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??? Daycare Questions ???

© Marie-Helen Goyetche

You now have the need to find a daycare for your child. Where are you going to find the daycare? What are some of the things you should at when looking for a daycare? Use the following checklist to jot down notes when calling and touring new daycares. Even if the first one you visit gives you a good feeling, visit at least three daycares to give you a sense of what's going on in the daycare environment.

Step 1 Phone Pre-screening:
Daycare name:
address:
phone number:
Director:
Business hours:
cost weekly:
daily:
place available for:
recommended by:
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Step 2 The First Visit (preferably with spouse or alone but without child)
Greeting
[ ] Do you like the way you were greeted?
[ ] Do they have an open door policy for parents?
[ ] Is there a parent bulletin board to let you know what's happening in the dayacre?

Licensing
[ ] Is the daycare registered with the state? What's the permit number?
[ ] Are the educators certified or have diplomas in early childhood education?
[ ] Does the staff have their first-aid certificates up-to-date?
[ ] Do they have a parent board or parents committee?

Environment
[ ] Was the indoor temperature adequate?
[ ] Was there air circulating or did it seem stuffy?
[ ] Does the daycare smell clean?
[ ] Is the room well lit?
[ ] Are the toys washed on a regular bases?
[ ] Are the bathroom clean?
[ ] Are there gates in front of the stairways?
[ ] Is there a fenced backyard with outdoor toys and climbing structures?

Educators and Other Staff
[ ] Are these adults interacting pleasantly with the children? [ ] Are the educators friendly and full of life?
[ ] Can you hear songs and music?

Health and Safety
[ ] Are the lunches and snacks prepared on site?
[ ] Is the menu posted?
[ ] Menu's based on a the 4 food groups: meat, fruits, vegetables and dairy ?
[ ] Do they have fried food and offer junk food?
[ ] Can you see if children have allergies? How are they handled? [ ] Do they offer a snack in the morning and one in the afternoon? [ ] Did you see first-aid kits?
[ ] Did you see fire extinguishers and fire escape plans?

Activities
[ ] Are there weekly themes such as seasons, animals, holidays... [ ] Do they encourage running, jumping, dancing and moving their bodies? [ ] Do they encourage drawing, cutting, painting, and gluing? [ ] Do they have puzzles, story books and have more toys than not enough?

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