Need some advice on daycare?

Question

My daughter and I are moving (I'm a single Mom). I love the daycare that she's in now. I will be visiting several daycare centers in the new town in a couple of weeks. What in your expertise and opinion makes a good daycare. Should I weigh my decision on how many stars the facility has? I really want to find a place where we will both be happy and so I won't have to switch daycares on her again.

Thanks!

Answer 1

In my opinion, how good or bad a daycare is depends on its teachers. When I was looking for a preschool for my son, I wouldn't even consider this one preschool that was in an old ugly building that was in an inconvenient location with no good place to park. But I asked a few of my friends, neighbors, and elementary teachers what preschool they would recommend, and many of them said that place. I met with the director, observed for an afternoon, and signed up. Despite the old building, inconvenient location, and lack of parking, the teachers were absolutely wonderful. My son learned so much and had a great experience. That preschool is still regarded as one of the best in the area, because of the teachers.

For your search, get as many references from parents in your new town as possible. Don't just ask parents who are currently using a certain day care (most will say it's great, or else they wouldn't have their kids there). Seek out parents who have kids slightly older than daycare age to ask what they thought of their daycare. Ask your new neighbors, and ask random parents at the park and grocery store if they know of any good daycares in town. Also be sure to ask them their opinions of specific daycares- "What do you think of Daycare X? Have you heard anything good or bad about it?"

Call up the grade school where your daughter will be going in a few years, and ask if you can talk to the kindergarten (or first grade) teacher. Ask her which daycares have best prepared the kids for school. (This does make a difference- teachers see a big difference in kids who have gone to certain preschools.)

Another good thing to look for in a daycare is how long the teachers have been there. If the place has high turnover, I would avoid it.

When you visit the potential daycares, spend as much time there as possible. Don't just leave after meeting with the director. Stay for a couple of hours and observe. If the director does not allow you to stay, something may be wrong that they don't want parents to see. Bring your daughter along and see how she likes it as well. Good luck!

Answer 2

I am a daycare teacher as I have my early childhood educaton and i believe that a daycare should have staff that are willing to communicate with you, your child & eachother. You would also want to place your child in a daycare where they are extremely well at listening. You want them to be able to listen to both you and your child. You want to be able to trust them as well and that will take some time for you to see or feel. You will pretty much have that feeling whether you feel it's good or not good! You will just get that gut feeling! I hope all works out! Maybe find people who may have had the experience with those daycares and see what their feedback is.

Answer 3

i worked at a early learning center for years and the only ones who knew when a tour was scheduled was the office staff. Us teachers were never told about visits, so the parents could see us being "normal" and not putting on a front for the parents. Look for a place that is clean, low staff turn over rate, staff that have there children at the center, this is huge because if the teachers don't want their kids there neither do you!

Answer 4

I believe you on no longer pulling your baby out of daycare until that turns into a fiscal necessity. And, I am inclined to wager that when you speak to the director and provide an explanation for your husbands lay off, when you get at the back of on making the cost, she will even paintings with you on that till you get stuck again up, relying on how lengthy your baby has been attending that middle. I do suppose you must talk along with her approximately this dialog and discover out precisely what the trouble is along with his transitioning from one room to the following. The handiest different alternative I might deliver you might be for him to paintings the shift reverse yours, so that you might reduce daycare charges all in combination, even though I detect that will not be a believable nor in particular fascinating alternative. Since your son is meant to be relocating into the 2 yr historical room, and also you had been already advised that it used to be going down, I might call for that I no longer ought to pay the only yr historical rate anymore. I do not think in buying any one else's mistake, however that is simply me.

Answer 5

Besides the obvious like 1)do they have any violations 2) is it clean and in compliance 3)what is current ration etc. I always really go on what is the feeling I get when I am there like, do the people working there share my views on child care? Are they easy to talk to? Do they really care about kids? I have found that some places with all the stars have no heart and I would feel sad leaving my baby there in that environment.

Answer 6

Take your child with you... see how she reacts in the location... does she want to get in there and play, or does she cling to your side (how old is she?) Also, go un-announced so that you can see how things really are during the day instead of when they are prepared for a visit. Trust your instincts... if you don't feel comfortable, it doesn't matter how many stars the facility has.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Look for NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation. Also: teachers doing activities with children; labeled shelves; check out daily curriculum and look for activities involving colors, shapes and numbers; look at cleanliness; ask for a menu; ask what kind of education the teachers have; look to see if the children there are happy; video cameras in the rooms with tv monitors in the director's office; and either shoe coverings or a no shoe policy in the infant room.

Answer 8

I would actually try and walk into a day care if you get in first of all ,,, that is a big No! I prefer the day cares that are locked and you cant get in unless identified as a parent or guardian... I hate to say this but I dont trust anyone at all ,,, make sure they are video taping everything.... you want everything on camera....for the safety of your child .. and have a back up plan just in case.... because if you see signs of your daughter's unhappiness then change schools..... good luck... It is sometimes hard to trust people with the health and safety of those you trust....

Answer 9

I think that you should choose one that just allows you to drop in to have a look around. If one refuses to let you in because you haven't made an appointment, they are probably trying to hide something, and what that is, you probably would be better off not knowing.
Look for leaders who have first aid knowledge, can look cope with children, and have an adequate staff:child ratio.
If you can, ask a parent who already goes there with their child how they rate it. It might be hit and miss, but you'll find one eventually.

Good luck with everything!