Everyone has heard the horror stories of child abuse at the hands of an au pair or other type of child care provider. You don’t want your children to become victims. You can take steps to ensure, to the best of your ability, that this does not happen.
There are many, many considerations that you will need to weigh before placing your child in the hands of a stranger. Here are some issues you’ll want to deliberate about when selecting a daycare provider:
* Will you hire someone to come and take care of your children, or will you take your children to daycare? Regardless, you will need to make sure that the daycare provider is a US citizen or that the daycare provider has legal papers to work in the US.
* If you take your children to a daycare or provider, do you want the location to be close to where you live or work?
* Is it important to you that your child is around many other children or just a few?
* Make a list of your preferences.
* Ask neighbors, friends and family if they know of a good provider.
* Call the Childcare Aware Hotline at (800) 424-2246 to find a local provider network near you. The local provider network will refer you to local licensed or registered daycare providers.
* Once you have decided where you want your child care provider to be located (near your home or work), choose three providers to research. Prioritize your list from one to three based on the limited information you have about the providers.
If you are considering a day care home:
* How old is the daycare provider? Sometimes it works better for you if the daycare provider is around your age. You may have more in common and a better relationship with someone closer to your age.
* Consult the ages of the children in the nursery. It is generally a more supportive environment for your child if there are other children your own child’s age.
Talk to the daycare provider and get the following information:
* At least three references from parents who have used the daycare for more than one year.
* Find out if you can drop by at any time. If not, get rid of the daycare. If so, visit multiple times unannounced at different times over several weeks, eg, after snack time, during lunch, during nap time. Make sure one of your visits is when the parents are dropping off their children, so you can talk to the parents. Ask them why they use the center and how satisfied they are with the care provided.
* Tour the center. Is there a play area outside with play equipment? Is there also a designated play area inside? Is there a separate area for babies instead of older children? Multiple cribs? Is there a separate quiet nap area for older children? Nap mats?
* Ask about learning activities for your child’s age. Request the weekly schedule of activities and menu of meals. Be sure to visit during one of these events and meals.
* Does your child have any special needs? If so, make sure the provider can accommodate them.
* Is the provider licensed? If the state you live in requires a license, do your homework and check with the state to see if the daycare provider is licensed. Also, ask if there are any observed problems with the daycare. There are usually a few exceptions to day care licensing laws, for example, two or fewer children working 20 hours or less per week caring for relatives.
* Is the provider insured? You will want to request a copy of your certificate of insurance and call your insurance provider to make sure it is current.
* Also, do an internet search for any positive or negative information about the daycare and its director. You may find something.
* There are accountability child care associations you may want to check with, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). If your child care provider is a member, you’re in luck.
You can’t cover all the bases. However, you can do your due diligence to find the most qualified day care provider possible for your child. Once you’ve done your part, choose the daycare provider that meets most, if not all, of your expectations.
It doesn’t end there. Please remember to drop by from time to time unannounced during the time your child is in day care. Finding consistent care will ensure your confidence that the day care provider you choose is the right one.
