On the Hunt for quality Child Care?

On the Hunt for quality Child Care

  There are three ways in which you can look for child care, not stress while looking for child care and find a great family child care home for your child(ren)! First things first; set your mind as to the type of child care facility you would like your child to attend, such as center-based or in-home child care. With any type you choose, it is highly recommended some form of licensure and CPR certifications be established, even if you are in search of a babysitter/au pair.

Initial Contact

The telephone interview plays a major role in deciding if you have found a potential provider for your child(ren). The telephone interview sets the foundation to a tour of the facility and possible enrollment. There are three elements on the phone interview that will generate a “star” next to the provider’s facility:

1.              The provider is friendly and professional

2.              The provider can answer all questions without hesitation

3.             The provider will take a message and return your call in the event she/he is working with children (they care about your call, but children and their safety/happiness come FIRST) 

Meet and Greet

When you set an appointment to tour the facility, arrive a few minutes early to get a feel of the program and the children in care, observe the provider/assistant, view licensure and forms that must be posted near the entrance and ensure a tidy environment. The facility should be clean and smell fresh. It is okay to have toys on the floor, but areas in which the children are not at play should be tidy. When meeting with the provider, make sure you make eye contact; your “gut” feeling is the best feeling. Ask questions in reference to the program’s daily routine, rates, drop-off and pick-up procedures, illness policy and additional fees that may incur due to field trips, supplies, etc. At times, the provider will provide their policy book for you to review. Before finalizing the meet, ask for a tour of the facility to get a feel of where your child(ren) will be every day.

Follow-up

Contact the provider within 72 hours to inform them of a decision; YES or NO for enrollment. It is okay at this time to ask added questions and to view the providers’ contract for enrollment. If the provider has not given you their full policy book, make sure you ask for a copy and read it in its entirety. The contracts are legal and binding documents, so make sure to read before you sign. You may want to schedule a second tour and ask to bring your child(ren) to take a tour as well! After all, this is where your child will be spending the majority of their time learning and meeting new friends!

   Miss Lea's Playhouse

  Nailah L. Murphy, Owner, Miss Lea’s Playhouse SAC58567FCCH