5 Signs of a Quality Childcare Center
Posted by Danielle Terlonge on Thu, Jan 13, 2011
Picking a childcare center for your child can be a stressful and difficult experience. No matter what center you choose, make sure you go visit it and look for these things:
5. You see children who are happy.
Children are too innocent to understand that they should perform for visiting, potential clients. If the children in the classrooms are happy, learning, and having fun, then chances are that is how the classroom environment is all the time.
4. Teachers are involved and aware.
You are looking for a childcare center that is able to provide quality care for your child(ren). That means that you want someone to take the best possible care for your baby, and a teacher who knows what is going on in his and her classroom, even while welcoming you is one who is a master of classroom activity.
3. The center is clean.
Dirt is a turn off for everyone, especially if that dirt is in an area where your child will be for a long period of time. Sure, many children come through a classroom in a day, but a quality program still cleans and sanitizes to make sure the classroom is clean and safe for children. Children themselves should also be clean - no dirty faces, snotty noses.
2. There is a structure to the classroom.
Children need structure in their day. Every classroom is run differently, but children should know "We sing songs, practice writing our name, play in sensory table, then go outside." To be comfortable in a classroom, children need to know what is going on. This allows them to participate, but also feel like they are a part of a classroom community.
1. You feel comfortable.
Ultimately, the choice of childcare center is yours and yours alone. Since you are the best parent your child could have, you need to go with your instincts. If the center seems like it would not be a good setting for your child, then do not torture you or your child by spending a day there. However, make sure you give the center a chance before you decide it is not for you (especially if it is the only center you have ever seen)!
