What Should You Look For In A Daycare For Your Child?
Quality daycare isn't cheap, nor is it always easy to procure a spot for your child since many other parents are also looking for daycare. You'll want to make sure you make a good decision right from the start so that you're not caught in a bind down the road. However, it can be hard to know which daycare will be the best fit for you. Once you find a daycare center that fits your schedule and budget, what else should you look for? Here are just five factors to watch for as you're touring facilities.
Ideal Teacher-Child Ratio
One of the biggest concerns you probably have is how to ensure that your child gets enough individual attention. How many children would be overwhelming for the center and create a chaotic environment for your child? The answer depends on the age of your child. If you're placing an infant, the number of infants that should be in a group together is going to be fewer than preschool-aged children.
Educational Opportunities
Something you'll want to ask about is how much education is involved at the daycare. Obviously, unstructured playtime is crucial to children's development, but you'll also want your child to start learning as well. Will the daycare teach your toddler colors and shapes? Do they talk about and practice social skills such as sharing and raising hands to ask questions? Will preschoolers be taught letters or how to write their names? Do they use any curriculums? No matter how much you prioritize educational opportunities from daycare, it's good to know what to expect.
Outside Time
Kids aren't meant to be cooped up all day. There are so many benefits to children playing outside, such as better physical health, opportunities to learn about and appreciate nature, getting enough vitamin D from the sun, and more. When you're looking into daycares, don't forget to look for playgrounds and other areas outside where children can play. Find out how often your child will get to play outside—the more the better!
Very Limited Screentime
Perhaps this goes without saying, but you definitely don't want to pay for your child to watch movies all the time. Find out the daycare's policy on screentime. Ideally, it would only be used occasionally as a fun treat for the children.
Cleanliness
When you're touring daycare facilities, don't forget to pay attention to the cleanliness. While any place with multiple young children is not going to be perfectly clean every second of the day, you should be able to tell the difference between a bit of clutter and a serious cleanliness problem. Is there dust buildup in the corners and windowsills? How does the room smell? You should ask about the sanitization of toys and surfaces and find out how often that happens. You want to send your child to a daycare that takes their hygiene as seriously as you do.
Your child will spend a great deal of time in the daycare you choose, so make sure you make a good choice by considering these important factors. Contact daycare centers in your area for more information.