Hypothetical situation here...?

Question

You are a mom/dad looking for a caregiver for your child during the day. When you come to the would be caregiver's home to meet, what type of things are you looking for?

Answer 1

Look for the things which are harmful such as knife, etc...

Check the environment if it is appropriate for a child to see...

Check the food...

And others...?

Answer 2

a nanny that can spell hypathetical

Answer 3

a fun loving, yet non-pushover caregiver!

Answer 4

Look for a caregiver who seems genuinely interested in the welfare of your child and does activities. Make sure she is not caring for too many at once and see if the surroundings seem safe. I would make sure she is properly licensed as well.

I have an example of the kind NOT to have. I had to find childcare for my two-year-old many years ago and chose a woman who was recommended by someone else. As it turned out, she chain-smoked around the kids and stayed indoors all day in her air-conditioned home watching TV. Yes, she watched the kids--they were basically penned up in front of the sofa, and she fed them. I suppose in her eyes she did a good job. However, I didn't think so and soon found a healthier environment at a daycare facility.  

Answer 5

A safe environment.  I go to the bathroom and check under the sink.  If I find cleaning products or other such stuff, then it's a "no"

Answer 6

What i'm looking for:

A current Child abuse registry and Criminal Record Check

A certificate of certification in First Aid and CPR

A safe environment - Outlet covers on unused electrical outlets, cords and wires out of children's reach

A fun environment - lots of educational toys both indoors and outdoors.

Credentials - References from other parents who have had their children in care with the individual.

Reliability - Does the individual have backup for days when they are sick or on vacation?

Attitude and Disciplinary methods - is this someone who will treat my child in a way I would approve of?

There's more but this is getting really long so i've just honed in on the most important ones.

Answer 7

Cleanliness.  Number and ages of children in her care (ratios).  Safety (baby gates, highchairs, etc.).  Age-appropriate, stimulating toys and activities.  Outside environment.  Schedule, activities.  TV - is it on all day?  Food - what do they eat, who provides it, does it meet the food guide, etc.  Are there animals in the house?  Is the caregiver First Aid and CPR trained?  Is she trained in Early Childhood Education?  Art activities.  Space to move around.  Police check for caregiver and adults living in the house.  Check references.  Where do children sleep?   Method of discipline.  How does the caregiver interact with the other children?  How do they interact wiht your child?  How do the other children interact with each other?

Answer 8

* happy other kids

* plenty of age approapriate toys

* a comfortable area to play in that is reasonably clean

* how she interacts with the kids she is currently caring for

* childproofing such as gates and outlet plugs

this is just off the top of my head. It has been 10 years since I have changed caregivers

Answer 9

A BIG lol to the above answer. Have you checked a dictionary lately?!!!!! LMAO!!!  

Answer 10

Look for baby hazard points like open bottles of medicines,sharp edges where baby can get hurt,dirt and trash lying arnd,slippery floors,knives,forks etc,pesticides and cleaning products and so on.

Also see if the kitchen where she prepares the meals is neat and tidy and sanitised.

See if the house is comfortable and safe enuf for the baby to play arnd and not wander out.Does she have pets? If yes,are they safe?

Most importantly look for the caretaker's attitude and how well she gets along with the baby.

Answer 11

Cleanliness.  Facilities in good repair.  Adequate heating and cooling.   Secure entrance, and preferably a buffer zone between the entrance and the play area to decrease the chances of a child managing to slip out the door.    Professional demeanor in the caregiver.    Signs of some thought and organization in the facility and that the caregiver appears to have an established routine.   Rapport between the caregiver and the children in her care.   Rapport between you and the caregiver.   Indications that the caregiver is patient with an even temperament, and that the caregiver is in control of the children.   Variety of indoor and outdoor activities.   Age appropriate activities.   Verify that children below the age of three do not have access to toys that are not approved for that age level, and that young children can be isolated from older children.   Determine how many children are in care.   Generally, our state allows a caregiver to care for no more than 6 infants and toddlers full time, including their own.   They allow more when they are part time or older.  Look for any sign on unsafe conditions in the premises.   Try to determine where the caregiver spends her time, and assess how much she can really see from where she is.   Does she use monitors?   How often does she check on the kids.   What rules does she use to determine when the kids can play outside?   How long do they play?  What does she consider too hot, or too cold, or too wet?    Discuss disciplinary policy.

Determine whether there are other children that are close to your child's age, for your child to play with.

Determine who else lives in the house or visits regularly.  Determine if background checks have been completed by the state on the all the occupants of the house.   Ask whether the children are ever left temporarily in someone else's care.  When and how long?  Find out who that "backup" person is, and whether they have had a background check.

Ask about the plans for fire evacuation and missing child alerts.  Discuss what will happen if a child becomes sick or has an accident in care.   Talk about what happens if caregiver is ill or has an emergency, and facility is closed.   Make sure you understand registration fees, vacation, sick days and personal days fees and policies.  

You should heed your "gut instinct".  If you don't feel good about the situation, then maybe you should continue to look.

Check on the caregiver's status as a registered childcare provider.  Are they registered with the state?  What training have they had?   How long have they been in business at this location?  Check your state's website and see if you can view the inspection history.   Ask for references from parents who have children in their care.

Answer 12

1. Cleaning Products in areas accessible by children

2. An uncluttered playroom

3. Friendly Caregiver

Answer 13

clean enviroment, friendly kid friendly that is, ask for what kind of experience do you have, do you have refrences, is it somewhere when you got there your child got aquainted very well!  you will just know when you walk in.

Answer 14

I will bring my little one and have a look how that person gets along with him. General questions and recommendations from someone that can be checked