Daycare

Choosing a Daycare Center

Nothing can make a workday worse than having to worry about child care. Quell your anxiety by choosing a trustworthy and well-maintained child-care facility with our daycare checklists:

Ask around

Your first (and best) strategy for finding a reliable daycare center or sitter should be through word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask friends, family members, coworkers, your child's primary care manager (PCM) and other military moms for their recommendations.

Work with your child's personality

A daycare center or preschool that works for one child may not work for another. Visit each potential facility and sit in on the day's activities. Consider your child's temperament and social skills. Shy kids may get lost in the shuffle at a larger facility. Similarly, gregarious children may not get the stimulation they need at a center that is too small. Pick a center that will help your child grow both academically and socially.

What about academics?

Consider your academic goals for your child. Will your child learn their letters and numbers? Are there art projects? Or is the center just one big recess the whole day? Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.

The day care visit checklist

Is the facility licensed in your state?
Is the facility accredited?
Is the facility clean?
Are there age appropriate toys?
Are there guidelines for washing hands, toys and other surfaces?
Are there active and quiet play areas?
How does your child react to the environment? Do they seem comfortable there?
Is the outdoor play area fenced-in and age appropriate?
Have the caregivers had CPR and first aid training?
Does the center have written policy on discipline, snack -times, nap times, and toileting?
Are the meals that are served nutritious and well-made?
What is the policy for caring for sick children? Are they asked to stay home? Is there a separate room for monitoring the ill? How is medicine given? Is there a nurse or doctor to help with medical care? Are vaccinations required before admission?
Are there enough staff?
Are the staff on -duty for long shifts or are the kids exposed to new providers several times per day?
Are the kids split into small groups?

The Red Flag Checklist

Not all daycare facilities are reputable. If you see or experience any of the following, reconsider enrolling or continuing to enroll your child:

Your questions and concerns are not properly addressed by the staff.
Your child comes home unhappy or tells you about problems they had at daycare.
You hear other children or parents complain about the care.
There are repeated mysterious accidents.
The staff has a high turnover rate.
The facility can't give you a written copy of their operational policies.
The staff is not well-qualified and has no formal training in child-care.
The center's license is expired.
The facility has no set daily schedule. Children should have actual activities to do and not just allowed to play or watch television.