The following are some questions you should ask before you take your child to daycare:
1. Supervision: Are children supervised at all times? How do the caregivers discipline the children?
2. Director Qualifications: Does the director of the child care center have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field? Has the director worked in child care for at least 2 years? Does the director understand what children need to grow and learn?
3. Lead Teacher Qualifications Does the lead teacher in a child care center have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field? Has the teacher worked in child care for at least 1 year? Does the teacher give children lessons and toys that are right for their ages?
4. Toxic Substances: Are toxic substances like cleaning supplies and pest killers kept away from the children? Has the building been checked for dangerous substances like radon, lead or asbestos?
5. Emergency Plan Does the child care program have an emergency plan if a child is injured, sick, or lost? Does the child care program have first aid kits? Does the child care program have information about who to contact in an emergency?
6. Fire drills Does the child care program have a plan in case of a disaster like a fire, tornado, flood blizzard, or earthquake?
7. Can caregivers be seen by others at all times, so a child is never alone with any one caregiver? Have all caregivers gone through a background check? Have the caregivers been trained in how to prevent child abuse, how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report suspected child abuse?