How to Choose a Great Daycare

You might think choosing a great daycare for your child is difficult, but with a little time and the steps below, you will find it isn't that hard to accomplish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pencil and paper

1. The first step in choosing a good daycare is to make some phone calls and set up appointments for tours. Look in your local phonebook, in the newspaper, and online for daycare advertisements. A good online source is Craigslist.

2. Next, you need to grab pencil and paper and go to each daycare for a tour. Ask questions about the curriculum they use, the teachers and their education, the food program, and anything else you consider important. Observe the cleanliness of the daycare, how teachers interact with children, and the what kinds of toys and equipment that the children are using. Write this all down along with your impressions. Visit each daycare center you are interested in and then go home and think about what you saw.

3. After you have narrowed down your choices, take another tour at a different time than the original one. Ask about anything you do not understand or are unsure of. Go home and think about it again. You may want to call the Better Business Bureau to inquire about complaints, if any.

4. Make your final choice and enroll your child. Don't be afraid to stop by occasionally, unannounced, to see how you child is doing. You and your child should both feel comfortable with the building and staff. If you are still uncomfortable after a few weeks then it may mean that you need to keep searching.

Tips & Warnings

• If daycares makes you uncomfortable, try finding a babysitter to care for your child at home.
• Visiting your child occasionally in the daycare center for the first few weeks will help you both transition easier.
• Daycare centers should have an open-door policy. If they object to your visit, consider that a red flag!

Resources

• Preschool activities