Choosing the right child care provider

When it comes to finding child care it is one of the hardest things a parent is faced with. You’re entrusting someone else with your child and you want to ensure their safety, happiness and well being while you are away. We all hear of the horror stories of children being neglected or abused while being in child care. It is up to the parents to interview and investigate the childcare facilities their children will be attending. Here are a few things you should be looking at while interviewing child care centers.

· Ask friends and co-workers for recommendations

· Conduct phone interviews, asking the following:
What age do you accept?
Do you have availability?
What are your hours of operations?
What is your staff to child ratio?
How do you ensure staff to child ratio?
What is your policy when staff calls in sick?
What are your staff’s qualifications and how is that verified?

These questions are very important, for example if a staff calls into work due to being sick who will care for your child. Will they combine classes? If so, will they be out of ratio? If another staff person takes responsibility for the class are they just as qualified and responsible as the original staff person. If providers are unable to give you clear answers to these questions I would be cautious as to how well your child will be cared for.

· Make a visit to the facility (once in the middle and once at the end of the day)
Look for cleanliness
Staff to child ratio and over all happiness of children
Scan the environment looking for safety concerns
Talk with the staff encourage them to share what they like and dislike about their job
Tour the kitchen
Check for current licenses/registrations
First aid kits, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers

When you step into the facility you want to review everything you can. Have time to spend and observe how everyone interacts together. Talk with the staff and director to get a feel for their personalities. Review curriculum and watch to see if they are following the curriculum. If they are not on or close to the curriculum more than likely they are giving parents the smoke and mirror treatment. Lesson plans are written to provide structure and education if they do not follow them then what’s being done to subsidize the learning process.

· Ask to Interview Parents
A quality facility will have no problem letting you interview parents. When someone comes in to pick up their child ask them how they like it. Parents will give you indicators in their description as to how well they like the facility.

For example:
O’ my son’s teacher is great when she is here?
(Teacher is out more then she is there- parent is concerned but deals with it)

My son has learned so much since he has been here; I really like how they get them involved.
(Happy parent feels she has made a good choice)

Listen to all of what they are saying and you will be able to pick out the key words that shed light on the pros and cons of the facility.

· Check public records to see if they have any violations

· Check your state child care information and referral program, they list quality childcare facilities


Most importantly, after picking a child care facility stay involved. Check up on them and let them know you are a proactive parent. Never be afraid to ask questions when things look strange and always listen to your child. If behaviors or moods change investigate right away.

Staff and directors change frequently in this business and what once was a quality center can quickly change. It is your job to ensure they are doing theirs. I wish you luck on your journey and always remember you’re in charge of your child’s well being.