Today was my 2-year-old son’s first day at the daycare. He’s been there for 1 year now.
I accompanied him to his classroom; he had been at home with me for the past 3 weeks. I was worried about how tough this first day would be on him, but as soon as he saw his new teachers and old classmates, he ran towards them without even saying goodbye.
I literally felt like crying, “Is it that easy to forget about me? His own mother!” I said to myself. Then I realized that he was truly happy to be there. He was excited to see his friends, and most importantly, he was happy to be with his teachers.
At that moment, I realized my husband and I made the right choice in selecting this specific daycare. Therefore, I decided to share the seven most important factors we took into consideration during our search.
1- Trust
Trust is the most important factor when choosing a daycare. I would even say it is a deal breaker. Establishing it can be tricky, but as parents, we have enough experience to know who we can or cannot trust with our children. So follow your gut when you meet with the owners, administration and teachers. Are they transparent? Are they welcoming? How do they react around each other? How do they talk with you? Do they have a good reputation (ask around)?
2- Safety
Safety is also a deal breaker, and an essential factor in choosing the right daycare for your child. So take a good look around when visiting any daycare for the first time, and ask yourself: Are the classrooms baby proof? Is the daycare next to a dangerous neighborhood or location? Do they have measures in case of an accident? Do they have protocols in case of natural disasters or security incidents? You should ask all the questions that pop up in your mind (even the seemingly embarrassing ones). Again, this is essential when you want to establish trust.
3- Fulfilment
When you visit nurseries, always ask to visit some classes and assess how happy the children look. During my visits to several nurseries, one got my attention. All the children in the classroom were bored, they really seemed sad. I didn’t want that for my child. And you probably don’t. So, always look for small signs of happiness and fulfillment so that your child would be eager to go to daycare every day.
4- Food
Considering that the prevalence of obesity in children from 2 to 6 years old is 14%, it was really important for me to enroll my child in a daycare that offers a variety of healthy dishes. Look for options that include stews, vegetables and fruits. Some of them even offer organic fruits and vegetables, which is even better.
5- Teacher-child ratio
The National Association for the Education of Young Children provides the following guidelines for staff/child ratios at childcare centers.
- For infants (birth-15 months): one teacher should supervise every three infants.
- For toddlers (12-28 months): one instructor should supervise every 3-4 toddlers.
- For older children (24-36 months): one teacher should supervise every five children.
Make sure that the daycare you choose firmly respects these guidelines, so that caregivers can really focus on each child and can manage in case any accident happens.
6- Tidiness
It goes without saying that tidiness is a must and even a requirement. When you visit the daycare, make sure classrooms are neat. Examine how staff maintains hygiene for the children. For instance, what I really like in my son’s daycare is that they have specific staff for diaper changing. And these people don’t feed or take care of babies and toddlers.
7- Curriculum
Last, but definitely not least. The curriculum. A daycare should have an established curriculum or teaching program (Montessori or others). They should also be certified by relevant authorities, and have a qualified and experienced staff for every age bracket.
Finally, when you meet the future caregivers of your children, make sure that they make you and your child comfortable, as they will become your second family.
Good luck!
