Six Simple Steps to a Comfortable Day Care Experience

One of the toughest moments that a parent must endure is taking a small child to day care. How can you be certain that the place you chose will care for this child like you would? But there are a few simple steps you can try to improve this situation, before and after you make your selection of early childhood education center Draper Ut.

Before Your Decision

• Arrange a Visit: Some day care centers offer a clean, fun environment for kids, while others could use an upgrade. Make sure you eliminate any surprises in the future by arranging a visit and speaking with the day care staff.
• Confirm Accreditation: Make sure that your day care program is keeping up with stringent standards. Look for the seal of approval by the the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC), or the the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC).
• Calculate Adult-to-Child Ratio: An important aspect of quality day care is not having too many children compared to the amount of employees. If your child is an infant, look for a ratio of one adult to every four children. A ratio of 1:10 is the accepted standard for four-year-olds.

After Your Decision

• Meet Regularly: Set up frequent follow-up visits with the day care staff. This ensures that you remain up to date on your child's behavior patterns, what they are learning, and what is happening at the center.



• Volunteer: Day care facilities allow parents to volunteer. This might entail supervising the children during the day or helping clean or repair toys after hours.



• Changing Your Mind is OK: If you have a change of heart about the day care provider you have chosen, it's your right to select a new one. Your child's well-being is too important for an awkward conversation to put it in at risk.