It's time for your child to enter day care, and this step can be nerve-wracking for any parent. Selecting a day care center isn't just about choosing child care for your kids, which is important enough as it is; it's also about setting up their future. Children learn a lot from going to day care. They begin to build their early social skills while at the same time often begin to practice their numbers and colors.
Here are three things to keep in mind as you look for a day care center.
1. Good Word of Mouth
A day care center's reputation means something. While it's not uncommon for any business to pick up one or two bad reviews, you can't brush away numerous poor reviews, especially when it comes to the people who will be caring for your child. Additionally, strong word of mouth can let you know about what the center focuses on.
Some day care centers focus more on simply caring for the children, while others have stronger educational curriculums. Look for online communities in your area for recommendations. If you know any parents with older children, ask about the day care centers that they used. Word of mouth matters, and you can't -- and shouldn't -- dismiss it.
2. A Strong Curriculum
Even if you aren't too worried about early education for your children, the day care center you choose should have some kind of educational curriculum. This will be your child's earliest opportunity to learn. Even something like gentle quiet time matters for children, and it's a time when they can be read to and play number games. Look into whether or not the centers you're considering have group programs as well as snacks and opportunities for physical activities.
3. Qualified Employees
Those that work at day care centers need a lot of patience; after all, a three year old boy's voice can be louder than 200 adults in a restaurant! However, they also need to be experienced in childcare, and upper-level employees should have an educational background in childhood development. Vet your day care center carefully.
There are so many things you should consider before choosing a day care center, as these are just a few! Be careful when making a final decision, as you want your young learner to have an excellent experience that will set them up for the rest of their educational journey.