Since so many parents are working outside of the home, more and more children are spending their days being watching by child care providers. Deciding on a caregiver for your child can be one of the most important decisions you will make in their early life, so take the time to do adequate research. There are a number of child care providers to select from, so you want to be sure you find the right one for you and your child.
Watch how the child care provider interacts with the children at the facility. Look for someone who is patient and friendly with all of the kids. If the facility has any difficult or special needs children, observe how the caregiver handles them. Watching how they handle the toughest situations will give you a good idea of the type of person your child will be spending their days with. All the certifications and credentials in the world are no substitute for a warm, comforting personality when it comes to child care providers.
The child care providers should also have a regular schedule activities and options for your child to play outdoors, weather permitting. With childhood obesity at all time highs, physical activity is a priority for all children. Most likely, your child will be spending their afternoon hours at the facility, so you do not want them to be stuck sitting around inside the whole time.
Inspect the facility and make sure it appears clean and safe for your child. If you live in an area where weather is a concern, be sure the child care provider has adequate heating and air conditioning. Take note of the temperature when you walk in the building. Extremely warm or cold surroundings may increase the chances your child will come home with an illness as these climates promote the growth of germs.
Other things to look for are electrical socket guards, doorway gates, and child-proof locks on windows and doors. Be sure there are no hazardous items within reach, such as glass, hot stoves, or cleaning supplies. Most importantly, look around to see if the general environment at the child care provider’s home or nursery is a pleasant one where the children are enjoying themselves. The facility’s employees may be to present a false impression to get your business, but the children’s reactions will always tell the truth.
Talk to other parents in the neighborhood whose children attend the child care provider’s facility and ask their impressions. If the children are old enough, ask them whether they like the facility and the caregivers employed there. Children usually do not hold back in their true opinions, so you can often get some real insight this way. Finally, let your child visit the child care provider and tour the facilities. Do not force them to attend if there is something they really do not like. There are so many child care providers to choose from these days, it is not worth making your child’s daily experience unpleasant.
