Guide To Daycare

If you are looking for a daycare for your child for the first time, it is completely natural to feel overwhelmed and even scared. It is not easy to place your child in the hands of someone else for an entire day, let alone on a regular basis. There are some things you can do to ensure you make the best choice for both you and your child.

First of all, don't let your child take on your own feelings of anxiety about daycare. Depending on the personality of the child, they already may feel a little skeptical about the whole thing so you really do not want to make it worse. Some children go roaring into their first day of care and never look back, causing some parents to feel a little silly about their own worries. Other children experience mild to moderate separation anxiety, wherein the parent needs to be very diligent in not feeding into it. In these cases it is important to 'drop and run'. That may seem cruel, but in reality it is the easiest way for the child to transition. You may find it amusing to know that most of the time children who are dropped off crying and carrying on cease their dramatics about five seconds after the parent is out of sight. This may be because of distraction, it may be the survival instinct, or it may be the old theory of out-of-sight-out-of-mind.

Now that the anxiety portion of the discussion has been addressed, let us look at some key components of a good daycare. Do some research on facilities in the areas you would like to have the daycare located, either close to work or close to home. Check their licensing history, whether there have been complaints, what the price per month is and what the hours are. Once you have shortened the list to those in your price range, have a good record and have hours that work for you schedule, it is time to get some reviews. Ask other parents in the neighborhood what they have heard or experienced about a daycare on your list. If there is an elementary school nearby, consider asking the kindergarten teacher what daycares she/he has heard of and whether they are good, bad or ugly. Word of mouth is a powerful tool - use it to your advantage.
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When you have narrowed your list down to two or three, call and schedule a visit and interview - preferably without your child. You will be able to focus on the the daycare provider, the facility and the staff much more easily if you do not have to watch your child at the same time. Make a list of questions in preparation for the interview. Some good questions to include are as follows:

What is your discipline policy? What is the daily schedule/routine? Do you or your staff smoke and if so where? What does staff do while children are sleeping? What sort of crafts do you incorporate? Are snacks or meals included and what do they consist of? When is payment due? Is there a deposit? Are there any extra costs? Aside from parents of other children, who will be on site during a regular daycare day? How many children are in your care (make sure it is not more than allowable by law)? Are you licensed? What is your training (including first aid and CPR)? Do you or your staff have their own children and are they part of the daycare? What is your sick policy? What is your policy on potty training/diapering? Where do you go on field trips? How do you keep the children safe on a field trip via bus/car/walking? How often are the toys disinfected? How often is the daycare given a deep clean? What is your policy on late drop offs and pick ups?

When you visit the daycares take a good look around. Don't allow yourself to feel pressured about the time you take. If the provider does not offer a tour of the facility and its grounds, then ask for one. Look around every corner and inside each play structure. If you see broken steps on play structures, worn floors, stained walls and dirty toys - the daycare is not for you. What you want to see in a good daycare is a clean and tidy facility that is in good repair. Licensed daycares are required to meet certain standards, unlicensed are not. You will want to see enough vinyl covered rest mats for each child, tables designed for use by children (at a low height), toys that are in decent and that have not been banned for health reasons. Dramatic play items are a must for any daycare, so you should see a dress up box and perhaps a play kitchen or work bench. Art supplies are a staple of any daycare; paints, crayons and glues need to be washable and non-toxic. Ask to see the containers if you are unsure. Active play is very important for children so the outdoor area should be a good size for the number of children in the daycare. There should be lots of outdoor toys such as tricycles, ride-a-longs, balls, hula hoops, climbers and perhaps child-size foot scooters.

While you have made a daycare selection, talk to your child about daycare and what to expect. Tell them they will meet lots of new friends and learn new things and go to new places. Make it seem like a wonderful adventure. Choose a lunch kit and new bag (for extra clothes etc) together, allow them to take ownership of their new daycare things. Doing small things like this will get the child thinking about their daycare in a positive and exciting way.