November 12, 2021 – Choosing childcare for your children can be an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you start with the right questions and expectations, you will minimize the risk of disappointment and ensure that you and your children receive the care that you need and deserve. Here’s a checklist to help you assess potential providers and their ability to meet your family’s needs.

1) Start Your Research Early

One of your first steps in evaluating toddler daycare providers should be to do some preliminary research. If you’ve narrowed down your search to a few possible candidates, Google them. Look for reviews, testimonials, and general information about each center you’re considering. Of course, ask people who have children at any potential center for their own recommendations—it’s no substitute for firsthand knowledge, but it can help separate good options from bad ones. It can also give you an idea of what each facility offers in terms of extras like swimming lessons or foreign language classes. You may even want to consider comparing rates or asking if they provide any discounts or scholarships that could potentially offset their cost once your child enters kindergarten.

2) Prepare For Observations

The best way to prepare for childcare provider observations is to be prepared. How can you do that? Do a little legwork ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time to ask questions, visit facilities and explore your options. Educate yourself about licensing requirements, too. You might want to consider a training course or learning more about your state’s Department of Human Services rules and regulations concerning childcare centers. And if you have children who have special needs, it’s important that you understand those needs as well as how those special needs will be accommodated in an infant daycare facility.

3) Ask About Reporting Methods

Many states have requirements about when, how, and to whom you must report suspected abuse or neglect. Ask your provider what their reporting practices are and how they follow such protocols. If you’re uncomfortable with their response, keep looking. A good fit in childcare goes beyond convenience and cost; it should feel safe and trustworthy, too. Also, talk to other parents in your community who use childcare services to get a sense of what’s typical in your area and if providers report anything out of line — like kids who seem afraid of adults or developmentally out-of-sync children. Keep in mind that every child is different; if something doesn’t seem right with one child, it may be nothing at all to worry about – or a sign that there’s a problem worth addressing immediately.

4) Enquire About the Food, Education & Fun Activities

A lack of detailed information about a program’s food, education, and fun activities is a red flag. An appropriate program should be able to describe in detail what type of activities they will be doing with your child and how they will stimulate their learning. They should also be able to provide examples of educational material and materials used for fun so you can see that education is an important part of their approach. You shouldn’t have to wonder whether or not your child will get an enriching experience while under their care—the answer should be clear from the information provided by prospective providers. In addition, if a provider cannot provide detailed answers to these questions, chances are there are things going on in their center that they aren’t sharing with you.

5) Review References

References can help give parents an idea of how a Bermuda Dunes daycare provider operates. Ask your child’s teacher, doctor, and other professionals who interact with your children if they’d be willing to provide a recommendation or letter of reference. If there are any red flags that come up as you’re getting to know a childcare provider, trust your gut and trust those references. Some people will give glowing recommendations on request even if they have concerns about a particular caregiver—that doesn’t mean you should ignore those concerns.

Contact

Susy’s Family Childcare
41755 Brownstown Dr, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203
(760) 565-7799
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://susysfamilychildcare.com/

Media Contact
Company Name: Susy’s Family Childcare
Contact Person: Armando Bonila
Email: Send Email
Phone: (760) 565-7799
Address:41755 Brownstown Dr
City: Bermuda Dunes
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: https://susysfamilychildcare.com/