How to Conduct a Parent Interview for Family Daycare

The right mix of students in a day care helps make days flow smoother.

Running a family daycare center, especially one which is owned and operated by one person, involves being just as selective about the children accepted in to the program as whether or not parents opt to use your services. Conducting proper and thorough parent interviews is an integral part of the process, one which will help you better understand the family dynamics of the child or children entering in to your facility.

Things You'll Need

• Marketing material for your day care
• List of routine day care events and occurrences

Instructions

1. Create a parent information binder regarding all relevant information about the day care. List the times the day care is in operation and note extra hours as available and clearly note the additional costs associated with extended day care services. Disclose tuition or day care costs up front, so parents can clearly see what your firm charges. Include additional items about the day care such as a daily schedule of tasks and events and a listing of policies, procedures and regularly scheduled events. Compile and include as much material as possible to help parents understand exactly how your day care is operated.

2. Invite parents to tour your day care facility once they have shown interest in using your services. Be clear in requesting children not be present during the meeting. You will need to focus your attention on the parents in order to make the most of your time during the initial meeting.

3. Tour the parents throughout your facility and point out all the key areas. Show parents the nap area, feeding area, group play area ad individual play area. Show the parents the outside of the facility as well. Give each parent a notebook and pencil so they can take notes for use after the walking tour is complete.

4. Sit down and discuss concerns or questions the parents have based on the tour of the facility. Take your own set of notes, making sure to log the questions asked and how you responded. note body language and keep a record of any body language or mannerisms which may be of cause for concern. Use your best judgement, along with natural instinct, to determine at the conclusion of the first meeting whether you will be inviting the parents, along with the child or children, back to tour as a family. Arrange for the subsequent meeting and note in your calendar.

5. Tour the facility a second time with the parents and children. Walk behind the family and allow the parents to explain the facility to the child as you observe. Take notes regarding the attitude and interaction of the child in relation to the parents.

6. Place the child or children in one of the play areas of the facility and take the parents to the other side of the room. Discuss with the parents the wishes and goals the parents have for placing the child in day care. Ask the parents to share with you any issues, behavioral, physical or emotional, which the child may have. Discuss a game plan on how you and the parents will work together to provide the best day care experience for the child.

Tips & Warnings

• Have prepared, before the parent meeting, a set of questions to ask the parents. Ask questions about the hours of service they require, the structure of the household and how the parents heard about your facility.

• Do not ask sensitive or overtly personal questions during the parent interview process unless issues have been brought up by the parents.

References

• Pamm's House: Family Child Care Portfolio & Interview
• The Green Fish Chronicles: Do You Interview Parents or Do They Just Interview You?
• ChildCare.net: Tips For Interviewing Families In Home Child Care