Daycare centres seem to be mushrooming all over the country these days, mainly due to the high demand for child care services. With so many to choose from even in just one area, how does a parent make that choice?
Other than gut feelings about an establishment, whether it’s a good feeling or bad, here are some questions to ask yourself regarding a potential daycare establishment that may help you decide and also, put you at ease.
1. How does the place look from the outside?
Consider the overall appeal of the building from the outside, even before you step in. This includes the area where the daycare center is at.
2. Is the inside clean and appealing?
Resist trying to reason out why daycare is not as clean and tidy as it should be. This is not your home where you may allow it to get messy now and then, but rather, the people here are being paid to care for your child in a clean, uncluttered environment.
3. Is the place in good repair?
The physical appearance of a daycare centre can let you know-how providers will care for your child. While some degree of harmless mess such as playdough on the floor can be excused, smelly toilets and leaky roofs, however, are indications of staff that couldn’t be bothered with even basic comfort needs.
4. Does the center look safe?
While non-coded entry systems are a no-no for modern daycare centres, things like broken playground equipment, outdated cribs, and the absence of child safety gates at staircases are also signs that the safety precautions are not up to par.
5. Does the centre have relevant state inspection reports?
These should ideally be posted on the wall and up to date. If there’s none to be seen, ask to see them.
6. What are the center’s emergency plans?
As your child will be with them for the better part of the days, it’s your right to know what they would do to keep the children safe in case of a fire, intruder, natural disaster, or major weather event.
7. Are the caregivers trained in CPR and first aid?
Accidents happen without warning and in many cases, the difference between life and death depends on the availability of good first aid treatment, so do make sure that the centre has that covered.
8. Are the caregivers trained in handling food allergies?
Do not give this a miss, especially if your child is still in the developing stage and is trying out new foods. Food allergies can have serious ramifications for some young children and it’s important that caregivers know what to do in case of an emergency.
9. What are the center’s policies on hand-washing for their little charges?
Child experts have always been adamant that good hand-washing habits are essential in curbing the spread of germs among children. It would do little good if you are diligent about hand-washing at home with your child, but the daycare he goes to does not follow up.
10. What is the caregiver to child ratio at the centre?
This is an important deciding factor, for if one caregiver has to take care of a dozen little ones, you can be sure that the quality of care will be compromised!
11. Is the staff friendly and welcoming toward you and your child?
In this regard, you should also see if the caregivers are down on the floor with children, or do they appear standoffish and aloof? If the latter is what you observe, it could be a sign of discontentment in one’s job and you don’t need that!
12. Are most kids playing and laughing?
Kids generally are not capable of feigning their true feelings, hence the overall demeanor of the children at the center can speak volumes of how they’re treated and if they’re happy to be there or otherwise.
Featured image source: Fotolia
