Finding quality daycare is one of the most important things you can do for your infant or toddler. Asking the right questions can help you find the best provider.
Interviewing a daycare provider for your infant or toddler can be overwhelming. Be prepared with a list of questions that are important to you before you go. It is important to have open communication with your daycare provider in order to provide the best care possible for your child.
Policy and Procedure
What are your hours?
What is your policy on late pick up and early drop off?
Do you charge for holidays and sick days?
Do you have a written contract?
Do you provide back up care in the event that you are sick?
How often do you close?
What are your fees?
Do you offer sibling discounts?
How much notice do you require if my child will be leaving your care?
Daily Routine
Do you have a daily schedule?
What meals do you provide?
Do you participate in a food program with a set menu?
Can you accommodate food allergies?
What is your policy on bringing food from home?
Do you offer field trips or visits to the park?
Do you offer an educational program?
Do you provide open-ended learning opportunities?
Are the children given plenty of free play opportunities?
Discipline
What is your policy on discipline?
Do you use time outs or other methods?
Would I be informed if my child had a rough day?
Do you work with parents to solve behavioral problems?
Group Setting
What ages do you have in your daycare?
How many children do you care for?
Are the number of children likely to change in the future?
How do you work out disagreements between children?
What are the personalities of the children that you have in care?
Parent Involvement
Do you allow parents to visit during the day on occasion?
Can parents join their child during lunch time?
Do you support breastfeeding?
Will you communicate any problems my child is having?
Will you keep me informed of the things my child is learning?
Can parents visit for special occasions such as birthdays, holidays, or story time?
Will you give me an overview of my child’s day at pick up time?
Home daycare providers have many demands on their time and each provider runs their daycare differently. It is important to interview several daycare providers and ask a lot of questions to be sure that you have found a good fit for you and your child. Choose the questions that are most important to you and be sure you understand all of the daycare provider’s policies before starting care. Above all, it is essential that you find a daycare provider that you can get along with on a personal level. This is important for communication and trust. A daycare provider will be spending a lot of time with your child and you want to be sure that the provider is someone that you get along with and want your child spending time with.
