As a parent, it is only natural that you want the best for your child. Your child’s safety and well-being are always on your mind to ensure that they are supported in their growth. If you’re working parents looking for the right daycare facility for your younglings, then you have found yourself at the right place.
In this article, we will share important information and factors to consider when making a daycare choice for your children. So, let’s dive right in with a little context on why it is essential for you to be highly diligent in selecting a daycare center!
How High Are the Stakes?
With the recent news, you can never be too careful when it comes to choosing daycares. The stakes could really not be higher. In September of 2018, the owner of Becky’s Home Child Care, Rebecca Anderson, was arrested in Mesquite, TX, after it was discovered by the police that her child care institution was practicing grave child endangerment. Three children were discovered tied to car seats and locked in a closet in complete darkness.
Later, in a statement by Anderson, it was revealed that children might even have been sedated or drugged to keep calm. To put it shortly, it was a disastrous nightmare for all parents involved and those who frequently utilize the services of such daycares. It is because of these incidents that you need to be extra careful while choosing the right daycare for your child.
Here is a checklist for you to live by:
- Do Your Research
The first thing that you need to do is do your research as much as possible. This step is important even before you get in touch with the facility. Do a thorough internet search to see different kinds of reviews. Make sure you study the websites carefully and see what kinds of regulations they follow the certifications they have and the type of practices they incorporate.
Here are a few things to keep a keen eye out for:
- Current licensing
- Satisfactory disciplinary record with the CCL
- Licensed caregivers and staff, as well as a background check of all the people working in the facility
- Online reputation and reviews
- Experiences of parents and previous clients
- Ask Questions
After you have filtered out a few facilities as a result of your research, the next step is to get in touch with a representative. Make sure you speak to an authoritative figure, such as a manager or a senior caregiver. Here are all the questions that you should ask them:
- What is the staff/child ratio? Look for a facility with a low ratio, ideally about 3 to 1
- Does the center offer an organized program of activities?
- What kind of food and drinks are provided?
- Is rest time provided and how is it supervised?
- Does the center have a nurse and first aid available?
- Has the center suffered any recent safety incidents?
- Is the center monitored by CCTV? Does it cover all areas?
- How is discipline enforced?
- Is there an open-door policy for parents? Run away from any facility that has restricted visiting hours!
- Any other questions you feel the need to ask
- Visit the Center
Finally, visit the center to see everything for yourself. Here are the things that you need to take extra notice of:
- The overall atmosphere of the facility. Is it a fun and safe place?
- What is the staff/child ratio?
- What is the staff’s behavior? Do they seem to enjoy their jobs? Is there any tension?
- Are there any safety issues? Are all the doors made of glass so no child wanders outside the view of the staff?
Ideally, you should take your child with you to the facility, so you can see how they feel about the environment and how they react to the whole situation. Make sure you talk to other parents about their experiences if you get the chance.
Look out for these Red Flags
There is no room for negligence when it comes to choosing the right daycare for your child. It is always better to be overly cautious than to be easygoing when it comes to your daycare vetting process. Even if you just don’t get the right “feeling,” make sure you don’t disregard it. Ask as many questions as you want until you’re satisfied. Here are a few red flags to always look out for:
- One of more of the employees gives you “the creeps”
- The behavior of caregivers; are they surly or mean?
- The kind of crowd that hangs in or around the facility without any purpose
- You get “bad vibes”
Always Monitor Your Child’s Experience
Your responsibility doesn’t end with choosing the right facility. You need to stay diligent even afterward. Here are some signs of abuse to look for:
- Unexplained phobias
- Fear or antipathy towards going to the daycare center
- Mood swings
- Unexplained changes in behavior
- Aggressive behavior
- Infantile behavior (unless your child is an infant)
- Bed-wetting (if there was no problem before enrollment)
- Toilet-training regression
- Anything that your gut instinct tells you isn’t right.
Contact a Daycare Abuse Lawyer Today
If you suspect any kind of negligence or signs of abuse in your child’s behavior, then make sure you seek legal help immediately. You can call Rasansky Law Firm at 214-617-1886 for a free initial consultation so that we can listen to your story and answer your questions. You don’t need to worry about the high fee because it is zero unless you win.