What to Look for in Daycare?

My cousin owns one of the best preshools in town. Its MS so not much help there. But she always says smell when you go in, clean, and most important drop by unexpected. They should be able to show you around anytime that isn't naptime. Good luck

You can look on the NAEYC website for accredited centers in your area. This is a national organization that sets high standards for educational curriculum as well as safety and health. Their standards will be higher than the NY state standards for licensing.

Cheryl does a good job of listing important questions. Other things to think about in terms of convenience for you:
Do they provide food, or do you need to bring it (this is a big one for me, a center that provides HEALTHY food for lunch and snacks is worth its weight in gold - it's hard to think of healthy things to send in with your child every day)?
Do they offer 'extras' in-house and what do they charge for them (ie, swim lessons, dance lessons, spanish lessons, etc)?
Do their hours fit your schedule? How flexible are they with drop off/pick up times? What about vacation weeks - do you still pay the full amount if your child isn't there for the week?

Things to look for are quality of care, convenience of location and hours, and cost. That is the summary but so much really goes into each one that those three are not everything alone but more of a "total package". Keep in mind that quality is the most important and good providers are worth their weight in gold (and worth every penny) but it doesn't mean you can afford to pay them that.

Ask questions business type questions such as what the hours of operation are, is there a limit to the hours within the operating hours (such as 9 or 10 hours), when and under what circumstances overtime rates apply, are meals/snacks provided by the center or by the parent, what are the rates, when do they change (age 3 and/or potty trained), and holiday/vacation/personal/sick day closing schedule. Do they have a back up provider? Discuss your needs. Discuss contracts and cancellation terms. What days are they closed? When is payment due?

Ask operational/care type questions such as what their typical days is like, do they have a schedule, adult/child ratios, and what are their discipline policies. Ask to see the play and nap areas.

Ask experience questions...how long has the center been in operation, how long has this provider/teacher been in childcare, what training do they have. Try to get a real feel for the person who will be caring for your child...ask "what if" questions to determine what they would do if a child gets hurt, misbaves, doesn't feel well, etc. Ask security questions like how they handle pick-ups, emergencies, etc.

Ask for references (if they seem uneasy giving info out, ask them to ask a few parents, past and present, and/or others who have knowledge to call you). Ask references what knowledge they have about the center and provider. If they use them now are they happy. If they don't use them why or why not. Ask their honest opinion.

Sometimes, they may give you the "by the book answers" but I always prefered the answers that rang true even if it wasn't exactly by the book. I would recommend going with your gut (even if for no other reason than your mother's intuition you don't like the provider, choose a different one). Also, if you agree to something the least bit different than their contract, make sure it is in the contract before you sign it (and keep a copy).

Jade,

I worked in child-care for several years. There were several people that I would Never leave my child with. Yes, the the certifications and all that are important, but what I would suggest you watch for when touring facilities is how the children interact with the adults. If they are sitting down playing with them, reading a story, whatever compared to standing at the counter gabbing with each other. Yes, the adults can not always be sitting with the kids, because there is stuff to do. Sutch as nap time, lunch time and any transition period. Just see how the kids interact with the adults and how you feel about it.

Good Luck! N.

You want a licensed NAEYC accredited provider. You need to know hours (of course), what holidays they are closed for, how often they close for weather emergencies and what the protocol is. What the provider to child ratio is. What happens when a provider calls in sick. What happens when your child is sick? How long must they stay home. Do they provide food or do you. If they do, make sure you are happy with it. What does the child's day look like (circle time, reading time, play). How much outdoor play do they get. Do they go outside in the winter too (they should). What sort of discipline do they use (time outs, time ins, positive discipline, etc). What hygiene/disinfection protocols are in place. When do they start taking the children to the potty (most of the time that's at age 2). What are their emergency protocols. Is the front door locked. Is the place clean. Can you drop by anytime to quietly observe (you should be able to- of course to speak with a care giver you should schedule time). Do they have cameras (some do, some don't, not a deal breaker for me). Watch what the caregivers do when a child is crying. Do they pick them up and comfort them? Do the kids seem happy? Look at the toys. Are they broken, chipped, etc. Do you like the caregivers?

May I just add one suggestion?

I really disagree with the 'just drop in philosophy'. I've been working with children for years, and while parents feel that they should be allowed to 'just drop in' (and that if you can't, the care facility or agency must either be hiding something or 'on show') it is really about respecting the children and *their* space. For so many kids, childcare is their home away from home. Imagine how disruptive it when professionals come into your house to do repairs, and how transfixed our kids are when they come. It's the same at daycare.

When I taught in the preschool and toddler groups, the scheduled visits went more smoothly because the teachers were prepared to help the children with having visitors in their space. It might not be a big deal to parents, but the children *are* disturbed by having strangers in their space. To me, a prospective parent expecting to just 'drop in' shows me that they have NO idea about honoring our daily routines or the needs of the children and that they are solely concerned about themselves or possibly 'catching them in the act' of being a bad facility. As a private care provider now, I would be leery of taking on a family whose parents felt that I was just to drop my work with the children to accommodate them. (Unfortunately, too, many good home care providers suffer disruptions because of this sort of thinking that they are 'just around' and 'should be available'.)

As teachers, we also have better times of the day in which we can provide the prospective parent with much more information about our classroom's program. Imagine walking in during diaper changes (when one of us is diapering and the other teacher is engaged with seven kids) or during a less-transitional time. If I have the kids busy with playdough and my assistant close by watching the play in the housekeeping/blocks area, I can give you much more of my attention, answer your questions better, you can get a better read of my personality, and my classroom will stay well-managed.

Besides, most professional people request that vendors and prospective clients schedule time with them. You wouldn't show up at a doctor's office and expect to be seen without an appointment. Child care providers are professionals too. Just a thought!

go to your police station and ask if there has been any complaints about any of the daycares in your neighborhood.. explain to them why you are curious.

I filed a complaint a year and half ago as the teacher was neglecting the kids in her class and her conduct was very unprofessional. Anyway I am not going to go into detail about that.

Also do a search for reviews on that daycare. If you can't find any. take a tour.. your gut will tell you if it is the right place for your child.

I did not follow my gut the first time, and I regret putting him in that daycare now...

There are certain rules they MUST follow, but I would do a meet and greet, and ask how many teachers your child would be involved with on a day to day basis. Some work shifts, some work every other day.. so you need to know what stability your child will have at school.

Meet with those teachers and have a little "interview" of your own. Prepare some questions you want to ask her/them.

Go with your gut... if something is off, just a little... stay away.

don't know about licensing in NY.

Questions for a daycare center:
policy for pick-up, drop-off
late fees
payment policy

how do they keep toys clean
nap time
diaper policy
food policy

security- who is allowed into the center?
turn-over- how often are they hiring new people, and how often are people leaving? ---- important because staff stay where they're happy, and kids get attached.

home daycare- all questions above- plus
who has access to the home?
look around the home- is it child proofed?
Is there dedicated space for the kids area?
how does this person handle food?
Bottles? diapers?
Will they help with potty training
discipline method?
sick child policy?
sick caregiver policy?

That's a small list- your local licensing board should also cover important topics on their site.

Best wishes!

Go on the New York State Deparment of Child and Family Services and start there! They will list each licensed facility in your area including:
- hours of operation
- infractions/corrective actions
- last date of inspection
- ages of the kids
- preschool/daycare and what kind

DO NOT USE AN UNLICENSED PROVIDER!

Also, check out the Bright Horizons website. It is super expensive, but they have a great "checklist" with questions to ask on their website. We used that checklist when looking for our son.

First instincts are critical..

I don't know the type of licenses that are required in NY - but they should have them prominently displayed in their office along with their hours of operation. If they do not have a license displayed, I wouldn't use them. They SHOULD have a health license if they serve food and have a kitchen.

Cleanliness:
do you smell dirty diapers?
are the cribs clean?
are the toys clean?
are the toys broken?

When you go in to view them - can you watch the classroom your son will be in? If no - why not?

what does the parking lot and lobby look like? is it clean? are their books for the children - even in the lobby?

how do they handle pick up/drop off?
are kids crying in the center? if so - how are they being handled?

You should be able to call your local licensing office to see if they have any citations or health code violations? If so - what were they?

How do they handle background investigations of their employees? How often are they conducted?

What type of security does their center have? For example - our center (Kindercare) had a big lobby and a key code door to the facility that led to the kids. Our office had a door to the lobby - however, if it was kept open - anyone had direct access to the children...that door was closed at all times except when letting parents into the office.

Toys on the playground....are they fresh or weather worn? Does it have a sandbox? (Most center day cares do NOT have one because of health issues)...

what are their plans for the summer? Do they have a water play day?

How do they handle inclement weather?
how do they handle payments? how often are the due - once a week, etc.?
Is there a late fee if you pick your child up late? if so - what is it and when is it due?

How do they handle emergencies?
What do they teach the children during the day?
How many teachers or care givers are there per child? (what is the child/adult ratio?)

I could go on and on - but you get the general questions, right? Please feel free to inbox me if you have other questions!!

I researched my son daycare on line. When I went to the school which was highly recommended from a few friends. I checked the security. How people checked in and out there child. How clean the school was. How teachers and students reacted to one another. I also checked out they took the children to the bathrooms. It was child size, so cute. Most of the classes had one in there class. The playground! The lunch program. Activities. I did a lot of asking and searching. I am so happy with this school and my son love it was well. Keep a note pad so you can go back to it, so you can keep track of the pro and cons of each facility. Good Luck! :)

My kids spent most of their time with a nanny, but did have to spend a few months in day care. The best advise I can give, is to observe the day care in action. Look for things that are important to you. Make sure you feel comfortable.

If I remember correctly, a provider can have 2 children unlicensed or 5 children licensed with their own children counting against their license. I lived there only a year.

I believe that the first 5 years is pretty miserable for a lot of daycare providers. Many people struggle with being home so much without other adults. And yet they want to make it work so they can be home with their own children. As a provider that's been in the business 25 years, I believe that only a very few providers are strong enough to deal with the business end of things and able to work with the children everyday and hold it all together while learning all the little tricks a person needs to know to make it work well. I would NEVER choose anyone that has not been in business at least 5, if not 10 years. However, many people in their 15-20 years are seriously wondering if they have done the right thing. They are stressed about finances and know they don't have any kind of retirement planned and they don't earn enough to lay money aside or even have proper vacations. So many of them talk in their own little circles about when to quit. The point I'm making is that you want to ask them a lot of questions about why they run their daycare, what they like, what they don't, how they handle the stress, as well as the common sense questions about how they discipline and how they teach.

Also find out if they are still planning on having children and don't listen to the people saying don't go with an unlicensed provider. Licensing has NOTHING to do with it. I've had people come to me for YEARS after terrible experiences in licensed home. Licensing is just that...it's something between the provider and the state that supposedly demonstrates the providers fitness and the homes safety. But there are great providers in both camps and there are bad providers in both camps.

I could go on and on :) If you want to see what kinds of things a provider thinks about, let me know and I'll send you my link to my blog :)

Great advice so far, but honestly follow your gut! I'm starting to look myself, and I've talked to two directors. Both were eager to talk about their program/center, they knew the questions most asked by parents and what they needed me to know about (drop off times, pick up times, nap time, just various policies, etc.)

If you live near a college or university, definitely check them out. They are often staffed by educators and students studying to be educators. Also, they are often NAEYC Accredited (National Association for the Education of the Young Child), and that is huge!