1. Home Away From Home
Unless you have a stay-at-home partner or a trusted family member close by, sooner or later you'll need to look at daycares for your child. Home daycares outnumber licensed daycare facilities three to one. A home daycare often provides an environment similar to the one at home, and your children may get more personal attention from the provider than they would at daycare centers. Home daycare helps your children learn to socialize without overwhelming them with new arrivals on a continual basis. This also reduces the number of illnesses your child gets.
2. Family Daycare Concerns
Regulations and licensing for family daycares vary by state, and many home daycare providers choose not to register for licensing. Most home daycare providers work by themselves, so you don't have an open door policy or someone to whom you can report abuse. If the provider gets sick, she may not have a back up. You may need to provide all the supplies, such as drinks, snacks, diapers and wipes. Some home daycare providers don't check identification when someone picks up your child, track how often your child eats or write down diaper changes.
3. Question Daycare Providers
Find out the answers to your questions before you sign your child up. Ask about licensing and other important factors, including CPR certification and first aid training. Require a list of policies and discuss vacation times for both your child and your provider. Be cautious of providers who want to be paid under the table. Check references and do an independent background check on all people who live in the home or work with the provider.
4. Visit the Home Daycare
To determine the quality of care, visit the daycare during busy hours. Watch how your child reacts to the surroundings and to the other children. Check to see if the home has a variety of age-appropriate times. The best home daycares work off a schedule, which allows plenty of playtime and physical activity. Observe how the provider handles discipline and make note of any disruptive children.
5. Don't Expect Apples From Oranges
Most home daycare providers work by themselves or with an assistant. What they offer won't be the same as a licensed daycare chain. Daycare facilities generally include a large outdoor play area, time set aside to learn colors, numbers or preschool curriculum and more structure in policies and services. The hours of operation and the price vary based on location and experience. If you want someone with a degree in early childhood education watching your child, plan to pay more.
