F.A.Q

1. What is your approach to discipline?

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This one ranks at the top of the list—namely because you can tell a lot about a provider’s general philosophy by how they choose to discipline the kids in their care. Explore this subject further by asking more pointed questions. Does the staff use a raised voice to reprimand children? Does their approach differ depending on the age of the child? Are time-outs used, and if so, what does that look like? Are there ‘punishments’ or consequences for bad behavior? Every parent handles discipline differently but it’s important to know that the general attitude of the daycare center squares away with your own.

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2. What is the daily schedule like?

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Daycares can vary considerably in this regard, with some being highly structured and others operating on an all-day free play model with meal breaks. It doesn’t matter if your personal preference lies with either approach or somewhere in between—you’re going to want to get a sense of what exactly your child is doing all day.

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3. What’s the caretaker-to-child ratio?

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Across the country, the demand for daycare is high, and centers that don’t maintain a hard-and-fast ratio can easily become overwhelmed—no matter how talented and well-intentioned the staff. Address this upfront so you can rest assured that your provider has the resources required to meet the physical and emotional needs of your child. (Note: At the very minimum, the daycare should meet the state-mandated staff-to-child ratio, which varies depending on where you live.)

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4. Do you provide any educational curriculum?

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Daycare-aged kids, education involves play-based learning of basic skills (think: shape-sorting, color identification and fine motor skill development). It’s a good sign if all these educational toys are available, but young kids often need a little guidance when it comes to making use of them equally. Meaning, it’s reasonable to inquire whether or not the provider makes an effort to steer children towards skill-boosting exercises and encourage their progress.

 

5. Are meals and snacks provided?

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Do you have to pack lunch for your kid? If not, score! (That’s 15 extra minutes of sleep, friends.) Still, if food is offered by the provider, get the lowdown on what they’re serving so you can make other arrangements if any of the food on the daycare menu is off-limits for your child.

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 6. Does the staff provide potty training support?

If your child is going to be attending daycare as they approach potty-training age, life will be much easier if the caregiver in question is down to help you tackle the job. That’s because for most kids, potty-training requires consistency (and more than a two-day weekend).