What Childcare Providers Want to Tell Parents

Did you know your childcare provider was keeping a few things from you? She's probably too professional, too polite and just too nice to tell you these pet peeves. If you understand these little things that can really bug providers, you'll improve your relationship with your provider for you and your children.

Look for quality vs. bargain basement: When you are looking for childcare, your first question to the provider ought not to be, "How much do you charge?" It makes the provider think that you are more concerned about money and receiving bargain basement childcare than the quality and type of care she will be providing. Ask questions like the following:
• Do you have a daily schedule?
• What activities do you do with the children during the week?
• Do you participate in the USDA Food Program?
• What is your infant and child to provider ratio?

Questions like these will let the provider know you have high standards for the level of care you'll be expecting for your child.

Prioritize the children: For many parents, the cost of childcare is an important issue. Often it can determine where your child receives care. With providers, however, you often get what you pay for when it comes to the quality of care your child will receive. Education and awards can indicate the provider's performance record. If she's invested a great deal of time educating herself to provide a high level of quality care, she's going to set her rates according to her expertise. It may cause you to scrimp in another area of your budget, but your child's well being, initial education, and maybe even entire future is at stake. Your provider will notice where your child is placed in your life's priorities. In other words, don't complain that you can't afford a provider's rates if you are driving your child around in a loaded 2005 Cadillac Escalade.