What would you look for in a daycare?

Question

What are must haves in a daycare? What are some things you wish a daycare would offer? Let me know what your thinking!

Answer 1

Must haves in a daycare are quality teachers without a real heav turnover rate...Find out how many teachers they have had in a room over a year...Teachers with credentials, they are educated, and paid better than teachers without the education and are usually alot more educated.  AND when you walk into a center LISTEN.  Atop and just listen, see if teachers are screaming at children, see if a HUGE number of children are screaming.  Centers should be loud, but not OVERLY so. I am uge on interaction when you look into a room see if the teacher is out of the way observing or playing with the children.  You can get a real clue as far as quality when you look for child art work on the walls..see wha the children are learning.

Answer 2

Staff that gets down with the kids and has a ton of fun with the kids.

Make sure that the turnover rate is low for staff--that way you know they are secure with their jobs and will be stable for your kids.

Daycares with Spanish programs are awesome--they start around age 2.

Some offer kiddie workout programs, art programs, and computer classes in addition to their normal curriculum.

Schools will let you look at their curriculum for each area of instruction at each age level. This would allow you to know exactly what the kids are learning.

I'd also make sure that at nap time they have cots and play soothing music for the kids. My kids' daycares offer all of these things, plus the classrooms for children ages 3 and up have HUGE indoor play gyms with slides and a fort at the top with a hideout area underneath. My kids are really creative and love to play, so this was perfect for them. Plus, they love going to "school!"

Answer 3

Keisha said about everything, make sure you can come and observe at anytime it is not a requirement that they teach your child there abcs but if they don't you don't want to be there , make sure they get to use there motor skills like running,climbing,and etc. the place is very well ventilated no mixed children, they get to go outside everyday weather permitting,that they are following state and local laws,if they provide snacks,and lunch, do they close at least for a week to do a all over cleaning eill they adminster prescription meds. do they all CPR certi. what is there emer.evac. plan do they pratice fire drills, do they feed them breakfast, after about 3weeks your child is still not comfitable its time to find another place you know your child and how he/she takes to people

Answer 4

I use to work at a daycare and i am also a parent.....Safety and Clean environment!!!!! know the surroundings. Is it near a police station, hospital or fire department. Is it open for anyone to walk in. Are the toys and equipment safe, up dated and clean. Speaking of clean how often do they clean, what cleaning products do they use? how often do they change sponges, mops and brooms because it spread germs. they wear gloves, do they change glove after each child especially during potty training or diaper changing. Do the teacher as well as the child wash their hands. How often do they clean the mats they sleep on?  Who's watching the kids while the teacher is tending to the child in the bathroom or diaper change. Check out teacher student ratios. Are the children learning? Are they happy? Eating right? Being independent? More verbal? Do yo get daily reports as to what they are learning for the week (colors, shapes, numbers, and letters). Let you know about your childs day (eating, sleeping, potty training & etc.) Do they keep you informed on up coming events and how can you get involved?  Those are a view things to look for.

Answer 5

Check their credentials, check out the facilities, cleanliness, the play areas,the kitchen, talk to the administrator and check out the staff.

Answer 6

As someone who works in childcare, where you send them needs to be a place that you feel comfortable with. This is your little one that you are talking about. You are going to be entrusting them in someone else's care. You need to look for certain things when you are looking for childcare.

+ Is it State Licensed?

+ Does it have any accreditation (NAEYC, or state)?

+ Does it offer an open door policy?

+ Can you stop in at any time and check on your child, or the teacher?

+ What is their meal plan (I don't like my kids eating junk food, and some centers serve it)?

+ Can you tour it?

+ Can you meet your child's teacher?

+ Do they do developmental screenings?

+ How do they communicate daily with you?

+ What are the qualifications of the teachers, as well as the directors?

+ What is the turnover rate of the center (teachers that have been there awhile says a lot about a place It offers stability).

After doing all of this you should find a good place to send your little one that you are comfortable with. I hope that this helps you.