10 Step Checklist for Choosing Child Care

• In regards to child care, it really depends on what YOU feel the most comfortable with. There are pros and cons to both in-home child care and an actual child care location or center.
• When you find one, remember these 10-STEP "feelings" to look for during the first few weeks of dropping your child off and picking them up.

• 1. Are the kids engaged in something constructive? 2. Is the teacher or child care provider bending down to the kids level to speak with them? Is he/she welcoming with a hug, or nice gesture? * The day care I had my kids in most recently, there was not a day that went by that I didn't drop them off and pick them up and BOTH of their teachers gave them each a hug and said "I love you" every morning and afternoon. I really loved that and they reciprocated in return to love their teachers too. * It is extremely important that the teacher/care giver loves their job. Not b/c of the money and getting a paycheck, but b/c they have a passion for doing it. In all teachers, this DOES show and you will be able to tell just by how they communicate with you, run their classroom/home care, and interact with the kids. 4. Is the owner friendly, welcoming, and communicative? * Again, the latest day care I had my kids in here, the owner would even call me if the kids were beginning to get a slight cough, or she would call if my son wasn't napping b/c he said his head hurt. Nothing for me to worry about or reason to pick them up, but I thought as a parent that was so nice for her to be completely open and communicative with me about even the smallest things with my kids, so I trusted everyone at the school completely when/if the "big things" were to happen. 5. What are their discipline policies? Time-out, redirection, positive reinforcement? 6. What is the ratio per classroom? Typically at a school for toddlers is 9 kids to 1 teacher and preschool is anywhere between 18-20 kids per 1 teacher. Although it seems like a lot, if it is the right teacher (and I have worked with both kinds, good and bad, for that age group) - the right teacher knows how to handle all of them so it doesn't seem "so chaotic" and busy.....that is where #1 comes into play, are the kids engaged? 7. Is the environment structured consistently? If there is a routine and the teacher/school follows that routine daily so the kids know what is expected of them - this is a MUST for little kids to be in such an environment. They crave for that, and if there is no "daily schedule" (ask for this) then it may not be the place to put your kid. More importantly, just b/c it is written as their daily schedule on a piece of paper, you must make sure they actually follow/do it. 8. Voice tone. Is there a lot of screaming, crying, yelling - loud tones from the teacher and/or care giver? There is a difference between "good - having fun engaging learning" loud noise, and upset loud noise. Look for the good kind. 9. Cleanliness and organization. Is the classroom/home look clean and sanitary? Does the classroom look organized shelves, center areas, and work stations? 10. Curriculum - what are they doing to actually and age-appropriately engage your child to learn. Even at the littlest of ages (infants-toddlers), there still should be learning of shapes, colors, numbers, his name, songs, reading books, art activities, sensory activities....and so forth. If there is not a curriculum or plan for learning - that is a negative. Play is learning....but constructive play is learning with a cherry on top!

  In-Home Child Care VS School Child Care Centers, Things to know and keep in mind:

• From a teachers standpoint, some times with in-home care, having a HUGE age-range of children in one setting (such as 4 kids all between the ages 10 mo to 3 years) is DIFFICULT to actually keep structured, engaging with age-appropriate activities for each age group, and meeting the needs of all ages (b/c the needs for a 10 month old is EXTREMELY different than that of a 3 year old). Keep in mind, when the ages are separated into classrooms at a school or daycare center, that teacher can plan/focus her schedule, activities, curriculum, and nurturing needs care around that specific age group, which as a teacher makes it SO much easier to make sure the kids are all getting what they need to meet at their specific age range.
• One thing to remember about in-home that is important - make sure they are licensed by the state. Also, just a friendly reminder that I know as a parent I felt more "at ease" with knowing - when you have 1 provider that is in-home, there is no other "adult" around present from day-to-day that would be your "back up go to" when/if there was something unacceptable going on while your child is in their care. Where as, at a child care place, there are multiple adults and not all of them would let harm, misconduct, or unacceptable things happen with the children present. More than 1 adult present, does ease the mind in knowing, you have "back up" to communicate with you, watch your child, and build a relationship with. (Or so you would hope!!!)
  Even though child care places can seem more "busy" especially for little ones his age - there are, I think, a lot of pros than cons. If you look for the things mentioned above as I stated in #'s 1-10 - it is a lot easier to leave your child and make the decision of what you feel is right. Cost is one of the cons at a school center location, along with overcrowding can be a problem at some.
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  Good luck on your journey, it can be super frustrating (somewhat fun) to find exactly what you need/looking for, I know - but you will and it will all work out. Just keep your eyes open, and remember whatever you decide, your child will be just fine b/c mom & dad know best!!!