When you consider a day care center for your child, set a high bar for quality.  Look for superior care and trained and licensed professional staff you trust. While every parent strives to find the right place for their child, many don’t know what key questions they should ask. We can help you with those questions and some of those below are a good starting place.

1. What is the center’s approach to day care? Every facility should have a clear philosophy that details how they approach caring for your child. Ask for their mission statement or other outline in writing.

2. How do they approach your child’s social development? Understand how their program encourages cooperative play, social skills and conflict resolution. Ask how they balance structured and unstructured play. Their answers will reveal much about their approach to these important parts of day care.

3. What learning methodologies do they use?  Most centers encourage learning through a variety of direct and indirect (or play-based) methods including storybook reading, counting games, and enrichment activities involving art and nature.  They should be able to clearly articulate their philosophy. 

4. How does the center keep your child safe? While most day care centers and staff take extra steps to keep your child in a protected environment, it will give you peace of mind to understand how they manage pickups, building security and emergency preparedness.

5. What reports and staff feedback will you get about your child? Quality day care facilities will have a clear communications plan to keep you informed about health, development, any problem behavior and social interaction skills.

6. Ask what you can do as a parent (or are required to do) to make the most of your child’s time under their care. Some day care centers require parental involvement. Others may have good advice for what you can do at home to augment the developmental exercises they use.