Child Care Partnerships

Choosing a Child Care Provider

Your checklist

Tips for selecting a child care provider:

Ø      Visit the facility twice: once by yourself to ask questions, and once with your child to observe.

Ø      Know your state's licensing regulations. Do they include mandatory CPR and First Aid training, frequent inspections, background checks, fingerprinting and TB tests

Ø      Before you begin the search, write your "wish list" for a caregiver. Update                 

         and delete as your perceptions change. When you think you have found                 

         someone, make sure he or she fits the bill on the majority of "wish" list items.

Ø      Always check references. 

Ø      If you see parents on-site, be subtle but try to get impromptu references.

Ø      Before acceptance, ask yourself, "Do I feel completely confident with this person?"

Ø      Don't settle. Keep looking until you find the right person!

Questions to ask:

Ø      Are you registered or licensed? (Confirm this information with your local       

    DPHHS office.)

Ø      Are you willing to take one or two appropriate courses per year if 

        I pay for them?

Ø      Have you completed a basic first aid and CPR for infant, children  

        and adults course?

Ø      What background have you had in child care?

Ø      Why did you choose the field of child care?

Ø      How long have you had your own center/family/group day care?

Ø      What is the maximum number of children you will take?

Ø      How much do you charge?

Ø      Do you charge an over and above fee for state assisted child care?

Ø      Do you charge for vacations (yours and mine)?

Ø      Do you close during holidays? Am I expected to pay for those holidays?

     Ø      When do you expect payment -- on a weekly or monthly basis?

Ø      What are your hours?

Ø      Do you charge late fees?

Ø      Do you, or does anyone else in the facility, smoke?

Ø      Do you have pets?

Ø      What is your sick policy?

Ø      How do you maintain a relatively germ-free environment?

Ø      Do you have backup care if you are ill? (If the provider works by 

    herself.)

Ø      Do you provide meals? If so, how do you plan the daily menu?  

    Are you a Child and Adult Care Food Program participant?

Ø      Will any other adult be in the house during day care operating hours?

Ø      Do you have an open-door policy for parents to drop-in?

Ø      Can you describe a typical day at your center/home?

Ø      Do you plan on using television or videos?

Ø      When is naptime?

Ø      Do the children get time outdoors? If there is no yard, is a park nearby? Is it an     

    enclosed area? How will you transport the children to the park? 

Ø      How would you describe the perfect parent?

Ø      If my one-year-old drew on the wall with crayons, what would you do? (You can      

    use any question that will reveal disciplinary style and a proper understanding of    

    child development. An appropriate answer might be: "A one-year-old may not

    understand 'no,' so if she continued to do it, I would remove her from the scene  

    and distract her with another toy."

Ø      Can you tell me about a particularly challenging child and what you did to handle 

    that child? (Listen for word choice and look for other, non-verbal clues.)

Ø      Do you have written material (including contracts) for me to review?

Ø      Can you provide me with at least three references?

Important things to observe:

     Ø      Is the center/home well maintained? Are there paint chips from walls or windowsills?

Ø      How clean is the house? (Toys on the floor are acceptable, but 

    avoid unusually messy and disorganized environments.)  

Ø      Baby proofing: Is the furniture safe? Are sharp edges covered? 

    Are electrical outlets covered? If there are stairs, are safety  

    gates used? Are cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen locked? 

    Are bathroom doors kept shut?  

Ø      Are children in high chairs strapped in?

Ø      Does each child get his or her own bedding? Are sheets used in all cribs? 

     Are are napping areas left open, or will a monitor be used?  

Ø      Is the day care well lighted and cheerful?

Ø      Is the center/home a comfortable temperature?

Ø      Does the center/home have a yard with some shade?

Ø      Is the provider energetic, patient and calm around the children?

Ø      How does the provider interact with your child?

Ø      Are you happy with the number of children in the day care?

Ø      How do the children interact with one another?

Ø      How do the children interact with the provider?

Ø      Are the children happy and respectful of rules, or do they seem

    uncontrollable or unusually detached from activities?

Ø      Do you see infants that are awake and in a playpen or an infant swing for longer than a few minutes?

Ø      Are toys developmentally and age-appropriate?

Ø      Does the home/center avoid small toy parts?

Ø      Does the caregiver provide books for children?

Ø      Is there evidence of children's art projects? Is music played 

    during the day?

Ø      Paying attention to all clues, would you say the caregiver has a

    parenting philosophy similar to yours?

Ø      Explain your vision of the ideal care giving/caregiver situation.

    Observe the response.

Ø How would you describe the environment: happy, calm, hectic,      

    organized or messy? Is this a positive environment for your child?