When choosing a day care center there are quite a few aspects worth considering, which can make the task somewhat overwhelming. In this article we will outline a few choice steps to help you find the right day care for you!
When choosing a day care center there are quite a few aspects worth considering,
which can make the task somewhat overwhelming. In many cases there isn’t enough time available to investigate every concern a parent has. However, taking the time to figure out your priorities beforehand is a tactic which can alleviate a bit of hassle and cut down on the stresses involved. In this article we will outline a few choice steps to help you find the right day care for you!
Step 1 – Outline a few conditions for yourself: What is your available budget? If you’re simply working in order to pay off gas, child care, and food, you need to make sure that keeping a day job is really the best course of action. It may be a good idea to stay at home if at all possible. If money is not an issue, then simply set your financial parameters.
Step 2 – Look at you job position. Does your work allow you to leave in order to care for your children? If not, do you have access to someone reliable as a backup? All children catch childhood illnesses at some point or another. It’s a good idea to be prepared.
Step 3 - Make a list of various day care centers in your immediate area, and build them into a simple spreadsheet. Make categories outlining cost, travel time, training/licensing, staff to child ratio, food, security, and any other aspects you would like addressed.
Step 4 – Call each center on your list and inquire about the topics you’ve outlined. Make sure to find out about late fees, sick days, and anything extra pertaining to fees and charges. Find out what activities are offered, whether there is an outdoor area, nap time, or teaching offered.
Step 5 – Visit potential centers. Set up a time to walk through with a supervisor and take a tour of the facility. You can even bring your child to get a feel for whether they enjoy the environment or not. If you like what you see, consider popping in for a second, unannounced visit to see how they operate without the expectation of guests. Talk with the staff and note how they interact with the children. Are they friendly? Do the children seem to enjoy themselves?
Step 6 – Go through and cross out any options that have proved unacceptable or out of your price range.
Step 7 – Once you’ve obtained all the information you can, sit down and compare your finalists. By this point in time, you should have a pretty good idea of where you’ll be headed. Trust your gut instinct and do what you feel would best benefit your child.
