Selecting Quality Childcare |
Are you looking for quality child care? Use this easy method to choose the right place for your child C.H.I.L.D. C.A.R.E.
C Choices available Day care or family day care are the most popular choices. Many of them will fill quickly, so start shopping early. You might need to get your name on their waiting list should they have one. Visit many day cares and ask questions. The hours, fees, location of day care and services will differ from one to another. You might also have friends and relative with some recommendations.
H Health and safety Issues Does the facility have measures in place to ensure a safe environment indoors and out? What is the policy for sick children? What's the temperature like? How's the ventilation? Does the day care smell clean? Can they get medications out to your child? What's the nap situation? What happens to the child who doesn't want to nap? Are the toys washed on a regular bases? Are the bathroom kept clean?
I Interaction of educators and other staff members Adults who work with children still have a little child left inside them. How else could they have the patience, sensitivity and the energy to plan and stimulate children all day long? Are these adults interacting pleasantly with the children or are the children off by themselves? Are the educators friendly and full of life? Can you hear songs and music? The educator might be busy but take a few minutes to get to know her. How long has she been in this field? What her favorite activity with the children?
L Lunches and snacks Are the lunches and snacks prepared on site? Do they include a well balanced among meat, fruits, vegetables and dairy products? Do they have fried food and offer junk food? How do they handle food allergies, and personal preferences? How many snacks are offered during the day?
D Developmental areas of you child To ensure a global development of your child, day cares plan their activities according to developmental areas. The Physical Body development Do they encourage running, jumping, dancing and moving their bodies? The Fine development Do they encourage drawing, cutting, painting, and other games/activities to develop their hand-eye coordination? The Emotional Do they help develop their self-esteem and learn to love themselves? The Intellectual Do they encourage talking, singing, puzzle making, telling stories, asking questions and having the possibility to find out the answers? The Social Do they encourage participation in group activities which enhances sharing, respect, tolerance and working with others? The Creative Do they encourage creating using crayons, paints, glue, scissors, various papers and other materials?
C Certification, licensing and training. Is the day care registered with the state? Are the educators certified or have a diploma in early childhood education? Do all educators and others workers have their first-aid cards up-to-date? The more questions you can answer with "yes" the more steps this particular day care has taken to ensure quality day care. All these licenses are usually posted at the entrance of the day care.
A Activities These activities will also be based on the developmental areas. Are they varied with books, games, puppets, different learning centers? Do they go outside everyday (weather permitting)? Do they go on field trips? Are there weekly themes such as seasons, animals, holidays... to involve children in discussions? The television set, is it use for educational use or it's on part of the day program? What if your child doesn't want to participate in a certain activity, is his decision respected?
R Ratio Ratio is the number of children an adult can have in his/her group. The ratios vary for home day care to day care and from infants to the pre-school age. Ask (and count) how many in your child's group. On average a home day care will have one adult for six children, in day cares one adult for four babies and one adult up to ten children under four, but these are averages-check with your state laws.
E Environment Where will your child spend he/her time? Does the play area have sufficient space for more than one activity to take place at the same time? Is it clean and well lit? Is there lots of toys, games and books? Are there signs of animation in the play area?
Ask for references, and talk to parents when they pick up their children at the center. Do not ignore your gut feeling. If something doesn't "feel" right, listen to your instincts. Don't trust your child to that center.
(c) Marie-Helen Goyetche, all rights reserved
