Choosing a Child Care Provider:
Common Sense "Rules"
By Jodie Lynn
www.parenttoparent.com
After a long and hard search for a qualified childcare provider, here are some rules I'd like to pass on to anyone -- anywhere -- who is doing a similar investigation. In addition, believe me, investigation is in many instances the operative word!
Rule #1. Never accept the comments of your friends and relatives as "the last word."
Go visit and talk to the childcare provider yourself. Take a good look around. Try to make a couple of unannounced visits. Stop by at different times of the day.
Rule #2. Make sure the provider has had previous experience with your child's age group.
In my situation, it was a one-year-old. Taking care of toddlers is not an immediate cause for a provider gold star award. Developmentally, this is an especially "fluid" age -- some toddlers don't walk (or even "toddle") -- until 13 to 15 months of age, other have been cruising around since the tender age of 10 months! This leads to huge variances, not only in mobility, but also in coordination -- two factors, which impact heavily on a childcare provider's expectation, time, and patience.
Rule #3. Find out how many children are legally allowed within this age range for this specific facility.
Check out http://www.naeyc.org/ and get some much-needed questions answered. They usually has all the inside scoop on your particular state and childcare requirements. Call their toll free number -- 800-424-2460 -- they will send you a list of accredited childcare facilities, nurseries, and preschools in your area.
If the one you like the best is not on their list, don't fret. Go by their guidelines on asking questions and you'll be safe. Many facilities cannot afford to become accredited, but they still meet the most important criteria.
Rule #4. Call your federal and state childcare branches for a local listing of approved sites.
Their numbers are usually in the blue section of your phone book.
Rule #5. Ask to have the other parent's phone numbers at the daycare and give them a call.
Find out how old their children are and how long they've been there. Ask if they've ever seen more than the legal limit with one provider within any given day.
Rule #6. Check out the toys.
How often are they cleaned? (Should be daily.) Are they safe and age-appropriate?
Rule #7. Assess the provider's friendliness and willingness to answer your questions.
Is the provider smiling and welcoming your questions? Is she asking you questions and trying to hold or hug your precious little one? Do any of her (his) responses -- either what's said or the way they are said -- send of a red flag? Don't ignore your gut feeling!
Rule #8. Know the sick day policies.
Holiday and other day off policies as well. Is the cost the same on these days?
Rule #9. Get the Curricular Picture.
Is there time for music, art, reading, outside play, and hands on learning?
Rule #10. Make sure you're like-minded.
What type of discipline do they strive for and how often is the undesirable behavior overlooked? Is this consistent with your parenting style?
Rule #11. What's the nutrition situation?
What type of food is offered? What type of snacks? Can you bring your own food for your child if the dietary standards don't match your own? Will this result in a lower fee? Is there a place to store food? Keep it cool? Heat it up? How willing is the provider to accommodate your dietary considerations?
Rule # 12. Slumber rules.
How many nap times are there and when are they taken?
Though this may seem like a great deal of information to find out about, it is your precious child we're talking about here -- you can never be too thorough. Besides, it's never too much to take that extra precaution to make sure your darling children are getting the best next thing to being at home.
© 2006 Jodie Lynn
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated family/health columnist and radio personality. Her syndicated column Parent to Parent (parenttoparent.com) has been successful for over 10 years and appears in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular contributor to several sites including eDiets.com, MommiesMagazine.com and is the Spokesperson for BabyUniverse.com. Lynn has written two books and contributed to two others, one of which was on Oprah and has appeared on NBC in a three month parenting segment. Her latest best-selling parenting/family book is Mommy CEO, revised edition.
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