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Asking the right questions will give you the ability to properly evaluate the child care center. It is important that you ask each center the same questions so that you can do an accurate comparison of each program.  Start by calling and interviewing the person in charge to gather some general information regarding cost, experience level of staff, child to staff ratio.  Next, rank the centers based on what you have heard with 1 being the highest.  Now you are ready to arrange a visit to the center.  It is important to visit more than once and at different times of the day.   This will allow you to see procedures, activities and staff-child interactions.  Bring your child with you to see their reaction.  Always visit more than one center so that you can do an accurate comparison.  In the end trust your intuition.

Key questions that a parent should ask are as follows:

• Is the center state licensed?  Look for the license.

• Is the center accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)?

• Have background checks been conducted on the staff?

• Have the staff received CPR training?

• What are the emergency procedures regarding immediate care for child and parent contact? Is there a written manual?

• What health and safety measures do they take?  Is the place child-proofed? Is the playground fenced in?  Are all hazardous materials out of reach of children?  Are windows and doors securely locked? Do members of the staff wash hands regularly?  Is the facility regularly inspected?

• What is the staff turnover rate?

• Who is the contact person for the center if you have a problem or question?

• How do you communicate with parents?

• What is the philosophy of the center and its staff? 

• What is the child-staff ratio?

• What is the age range of children?

• How many years do the children stay at the center?

• Is there supervision at all times including nap time?

• What activities are provided?

• What is the time for structured vs. unstructured play?

• Do they ever take children off-site?

• How do they handle diapering and toilet training?

• How is feeding handled?

• What are the fees for service?

• How long has the center been in business?

• Do stated fees cover all costs or will there be hidden charges?

• What is the payment policy?

• What are the policies if the child is sick?

• How is vacation handled?

• What is earliest for drop off and latest for pick up -- are schedules flexible?

• Can parents drop in anytime?

It is not necessary to ask all of these questions it is simply a guideline to help you.  You may have others that you fell need to be addressed.  What's important is that you feel extremely comfortable with the child care center and its staff.  The right day care center will help your child to develop interests, learn new skills and  teach them to interact with other children.  However, always remember that it should be a positive, fun, loving, experience for your child!