She'll be happy and adjusted in no time Mama Bear :o)

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have been a home daycare provider for over 14 years. Some important topics you need to discuss include:

Fees - when due, late fees, holiday and vacation pay, sick day pay

Discipline - how, why, rules

How educated are the providers, what is the turnover rate, ratio of children to providers, do the head teachers remain all day or do high school students take over in the afternoon
Activities and Educational Programs

Illness Policy - I have found that some centers allow you to mask your child's symptoms (with sold medicine or tylenol) and still send them. This would concern me as that means other children will be coming when sick and my child would become more suseptible.

Cleanliness - many centers don't clean very well. Ask how often they sanitize the toys, clean any carpets, wash nap equipment

Make sure you drop in at the daycares several times at different times unannounced. It will give you a great idea of how the days go and how well the center is run.

Answer 3

Find out if they're licensed. That's always a good sign.
Definitely ask about meals and snacks -- make sure they're offering well-balanced healthy foods for your child; and if she has any allergies, make sure they're willing and able to accommodate her.
Ask about how they handle discipline. If your styles don't mesh, this could be a problem. (My child's daycare is fabulous, and I've learned some really valuable things from them!)
Your daughter is a little young for this, but find out whether they will help with potty training and how they do it.
Definitely check the teacher-child ratio.
Ask if they let the kids watch TV. Best if they don't, or maybe show movies only on special occasions. You're paying them to care for your child, not to put your child in front of a screen all day.
And think about what you want out of the daycare. Do you want a home setting with children of various ages? Do you prefer something more like a preschool?
And, most importantly, spend some time there before you enroll your child. Check out the toys and play equipment and make sure the teachers are engaging the children in imaginative and creative play. Make sure you and your daughter both feel safe and comfortable there.

Answer 4

First and foremost...find out if they are licensed by the state. Do not put your child in a daycare that isn't because there is no way to track them. If they have a license most of the other questions will be answered because they have to have a certain ratio of staff to children and staff have to be certified and trained in certain things. The other thing to do after you find out if they are licensed is to call the state licensing board (usually human services department) and ask if they have any violations or reports against them. If they have a ton you should be concerned. If they don't have any I would question that too. They may not have been around for long and don't have much of a track record. The other good question to ask is about staff turn over. It's hard for little one's to have to get use to a new care giver every few months because they can't keep staff. Good luck and it will get easier.

Answer 5

All the above answers are good I just want to add that when you do talk to one ask if they'll tell you when other children there are sick.
I hear most parents complaints that the daycare providers dont notiy when other children are sick (ie flu/ colds/ PINK EYE/ear infections). Its costly for you because you have to take time off work.

Answer 6

From an educator point of view ask them
What activities will they provide for you child? (educational and the like)
What types of food do they serve? Can they accomoditate if your child has allergies?
What are their policies for bad behavior?
What type of medical information do they need?
How supervised will my child be?
Do I need to pack extra clothes for my child? (art shirt, in case of an accident, etc)
What forms will I need to fill out?
Will I be able to contact the daycare if I have questions or concerns?
Can my child and I come visit the daycare, to see if it's right for our needs?
Does the staff have to have background checks? (such as criminal and child abuse *and yes they should!*)

Does that help any?

Answer 7

Everything said so far and:

Are the children seperated by ages?
What sort of activities?
cost and daily late fee policy (some charge in 5 min increments)
Holiday and inclement weather scheduling
Part time daycare? (Many don't)

Answer 8

make sure they have an open door policy, make sure they have a good child/teacher ratio, make sure they are licensed and accreditation is good. find out about meal and snack policies, and about naptime policies.

show up there a couple of times unannounced at different times of the day, and see how things are run.

Answer 9

Find out the child to caregiver ratio. Meet all the caregivers. Come in unannounced (even after you trust them) to see what it's really like there.

Answer 10

Is that legal? Don't kids have to be at least 4-5 old years old before being put in a strange place all day? In my opinion, putting a baby less than 2 years old into a day care system seems criminal and sad.