Does the home feel inviting and homely? Child Care: Day Care Safety Checklist What to look for when visiting prospective day care centers and family day care homes. Supervision and Safety Questions. Step #3: Legal structure. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. (Settings where parents are on the premises are excluded). My husband and I are trying to find one. Quality programs have smaller teacher/child ratios and limit group sizes. Some things to ask about: Hours of operation (evenings, weekends, holidays) Costs and available financial assistance and discounts; Meals; Transportation for children needing part-time care; Policies regarding sick children and emergencies ☐ Schedule an in-person visit. visit the Arizona Department of Health Services, Teachers and caregivers who know how to work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, Positive, nurturing relationships that give young kids the individual attention they need, Learning environments that encourage creativity and imaginative play, Hands-on activities that stimulate and encourage positive brain connections in children, Caregivers who provide regular feedback to parents on the development of their child, Hours of operation (evenings, weekends, holidays), Costs and available financial assistance and discounts, Transportation for children needing part-time care, Policies regarding sick children and emergencies. Bring this list of 20 questions to your daycare tours to make sure you get the most out of your visit.. Every family has different needs, so what’s most important to you will vary depending on you and your child.Before your visit, consider your ideal answers to these questions. You might want to find out how long the director and heads of nursing, food, and social services departments have worked at the nursing home. Find out as much as you can about a care home to help you to make an informed choice. Regardless of the differences in size and activities, school buildings and your daycare facility share an important responsibility to children: making sure their surroundings are clean and healthy. Quality early learning settings build on basic health and safety to include: All of these elements combined make a child care environment that prepares children for kindergarten. Don't be afraid to ask questions. That approved (licensed) care does NOT guarantee safe, good child care. As a parent, finding the right daycare for your child is so important. The classroom staff should be highly experienced and knowledgeable. ☐ How does the program deal with children with challenging behavior? What type of child care is best for my child? Child care providers will be subject to different types of inspections over the course of her career, likely occurring once a year each but at different times. The second checklist is longer, with additional questions that you will want to ask when interviewing potential child care programs. Caring for our Children Basics is the result of work from both federal and non-federal experts and is founded on Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, Third Edition. 38Research-based Indicators for High-Quality Care, LocalChild Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies Search Form  â€‹â€‹, The National Association for the Education of Young Children, The National Association for Family Child Care â€‹, "When to Keep Your Child Home from Child Care"​, National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations​, Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards, Caring for Our Children Basics: Health and Safety Foundations for Early Care and Education, Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, Third Edition. A quick checklist. What to look for in a childcare centre. Art /writing materials and musical instruments, Textured materials, such as sand and water. Knowing the key elements of quality can help you make an informed decision when choosing a child care or preschool setting for your family. What questions to ask on an interview. Are children encouraged to work together to resolve differences or conflicts? The Division recommends that parents make multiple visits to facilities to gain a first hand knowledge of the child care program. Your Childcare Safety Checklist Below is a safety checklist for children’s daycare that Gerber Life Insurance Company has put together to assist parents. Caring for our Children Basics represents the minimum health and safety standards experts believe should be in place where children are cared for outside of their homes. Also look at the radiator itself. A milky or rusty color will give an indication of a problem with the radiator. Make sure your child does not have a sore throat or other signs of illness, like a cough, diarrhea, severe headache, vomiting, or body aches. Have your basic research about the different day care centres in place. Science materials, like plants, funnels, magnifying glasses, etc. Maximum group size? All rights reserved. ​. Quality Checklist for Choosing Child Care, Education in Quality Improvement for Pediatric Practice (EQIPP), APLS: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Resource, Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professional (PEPP), Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers and Teachers (PedFACTS), Advancing Pediatric Educator Excellence (APEX) Teaching Program, Quality Infant and Toddler Child Care Matters​, AAP policy: Quality EarlyEducation and Child Care: From Birth to Kindergarten, Is This the Right Place for My Child? Are the care home and grounds well maintained? Use this choosing a daycare checklist and make sure all pointers are covered in your final pick! Keep talking. Checklists . ☐ How do you keep families informed about your program and their children’s progress? Quality begins with basic health and safety. Are items from the classroom brought outdoors to be played with? The facility director should be highly educated and demonstrate experience in early... Educated/ highly trained classroom staff. ☐ What is your ratio of teachers to children? Depending on each child's needs, benefits of high quality child care can include: Enhanced brain growth and child development, Greater success in school (better math and language skills), Better cognition, social skills, interpersonal relationships, and self-regulation, Decreased need for special education and related services later, Lower adolescent pregnancy rates and lower juvenile crime. Look into getting a Limited Liability Company that way, your business will be a separate entity. Does the teacher plan lessons and experiences for the children that help them learn and grow? We've listened to parents and the following list is a great starting point when you’re visiting a centre. When you're visiting a potential site, pay attention to how the staff interacts with the children. Ideally, a caregiver should be on the ... 2. ☐ How does the program deal with children with challenging behavior? Is there an outdoor play area, with shade, that is used daily? Does the director have a bachelor’s … It’s important to know what to look for and which aspects of the centre matter most to you. A Checklist To Help Rate Your Choice "Is This the Right Place for My Child? Is there ample space and materials to encourage play and learning within the children’s reach, including: © 2019 First Things First. Do kids move freely from activity to activity? Ask Yourself. Use this daycare center cleaning checklist to streamline your efforts. Bad smells might indicate a problem; good ones might hide a problem. How to differentiate between good and shoddy care. Child Care . Emergency . A day care centre referred by someone known is a good option to consider as opposed to a Google search suggestion. 11 months ago; Faylinn. Quality providers will welcome a visit from you and your child during normal hours of operation. In mixed-age group settings, check these guidelines by the age of the youngest child in the group. © Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, ask the staff to explain any strong odors. Do caregivers respond promptly to crying babies? Check if the home currently has any vacancies. To find out if such a program’s license is in good standing, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services. Providers on tribal lands or military bases may have their own licensing or certification requirements. The daycare isn’t licensed or it’s expired. Experience working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers as well as training or college coursework in early childhood development and education lead to quality adult/child interactions. ☐ How do you keep families informed about your program and their children’s progress? I appreciated that you explained that you should ask how much outdoor time the children would get at the childcare centers you are planning to check-out. Choosing a day care centre may not be rocket science but the constant worry of, “Am I providing the best for my child?” comes with the package. Ask your pediatrician or primary care provider what he or she recommends. Pretend play area with puppets, costumes, etc. Lead staff... Licensing… The National Association for the Education of Young Children, Find Accredited Family Child Care Homes:The National Association for Family Child Care â€‹, How do I know if my child is too sick to attend child care?Visit the "When to Keep Your Child Home from Child Care"​ page.​. Ask for a commitment. 1. … The Ultimate Daycare Cleaning Checklist: 5 Ways to Stay Organized. ☐ What is your ratio of teachers to children? Is the teacher at eye level with the kids when they are interacting? Convenient Location. Maximum group size? Making an informed decision. When you find a care home that seems suitable, you can visit it more than once. Did you Check References? Quality programs have steps in place to prevent disruptions, communicate with the child, redirect the child, and communicate with the family. A parent’s instinct, good judgment and research remain best. Enrollment refers to compliance with mandated adult: child ratios, license capacity, etc. Children should never be left alone and should always be within sight and sound of teachers. Are the rooms attractive and well decorated? There are a variety of ways you can learn about national and state standards to better understand the guidelines that your child's program operates under. 15. Are the children supervised at all times? Are babies placed on their backs to sleep? 4. Choosing a child care setting for your infant, toddler or preschooler is a big decision, and quality is one of the most important factors to consider. Quality child care doesn't just happen. At this point, it’s also good to see how much other child care businesses are charging. ☐ Call the program director or child care home provider. Almost everyone who works and has children too young to attend school--or school-aged children who need care before and after school--uses some type of childcare. Check to make sure you have the correct amount of supervision and are within the specifics of your licensed capacity each day you are operating.. Does the centre offer: Warm water is more likely to leach lead out of old pipes and puts children at higher risk for lead poisoning. Most families use a combination of care arrangements to meet all of their needs; the best child care arrangements are those that work best for you, your child, and your family. A good daycare center should have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and be known for its nurturing environment. Carehome.co.uk’s checklist will help you think about the care homes you visit, areas to consider and questions you may like to ask before making a choice. Specialized child care for children with special health needs. Do you think you would like to go play there? Look down. Is the teacher interacting with children during activity times indoors and outdoors? These determine the level of care and attention your child may receive. When care is consistent, emotionally supportive, and appropriate to the child's age, development, and temperament, there is a positive effect on children and families. Ask if the program uses only cold water for drinking and cooking. You will want to see the children interacting with teachers and caregivers, so ask about particular times of day to avoid, such as early morning, late afternoon or nap time. Before visiting a home, take these key steps: Make sure the home provides the level of care you need or could need in the future. Drop by and spy. It’s meant as a guide to the kinds of things that parents may want to look for to help guard against injuries. Use of Caring for our Children Basics is not a federal requirement. Does the teacher make eye contact with the children, smile and listen without interrupting? Ask the provider for more information. Look for quality child care options online: Find the Closest Child Care Resource and Referral Agency:LocalChild Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies Search Form  â€‹â€‹, Find Accredited Child Care Centers: (If your baby is younger than 12 months, this may be of special concern.) Read more: 5 daycare problems solved Daycare germs: What you need to know How to prepare your baby for daycare If you are looking for a childcare worker to care for your children, you'll want to be sure that he or she has certain characteristics. Do you hear the kids talking more than the teacher? How do I find quality child care in my area?To find out what the quality child care options in your area are: Ask people in your neighborhood or at work who care for their children. First impressions. I think this list will help with that. Before you interview and tour a potential daycare, read this post on the top questions and checklist for choosing a daycare. To find this out, ask the daycare for their license number and then do a little detective work online. Your first concerns are your child’s safety, health and welfare. 10 Important Things to Look for in a Daycare 1. Also, be mindful of your first impression: In this case it counts a lot. What to Look for in a Daycare Director education and experience. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) also published Caring for Our Children Basics: Health and Safety Foundations for Early Care and Education. What did you like best about the classroom? Quality programs should offer you a copy. Are kids playing either together or side-by-side? This checklist will help you recognize the key elements of quality and make a more informed decision when choosing a child care or preschool setting for your child. Checklist for Quality Child Care QUALITY CHECKLIST For Evaluating Early Learning Programs the right one. Enrollment Checklist for Childcare Licensing. What are the laws, regulations, and standards that licensed child care centers and family child care homes should follow?The AAP has collaborated with other key national organizations to determine national recommended standards and guidelines​ for child care programs. 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