You plan to place your child in a daycare or Parents Day Out Program, but how do you know it's the right fit? Here are some quick questions to help you decide if the place you are considering is right for your family. For time-crunched parents, you can always ask these questions over the phone, and if you the responses you receive, the next step should be to tour the facility.
What Should You Ask Before Enrolling Your Child in Daycare?
More Child Care Quick Tips
What Should You Ask Before Enrolling Your Child in Daycare?
- What is the curriculum and is it academically focused and is it secular or Christian based?
- How are kids separated (by age? numbers?)?
- What is the attendance and vacation policy (is credit given for vacations after so many months?)?
- Is part-time care offered is that is what you are looking for?
- What hours is the center open and are any late night hours available for thos who don't work traditional jobs?
- What is the teacher/student ratio in the classrom your child would be in (don't just get an average of all classes)?
- Are any special programs or enrichment opportunities available?
- Are their field trips or do kids remain in the center at all times (some centers take kids on trips and others' don't and parents seem mixed on their preference)?
- What type of training has staff received and what is the overall experience level?
- Do kids play outside and is there outdoor equipment or organized activities?
- What type of safety features does the facility have in place?
- Are their daily or weekly comments or assessments provided to me to keep me informed about what my child is doing?
