Tips on How to Find a Quality Daycare Center

Finding a quality daycare center can be hard. How do you know you can trust your daycare center to take care of your children? The last thing you want to do is leave your child with care providers who are unqualified, or worse, negligent. 

But how do you go about screening the daycare centers in your area to ensure that they’re the right fit for you and your children?

Luckily, you don’t have to start your search empty-handed. We know how hard it can be to start the search for a quality daycare center. That’s why we’ve created this list of the top tips for finding the right daycare centers. 

Click here to learn more about us should you be looking for a unique, fun environment for your children to learn and play in.

Word of Mouth is Key 

The internet is undoubtedly the place where you find all of your recommendations. And while starting your search on the internet is a good idea, don’t let your search end there. 

Ask your friends who have children who their daycare provider is. If you don’t have any friends with kids, join a few local mom groups on Facebook and ask the question in the group. 

When it comes to good-quality childcare, people will want to spread the word. And if someone has a bad experience with a daycare you’re looking at, you’re going to want to know about it. 

Ask For a Tour

Once you have a few names of quality daycare centers, you should give them a call and ask if they’re accepting new children. If so, ask for a tour. 

When you go for a tour, there are a few things you should watch out for. 

How Does the Provider Greet You

Take your child with you on the tour. How does the host of the tour greet you? Do they only speak to you or do they spend time greeting your child as well? 

These first impressions can be very telling about how your chosen provider will handle dealing with your child on a day-to-day basis. 

Ask About the Hiring Process and Staff Turnover

Ask about the background clearances of the staff. Do all the adults have them? All state-licensed daycare centers must have proof that all adult staff members and volunteers have passed a background check. 

If the daycare center is in-home, they must have background clearances on every adult that lives in the house. 

Also, ask if the daycare center has a high turnover rate. If the staff is constantly evolving, it could be a sign of poor management.

Your child will (and should) develop attachments to their care providers. If the daycare center has a rotating door of new staff coming in and out, it will mean less time spent on your child and more time spent training new people. 

Check for Cleanliness

Ask about their cleaning procedures. How often do they clean the toys? Do they sanitize them regularly? 

In addition to the toys, check any water fountains, cubby areas, and the bathrooms for signs of regular cleaning. It’s no secret that kids are messy. But if multiple places in the center are in disarray, it could be a sign that they’re not getting cleaned regularly. 

Ask About the Sickness Policy and Hand Washing

What is the policy for handling sick children? 

Children pick up and spread germs like wildfire. They transfer colds, runny noses, stomach aches, and even the flu. Children develop solid immune systems eventually, but you can expect to bring home a myriad of illnesses in the first few months of daycare. 

Make sure that the daycare follows a strict sick child policy. Ask them how they monitor and encourage handwashing throughout the day, as well. 

Outdoor Play Equipment and Guidelines

Does the center offer outdoor play equipment? Is it in good repair? How often do the children get outside? 

Outdoor play is a critical part of quality daycare centers. Ask the center what conditions it considers too extreme to allow your child to play in. 

How is Discipline Handled

You must talk to the daycare center about how they handle discipline. Make sure it is in line with your core parenting values. 

Make sure they use lots of positive reinforcement and interaction to encourage your child to behave appropriately for school. No daycare center worker should ever hit or strike a child. 

What Does the Student to Teacher Ratio Look Like?

Depending on the age of your child, the student-to-teacher ratio should look a little different. Every daycare center will operate a little differently, but there are state requirements they must follow as well. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Pop In

Once you’ve decided to enroll your child in a daycare center, don’t be afraid to check in from time to time. Show up early to pick up your child and observe the way the staff behaves. Do you notice that things are out of control just before parent pick-up time? 

Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, you must trust your gut when it comes to finding a good childcare provider. If the daycare center follows all the above guidelines and seems like a great place but you still feel like something’s off, that’s a good sign that your intuition is telling you to look somewhere else. 

You’re ultimately responsible for how your child is cared for. Make sure you put them in the best place possible. 

Find a Quality Daycare Center Near You

Finding a quality daycare center doesn’t have to give you a headache. As long as you spend time thoroughly researching the center before you leap to enroll your child, you’ll have good results and your child will love the time they spend at daycare.