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Quality day care is one of the biggest concerns parents are faced with today. Finding day care is a daunting experience. There are so many different philosophies, settings, mission statements that it can be confusing what is best for you. Quality day care means more than a flashy building and a neat playground near your place of employment. Keep in mind these five questions while "shopping" for child care.
1. What is the child to adult ratio? Check with your state to find out what the state's mandatory ratio is and compare it with the center's ratio. Obviously, the lower the ratio, the more attention each child should be getting
2. What is your discipline policy? Even the most perfect of children get in trouble at times. Find out how discipline issues are dealt with. Ideally, a child should not be kept in time-out for more that one minute per year of his age (5 years old-- five minutes.) Ask about repeat offenders. A quality center will have a plan in place on how to help a child with behavior problems while still protecting the other children.
3. What is your staff turn-over like? Child care is not a lucrative career-- especially for those who will be in the most contact with your children-- the teachers and assistants. If they can't keep staff, you may want to consider taking your child elsewhere. It is difficult for children to have to adjust to different people.
4. What is your sick-child policy? Centers vary on this subject. While some centers may be equipped to take a mildly sick child, others may call for someone to pick the child up at the sightest symptoms. Know ahead of time so that you can make arrangements for the time that call does come in.
5. How much time is free play? While you don't want to be spending your money on your child coming to play idlly all day, you also don't want him to have no free time. A quality schedule will have a good mix of both in both the afternoon and morning.
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