Day Care
Finding a daycare that both you and your kid enjoy is no easy task. As a working parent you have to find a place that offers all the flexibility, activities, and availability you want, while also making sure your child feels comfortable.
When choosing a daycare you need to look at multiple aspects of the facility:
- What is the adult to child ratio?
- What are the emergency procedures?
- How many group activities are there per day?
- How clean are the facilities?
- Is there a nap time?
- What are the payment plans?
- Are the payment plans and availability flexible?
If you are looking at a daycare and do not see posted on the wall some sort of emergency procedure then you need to make sure to ask. If the daycare you are looking at does not have an emergency plan, or if the supervisor you are talking to simply doesn’t know it, you need to leave!
Also, do not undervalue first impressions. If, when you walk into a daycare, you do not feel warm and fuzzy feelings, chances are you will not feel comfortable leaving your child there. Keep an eye out for peeling paint, broken toys, food left out, etc. If you notice any of these things, be immediately wary of the daycare.
Home Daycares vs. Public Daycares
Some daycares are in a public building, while others are based in a home. There is no right or wrong when choosing which facility it best for your children, but there are differences you should know about before making your decision.
- Home daycares do usually boast smaller groups of children, which offers more attention to your child.
- Home daycares tend to be more affordable than public daycares.
- Home daycares are just that… at a home. Therefore, they tend not to be as catty when it comes to being a few minutes late, or charging extra for holiday coverage, etc.
- Most home daycare facilitators do not have formal childcare or early education training like most public daycare supervisors do.
- Licensing requirements for home daycares as opposed to childcare center are far less stringent.
- Most home daycares are run by only one or two people, so if that person gets sick or is unable to watch your child you might be out of luck.
