Visiting daycare for 1st time, what to ask?

[Anonymous]

Ask what hours the director and deputy director are on site.

[Anonymous]

Check out their list of violations on the Virginia DSS website ahead of time - you might see something on the list you want to ask about when you are there, or you might see violations that make you rule out some of the places before setting foot in the door.

[Anonymous]

Ask for the ratio of kids to teachers.
Ask the policy if you are late to pick your kid.
Snow policy, do they folloe Public schools!

[Anonymous]

Ask about the policies for moving up to the next class. We are in the infant room which is supposed to be up to 12 mos. Yet there are children who 14+ months who are developmentally ready for the next class yet the center has no space for them in the next class. These older children are way too active for the infant room and they are constantly tripping over the less mobile infants which is really scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:terrorism plan?? games from china??? hilarious!!!!
the FBI and local authorities do not review this..their local licensing office review their emergency preparedness plans.
geez.....

Wrong! A very nice young man from the FBI came round to my house last week and asked to see my terrorism plan. When I told him we didn't have one he became very agitated, and demanded to look all around my house for potential weaknesses. I have to admit he was very thorough.

So I am sure that they also perform these checks on daycares, if they go around making house calls.

Um an FBI agent came to your house demanding to see your terrorism plan? I think someone played you lady - check to make sure nothing in your house is missing. That is just insane.

I am assuming you let this *agent* in during daycare hours? I would be questioning your ability to protect your charges. You are very lucky nothing bad happened. as a parent I would be worried about you letting people in your home during business hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask what their policy is on calling parents if your kid seems really upset or possibly sick. Of course they call if your kid is puking, but I wanted places to call if my daughter seemed very upset for an extended period. Some places I interviewed were kind of "Well, we call if your kid is sick" but the one I chose said "We call if your child seems out-of-sorts or very upset. You don't have to come get them, but we think you should know if your child is having a bad day." I really liked that, as it indicated that they treat each child as an individual, and that they are committed to open communication with parents. I'd also ask what level of parent involvement there is at the center. Some places have a parent association, or expect parents to be very involved with center events and parties. I think this is great, but you may want to know what you're getting into.

I have to agree with what this poster has said. I am a home care provider and will do this as well. After the child has been in the home for an extended period you get to know when the child is out of sorts.

Way back when, my daughter was in childcare while I worked. I went to pick her up at the end of the day only to find her face completely swollen and red. I asked the provider what was wrong and she told me how she'd been upset all day and had been crying, etc for no reason. Ummm sorry but there has to be a reason why. I took her and never looked back. The following week when it was time to take her back, although I had already decided I wasnt taking her back, the provider called me and told me that measles was going around in her daycare and since my daughter hadnt been exposed, I shouldnt bring her back. Whatever. It didnt make a diff I told her, as she wasnt coming back.

After several more failed attempts in daycare, I ended up quitting my job, and started doing childcare myself, and never looked back

[Anonymous]

thanks to everyone who posted suggestions. we had our visit this morning, and it went great.

[Anonymous]

Ask how much they pay their teachers
Ask how much education their teachers have
Ask if they have the same teachers with the same kids every day (important for your child's sense of security, well being and brain development)
Ask how they clean up after they diaper each child
Ask when children are fed (infants on a schedule or according to individual needs)
Ask how much mat time each child gets
Ask if a child is expected to stay in his crib even when awake
Ask how many infants they have enrolled (the more infants, the less attention per child and more stress in the room)
Ask to talk with the actual teacher who will be working with your child
Ask the director what her formal education is (you want someone with an early childhood education background ideally)
Ask to see the room, try to look in the cupboards and see how clean the toys are (should be cleaned after each play session with each child)
Know that if something feels wrong, it probably is
Know that people can easily ooh and ahh over your infant but it doesn't guarantee anything for their care
Good luck