According to 10FactsAbout.com, the average four-year-old child asks about 437 questions a day. Kids are curious, so it's best for them to be around other kids and toys as well as participate in various activities throughout the day. Thankfully, an excellent day care center provides all this and more! Here are a few questions to ask so you can find the best center for your little one.
1. What Is the Child-to-Caretaker Ratio?
One of the most important things to ask about is the children-to-caretaker ratio. Typically, the more caretakers, the better. If there are more adults in the room, they will likely have an easier time managing all the kids. The risk of mishaps and other issues could ultimately be much lower.
2. What Are the Qualifications of Your Staff?
It's a good idea to get a grasp of the education and experience of the staff members. You don't need to review everyone's resume, but if staff members have relevant degrees and care about children, those are good signs. Likewise, while there may be some less experienced team members, it's a positive if there are folks with lengthy experience. As parents already know, caring for children takes patience, so experience goes a long way.
3. How Will You Handle My Child's Condition?
If your child has a health condition or learning disability, it's wise to discuss that upfront with the staff. Many day care centers have staff on hand who are experienced and trained to work with children experiencing many different types of conditions and challenges. If a specific day child center isn't fully equipped to take care of your little one, you may want to look elsewhere.
4. What Is Your Approach to Discipline?
You need to make sure that you agree with a day care center's approach to discipline. While physical discipline is becoming less and less common, you may disagree with other types of disciplinary action as well. It's smart to walk through situations, such as a child throwing a temper tantrum and how the staff might react.
5. Have There Been Any Serious Incidents?
You can ask staff if there have been any serious incidents in the past. Keep in mind that these incidents may not have been their fault. A child may have suffered an unpreventable medical emergency, for example. How the child care center responded to such an event can say a lot.
Looking for a great bilingual day care center for infants, toddlers, and preschool children? Contact Bethesda Reggio Preschool today!
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