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Parents would normally want the best for their children and of course this would extend to the choice of daycare center to enroll their children in. With numerous daycare centers available, choosing one carefully becomes an important task. Referrals could come from friends, the internet or newspapers. Daycare centers usually have websites with information about their location, licensing, and qualifications. The local advertisements usually include information on small family type childcare providers. The local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) office have counselors available to seek for advice regarding child care centers based on your zip code and is also a free service.

The evaluation of a child care center basically includes a careful look into its facilities, staff, and services. A visit to the facility and getting references is also a must. The following guidelines should help parents decide which daycare center to patronize.

Facilities

1. The day care center should be able to maintain cleanliness especially in the eating and play areas. The sand boxes should be clean and the toys should always be disinfected daily.

2. There should be a common bathroom available for the children to use in washing their hands before and after meals and after using the toilet.

3. The diaper changing areas should be clean at all times and proper waste disposal should be followed.

4. The toys and other materials available within the children’s reach should be non-toxic.

5. Medications and other substances that may be dangerous for children should be kept out of reach. Information on poisonous materials should also be posted.

6. The emergency plan of the building should be clearly visible to everyone and the children should be properly trained on what to do should there be an emergency. Fire, earthquake, hurricane, and tornado drills should be part of the program of the daycare. Numbers to contact in case of an emergency should be available and posted near a telephone.

7. A first aid kit should be available and fully stocked at all times.

8. The play area should be safe and clean and the playground should have a fence around it. Toys should be age-appropriate.

Staff and Services

1. The teachers and director of the facility should be qualified to run a daycare center with bachelor degrees in child care related fields. They should also have experiences in working with children for at least a year for teachers and two years for directors. The staff should also have been given background checks.

2. The facility license should be up to date and in plain sight.

3. The teacher or caregiver to student ratio should be low to maintain proper supervision at all times. Babies should be assigned at least two caregivers.

4. The children should be supervised at all times, even when they are sleeping. Children in the company of a caregiver should be in sight of another caregiver at all times.

5. The staff should be well trained in first aid and rescue breathing.

6. More importantly, the staff should be dedicated to caring for the children and helping them develop and should show a genuine love for the children.

The guidelines may be extreme but a concerned parent should be thorough in screening the daycare center to enroll their children in as this is where their children will be most of the time and where they will begin to learn important skills useful when they start school and in life in general.

See: How to start a daycare center

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Here are some of the most important things you have to make sure of when it comes to a day care center for your child.

How does it LOOK?

1. Is it clean, colorful, and in good repair?
2. Is there a safe outside place to play?
3. Is it “child proof”?
o Medicines and cleaning supplies are out of reach.
o The fire evacuation plan is satisfactory.
o Electrical outlets are covered or above children’s reach.
4. Are there different areas for each activity and are you satisfied with the amount of space for each?
5. Are there at least 35 square feet per child of usable playroom floor space inside and at least 75 square feet per child of outside play space?
6. Are there sufficient numbers and a variety of toys that will appeal to your child and that are in good condition?
7. Are the meals nutritious? Do they include foods your child will eat? (Ask to see a weekly menu.)

How does it SOUND?

1. Do the children’s voices sound happy and are they at a reasonable noise level?
2. Are the caregivers’ voices calm and caring?
3. Is there children’s music or singing at some time during the day?
4. Are the staff talking in subdued tones?

The STAFF:

1. Are the caregivers actively involved with the children, not talking to each other, doing paperwork, or other unimportant things?
2. Is good and proper hygiene being practiced by the caregivers and everyone else in the center?
3. Are the parents encouraged to make unscheduled visits?
4. Do the caregivers establish rules that children can follow?
5. Do the caregivers spend time holding and talking to the children?
6. Are the caregivers warm and friendly toward the children?
7. Do the caregivers treat each child as an individual?
8. Is there a schedule of activities posted?
9. Is the discipline fair and consistent without yelling or hitting?
10. Are the children supervised at all times?
11. Do the caregivers talk to the children frequently, pleasantly, and in a way the children can understand?

The CHILDREN:

1. Do the children seem to be comfortable, happy, and enjoying themselves?
2. Are the children encouraged to be independent, allowed to “do it myself”?
3. Is there a balanced schedule that includes active and quiet times, group and individual times, and indoor and outdoor play?
4. Are the children comforted when needed?
5. Are the children actively engaged in a variety of “hands-on” activities appropriate to their age and interests?
6. Are the children allowed to make choices among a variety of activities and learning opportunities?

How do YOU Feel?

1. Do you feel your child will be taken cared for?
2. Do you feel the home/center evoke a safe and cheerful ambiance?
3. Do you feel your child can learn here?
4. Would you feel comfortable leaving your child here?
5. Would you feel comfortable calling or visiting unannounced at any time?
6. Would you feel comfortable talking and working with the caregivers?

If, after the visit, you are considering sending your child to this center or home, ask for several references, preferably parents whose children are already enrolled in that particular center of your choice. You might also want to contact these parents and ask them about their experiences with the center/home directly.

See: How to start a daycare center

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If you love kids and have done some babysitting before you may want to open your own daycare business. Having your own daycare can be both rewarding and at the same time profitable. There are just a few things you will want to know before you get started.

It takes more than just watching the children and reading some books to handle a daycare. You will actively be taking care of two or more kids at the same time. It will involve feeding them and taking care of their every need. You would need to provide them with activities so they don’t get bored and start throwing tantrums. It would be advisable to get as much information first regarding how a daycare works before actually starting your own.

These are the Things You Should Prepare For:

Here are a few steps you would need to do once you have decided to open your own daycare center.

1. Location. You would need to find the proper location for your daycare. You can choose to open you daycare in your own home or in a commercial building. Choose the one where people can access you the most and where you will be comfortable working in.

2. Be aware of the laws and policies regarding daycare. Every place will have specific guidelines regarding child care. Be sure you are complying with these guidelines; you may need to get certified along with your possible employees regarding CPR and first aid which is very important. You must also follow all building codes and safety codes set by the local government to prevent any untoward accidents. Have your place inspected regularly so you are sure that you are up to par with the laws.

3. Know what services is offered by your daycare. Take some courses on child care development and other child development seminars so you would be able to handle the children properly and help facilitate their growth. Children have different learning needs and knowing different learning styles will add to the benefits your daycare can offer and at the same time maximize the learning of the kids under your care.

4. Get the necessary license and permits together with the insurance in order. You would need to contact your local government and see what license and permits you will need to operate your daycare business. They will be able to provide you with information on what you need to get approved for a permit and license. Be sure you have all the requirements and accomplish the forms correctly so you can get your permits as soon as possible. You would also need to get insurance to protect you and your employees. If your daycare is going to be located in your house, you need to review your home policy and see if you can extend the coverage or if you need a new set of policy. This will make sure that you are covered in case of any accidents or any liabilities.

5. Marketing and advertising. In order to get clients for your daycare you will need to let the public know your business exists. You can give out fliers or put ads on the news paper. You also have the option of putting up ads on community boards. You can use the internet as well in posting ads. Be creative in your advertisement. Inform them of what you can offer that others can’t. Think of ways that will make parents inquire about your services.

6. Know your Market. Before you even go about doing all this things make sure you have the market. It would be foolish to start a daycare when there are no kids to be taken cared of. Luckily daycare services demand is on the rise but you will still to research if you can open up another daycare in your area. Learn about your competition and what they are offering. You have to be competitive with them or you might end up closing your doors. You have to be able to provide good quality service at the same time be able to charge a reasonable price for the service.

7. Plus factor. Be unique with your daycare and have that plus factor that would entice parents to choose your daycare instead of your competitors. You might want to consider a fitness program for kids as well. Usually people think that fitness programs are for adult. Children also require some kind of fitness program to stay healthy. Research on physical activities for children that you can offer in your daycare. You can incorporate this in their schedule for the day.

These are just a few of the things you will be doing to make your daycare business prosper. There are is a lot of materials that you can use to learn about this business. Read and study as much as you can so that you have a full understanding of how the business works. Be sure that you plan out everything from start to finish. Have a working plan prepared so that you will not get lost in your preparations in opening a daycare service.

Opening your own daycare business is not cheap but need not be that expensive either. You have to find good ways of finding the materials and equipment you will be using . Include this in your plan. Find out if you will be purchasing desk and chairs or will you just be renting the equipments that you will be using. Make a good sound business plan.

In cases where finances are not that good for you, having a good business plan will be very helpful in getting a financial institution to bank roll you. If you have a good business plan and a really feasible one, there is a big chance they can provide you with a loan that you can use to create you dream into reality.

Planning is everything. If everything is well planned there is no reason for you to fail in you business venture of opening your own daycare business.

See: How to start a daycare business

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