How to Interview a Childcare Provider

Planning to put your child into day care can be a stressful thing to do. It is hard to be able to instantly trust someone to take care of your baby. You can make this process a lot simpler if you are prepared to ask them the right questions to see if they are suited to watch your child.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• questions
• resources

1. Visit the child care provider during the hours of operation. While this would not be the time to interview them, you will be able to witness some of the activities that your child will be doing during the day. Ask for a sample schedule of activities that they will be doing during the typical day.

2. Set up an opportunity for a one on one interview. This is a time that your family can sit down with the person who will be providing the care for your child can sit down and ask and answer questions. You can find out a lot about their personality during this interview.

3. Find out the provider's rates, and what is included with it. Some will provide meals but require you bring diapers and wipes, some do not. Find out what is expected of you and let them know what you expect of them.

4. Check on their history. If they are a licensed daycare facility, you can call the county that they are located in and check to see if they have any complaints. If there were any complaints, follow up with the provider to find out more about the situation.

5. Ask for a trial period. Ask the daycare provider before signing up in a contract for a trial period. This would be an opportunity for your family to see if it would work for everyone. Be expected to pay for this period, but at least you would not be roped into a long contract if it didn't work out.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a lot of questions.

[mpoppins23]

on 9/16/2008 thanks for the tips and good ideas.