Childcare Advice in Your Neighborhood

With two-thirds of all children under the age of six coming from a home where parents both work outside of the home, the majority of children today are part of the child care system.  If you are looking for child care of your son or daughter, this article can save you valuable time and money and put your mind at ease by finding the perfect option for your family.

Make a list of what’s important to you.  

·    Are you looking for a location close to your home?  Close to work?  

·    Does your child enjoy large groups or smaller ones?  

·    Do you prefer an in-home center or a large day care center?

·    Is a complete schedule of activities available?  

·    Are you able to drop in anytime to see your child or do you need to call first?  

·    What is the teacher : student ratio? 

Ask, ask, ask.  Ask all your friends, family, co-workers, doctors, neighbors and referral agencies for options in the area you prefer.  If you get a bad word from someone about a home or child care center, mark them off your list.  Ask them how their children enjoy going to child care, how he or she enjoys the activities and how often parents are updated on their children’s progress. 

Once you have a list of potential centers or licensed in-home providers, call to schedule an interview and walk through of the facility.  During your visit, look for current licenses posted and note how the children are interacting.  

·    Are children happy?  Are they enjoying the activities?  

·    Is the staff warm and friendly to the children?  

·    Does the staff discipline in an appropriate way, such as time out, or do they ridicule and spank the children?