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Step 1
The involvement of the family. One of the things that you must look into is if the daycare promotes the involvement of the other family members. A good daycare centre will include family members in the decision making body of the daycare centre. They will encourage family members to become volunteers as well. They daycare centre will also listen to the inputs that these family members will bring into regarding daycare centre policies. Make sure to stay away from those daycare centres that practices open door system that allows a parent to visit his or her child anytime they want. A very good daycare centre program will have the means to update you periodically with how your child is developing.
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Step 2
The physical setting of the daycare centre. You will have to make sure that the environment where the daycare is located is clean, clutter free and safe for the children to move around in. You should include in your evaluation of these daycare centres that the atmosphere must be bright, welcoming and very colourful. The interior design of the daycare centre must have the children in thought. This means that everything in it must be applicable to the children like the furniture must not be those made for adults but for children. Even the bathrooms must be adapted to the size of these children. Those shelves where children pout their bags, books and toys in must not be too high for them as much too high shelving might prove dangerous to these children. Then, look for specific areas that are designated for a particular usage. Like all those areas that are easily messed up, like the play area, must be ideally placed near a sink. Then those areas for quiet moments like nap time must be located away from where the toys are kept.
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Step 3
The staff. You definitely have to make time to talk to the staff and find out their personalities. If you have the time, then it is a big plus that you be able to observe the staff while they are at work. Knowing how they handle and react to children will definitely prove to be very instrumental when you make your choice. The staff should be warm and caring in dealing with these children. If you find out that the ratio between children and staff is very low, then that is a good thing to consider. The smaller the group of children being handled by a staff member, then the care given to your child will be more personal.
