Daycare Providers

Evaluating Daycare Providers - How to Choose a Daycare Center for Your Child

What is the best way to evaluate prospective daycare providers? You want the best care that money can buy for your child - that goes without saying. Before you choose a daycare center for your little one you should examine it very carefully. Asking the right questions beforehand will help you to establish a gut feeling about the center. Don't dismiss your first impressions.

Ask for permission to talk to the teachers who will be taking care of your child and ask to be shown around the facilities. Contact the parents of children who attend the school and ask for their impressions of the daycare center. Daycare providers that are above reproach will not be offended by your requests and close examination.

One of the most critical questions to ask daycare providers is about the staff-to-child ratio. The lower the ratio the more attention each child will be given. Experts tell us that this is a critical aspect of the quality of care your child will receive. One staff person for six to eight children is reasonable. If the children are older then a ratio of one teacher to ten or fourteen children this is also withing the acceptabler range.

When you interview potential daycare providers ask whether the younger and older children are separated. When older and younger children are kept separated the risk of passing on viral and bacterial illness is lowered. Also make sure to find out what discipline policies are held by the daycare center and how the center deals with sick children, medication that needs to be given, alerts about infectious diseases etc.

Parents should ask daycare providers whether there is a nurse or doctor on duty at the center and whether sick children are sent home or to the "sick room". Ask whether the children need to be vaccinated before acceptance into the school and whether a physical exam is required before attending. You should also enquire about staff-training and whether teachers are qualified in first aid as well as experienced in the care of sick children.

Any policies held by daycare providers should be available in writing on request. Ask to see these and keep a copy on file for future reference.

So be sure to check out our pages about Daycare Business, Starting A Home Daycare, In Home Daycares, and Starting A Daycare Center elsewhere on this site.