L.I.
Hi N.,
I know this is such a hard time for you. Going back to work and putting your bundle of love in daycare or preschool is just so hard. My daughter is 6 now and I remember how hard it was for me. I have two very good recommendations for you. They are not exactly Plano/Carrollton, but both are located in between the two, and one thing I learned over the years is that it is worth a little extra drive for an exceptional school. Before I give you my recommendations, I want to give you some tips on a few things to look for when you are checking out a school. First of all, when you visit the school, how is the atmosphere? Is it totally chaotic with kids running wild? Or are the kids playing in an orderly fashion - maybe working on art projects, sitting in a circle playing games, or singing or being read to - you get the idea. Typically at most schools the kids will lay down for a nap around 2:00 or so - you might call ahead and find out. The director will encourage you to visit during nap time. Partly because its easier for them, but partly because the kids are asleep and you aren't really getting a clear picture of the daily environment. I would not call ahead and make an appointment for a tour. Just show up - they'll show you around - they want your business. But this way you have caught them as the school really is, not fixed up because a perspective parent is coming to tour. I would try to visit probably sometime between 9:30 and 10:30. Any earlier and they will be doing their circle time. Any later and you might catch them at lunch. After lunch they start getting ready for naptime, etc.
Now, this is very important. While you are there you want to look and scan and check out everything you can to judge how clean the place is, see if you can tell anything about how often they clean and even what they clean with. Do they have hand sanitizer in the room? If so how often do they have the children use it? Now - this is golden - before you start asking any questions at all about the cleanliness, ask them this - "what is your sick kid policy?". A substandard daycare will say something like " Oh, don't worry we don't call you to come get them unless they are really really sick, like if they have vomitted a few times and had diareah a few times. Or if they have a really high fever we may call you, it just depends how they are feeling. We won't bother you unless we have to" If you hear anything like that - run! That is so NOT the right answer. That tells you that they let sick kids stay at daycare to spread their sickness to all the other kids. Unacceptable. This is the answer you should get "We have a very strict sick kid policy. We will call you to come get your child if they have a fever of 101.5 or higher, if they have vomitted, or had diahreah. We also do our best to prevent the spreading of germs by having the children sanitize their hands several times a day" That is the type of answer you should hear. That is so important, I can't stress enough. My child got very sick in a daycare (sick enough she ended up needing a heart transplant) that is why I stress this so much. After you have asked about the sick kid policy, I would also ask what their emergency policy is - will they call an ambulence for your child if necessary? Then its time to grill them about the cleaning practices. How often are the toys wiped down? With what? How thorough cleaning is done on a daily basis? If you get the chance, I would try to ask these same questions seperately to both the director and one of the teachers - just to make sure everyone is on the same page. Will they be playing outside on a playground? If so, how many teachers will be watching them? What is the student to teacher ratio in the classroom? Do they put 2 classes together so a teacher can have a break? The fewer students in a classroom the better. For one thing, your son will get more personal attention, learn more, and be more socialized. More importantly though, the fewer kids in a space the less likely they will get sick. Remember every time your child gets sick, its horrible because your child is sick, but its also a doctor's visit, probably medicine, and worst of all you are missing work, which means you are probably not making any money, yet you still have to pay for the daycare he is not at!
Ask about what kind of curriculum they use in the classroom. If they don't use anything that is a red flag. Make sure you take a good hard look at the daily schedule. Probably there should be circle time, then some sort of learning or play time, they might have music or art, they usually have an early lunch at that age, naptime is typically after lunch, then probably some sort of playtime or games, etc. Naptime - make sure they have them laying on some type of mat or having them bring a blanket from home.
Lunch - some daycares have you bring your own lunch, others provide a hot meal. If they are one that provides a hot meal, make sure you ask to see a menu to make sure they are serving meal that are up to your nutrition standards.
Will they were a uniform? If so how much is it?
Make sure you find out the hours of the school and that it suits your work schedule - most daycares heavily charge if you are late picking up.
Do they go year round or are they out for summer?
Another good time to go is at pick-up time. you can ask some of the parents what their experience is with the daycare.
Okay, enough rambling!!
The schools I KNOW are great schools:
1. Little Saints (at All Saints Catholic Church) - Excellent school!! My daughter did 3yr old & 4yr old class there. It is amazing. Small class sizes. Teachers have all been there for years and truly love the kids. VERY clean. My daughter has almost no immune system and barely got sick the 2 years she was there. The parents get very involved, so you don't feel like you've "left" your child. The cons for you: the hours could be difficult for you if you are working full time - they go 9:30am-2:30pm. Also, they take off for the summer, so you would likely need to make other arrangements then. I would encourage you to still check it out though - who knows, it may somehow work! It is in North Dallas near Arapaho & Hillcrest.
2. Bent Tree Child Development Center - in Addison. Somebody else already suggested this one I noticed! This is where my daughter went before Little Saints. We liked it very much. They are all so friendly and happy there. The hours are very good. I was impressed with how advanced they had the kids working. They were also very clean. Very Proffessional. If memory serves, I think the class sizes were a bit big for my liking, but I think that was my only complaint. I would definately check it out. So bright and cheery!
I would stay away from any Peanut Gallery. Really any chain type daycare, whenever I've visited one I've had a bad impression every time.
I have heard Montessori schools are very good too.
Good luck! You'll be just fine don't worry!!!
