Choosing a Daycare

When moms and dads leave their little ones in someone else's care, they want some knowledge that they will be safe and well-cared for during the day. Many of them will suffer great anxiety and worry if that person can truly meet the unique needs of their young child. I am a daycare owner, and I can lead you in the right direction to the perfect daycare setting.

1. Ask if they are DHR certified - DHR stands for Department of Human Resources, and it is a government organization that oversees daycare operations. They have encountered every possible daycare scenario and so they have a list of recommendations that must be met before it will issue certification to a daycare. The procedures and protocol might seem ridiculous, such as signing your child in and out each day, but they are in place because somewhere a daycare did not do it and a child went missing or a tragedy happened that could have been avoided if the procedure had been followed.

2. Ask to see their daily schedule - When you look at the schedule, look for circle time, music time, art, and outside time. What are their alternatives to outside time? They should only use the TV at most twice a week for 30 minutes, especially for children over the age of 2. Under the age of two, you should see no TV on their schedule.

3. Ask about their curriculum - What curriculum do they use? Where should parents pick up their child's daily paperwork? Look at their walls. Is artwork posted that the children have done? If not, this should be a red flag. Children need a variety of stimuli to grow in their own abilities. Music should be at least twice a week and art projects should be at least three times a week.

4. Ask about discipline - How is this handled within the center? I can not tell you how many times I have enrolled a child to hear from the parent that I should spank him or her if they misbehave. I can not do this nor will I do this. I will put them in time-out for the length of time that is appropriate for their age. I will operate on a rewards-system so as to encourage the child to be on their best behavior. Corporal punishment should be done at home, if that is the method you so choose. Listen and observe through your visit to see how unruly children are kept in hand.

5. Time your visit in the morning - This is when the majority of learning activities are scheduled. Most centers nap between noon and two so as to accomodate school agers in the afternoon. You will get a good sense of the place if you schedule your visit between 10-11:30.

6. Ask about ratios- A good center is ruled by ratios. These are standards set by DHR to enable your child to have the best experience at the center. In my state the ratio to infants is 1 teacher to 5 infants. Ask about ratios for your child's room. Make sure that the center is in ratio while you are there.

7. Ask about home-based providers - When I worked as a school teacher in a local high school, I left my first born with a local provider in that area. I called DHR, and they gave me a list of providers within that area. She was wonderful. She only wanted to keep certain ages, infants to three. She was required to follow all procedures that daycare centers had to follow. Her price was much lower and her ratios were smaller due to the area she used to supervise the children. Overall, this was a wonderful experience.

8. Lastly, call DHR about your prospective center- Ask if the center has had any write-ups recently. DHR is required to visit the center and write-up any discrepancies they find in the management of the center. This also includes maintenance on the building, protocol being followed, and scheduled maintenance on any transportation the center may use. This will tell you a good deal about your chosen center.

Since owning the center, I feel that I have learned a lot about what parents want from their daycare experience. They want value for their money. Daycare is not inexpensive. If you follow the advice I have given, I feel you will be much more comfortable leaving your child in someone's care.