Finding Quality Child Care

Your child needs and deserves loving, high-quality attentive care from you and all other caregivers. It’s a good idea to look at several child care centers or family child care homes before choosing one. When you visit each place, look around and ask a lot of questions.

Ask these questions of the Child Care Center…

• Licensing: Is it registered or licensed?
• Inspection: Is it inspected by the state of Florida?
• Parental visiting: Are parents encouraged to visit their children? Are parents always welcome?
• Small groups: How large are the groups? How many children is each teacher responsible for?
• Indoor play area: How large is the play area?
• Outdoor play area: Are children taken outside to play each day? Is the playground safe?
• Discipline policy: How will your child be disciplined?

About the caregivers…

• Good character: Do they have good character references? Are background checks made before they are hired?
• Good health: Do they look and act energetic and in good health?
• Personality: Do they seem to enjoy the children? Do they set a good example in the way they talk to and treat others and get down on the floor and interact at your child’s level?
• Training: What training does the staff have?

About the Director…

• Credentials: What credential does the director have?
• Experience: How long has the director been in the child care field?
• Schedule: What hours does the director work?
• Style: Do you feel comfortable with the director’s management style?

About the care provided…

• Safe: Do caregivers always watch from close by when the children are inside and outside?
• Nurturing: Do caregivers comfort children who are sad?
• Enjoyable: Do caregivers enjoy being with children? Do the children look happy? Are there lots of smiles?
• Pleasant: Do caregivers use a pleasant tone of voice and talk a lot to the children, including babies and toddlers? Do the children talk to the caregivers?
• Stimulating: Are the children involved in activities such as games and art projects?

Once you are happy with the child care program you have chosen, encourage your child to talk with you about her experiences. Her reactions to child care will tell you if the program is right for her.

Click here for your own checklist.