Getting your child into good childcare is crucial for their well-being. Letting them stay at home with a nanny is fine if the nanny is equipped to teach your child in addition to caring for their basic needs. But, the truth is, there are many things that contribute to a child fully developing, and that includes social interaction.
When you consider childcare, you first need to establish your goals for your child. Do you want them to be in a learning environment? Do you want them to be taken care of physically and health-wise? Do you want them to meet new friends? Do you want them to develop their character and emotional development?
Not all childcare facilities offer the same environments and services, so it’s crucial for you to decide what you want, set expectations, and see which childcare options meet those expectations.
So, what attributes accompany a high quality child care provider?
- Safe and healthy. The physical environment must be clean, organized, and properly maintained to assure the safety of your child. In addition to cleanliness, also look for safety measures, such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, emergency numbers, locks on cabinets, and no dangerous objects lying around.
- Good reputation. Ask around and get people’s feedback on your potential provider. A good reputation means that the provider has been tested and proven to be of high quality. Firsthand feedback is so important when it comes to making a decision.
- Caring staff. From the start, you can feel the energy of each staff member. You want to look for people who are warm, caring, and sensitive enough to address your child’s needs.
- Established ground rules. There should be rules implemented in the center to ensure everything is organized and everyone is following the same ideology. If the childcare provider does not have established guidelines or a mission statement of some sort, this could indicate a lack of organization and structure for your child.
- Healthy meals. Every provider offers meals to your child. You need to check their meal schedule, when foods are given to the children, what kinds of foods are provided, and how they handle the food.
- Good educational curriculum. Know what they are teaching your child. It is crucial for you to have an idea of what your child is learning and the pace they are establishing in their educational system.
- Clear communication with parents. Make sure they can properly communicate their goals, plans, and anything happening with your child and the center.