What Questions to Ask Child Care Providers

FROM HENNEPIN COUNTYS WEBSITE (SORRY SO LONG I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO KEEP AND DELETE):

What to look for in a provider:

Questions Parents Should Ask Provider's Background

What is the experience, training, and qualifications of the Provider(s)?

Is the Provider trained in CPR, First Aid, and early childhood education?

Is the Provider tuned in to what’s going on in child care (nutrition, child development, needs of children from single parent homes, behavior guidance)?

Are there several names and numbers I can check for references?

Will the Provider use additional caregivers, substitutes?

Who arranges for back-up care if the Provider is unavailable?

Will the same people care for my child every day?

What is the turnover rate of children and staff?

Does the Provider carry insurance? (This is not required in family day care, but is in centers.)

What age and number of children is the Provider licensed to care for?

Business Policies:

What are the fees?
Do I pay in cash or by check?
Do I pay in advance or at the end of the week?
Is the fee fixed or flexible?
Do I pay for overtime if I pick my child up late?
Do I pay for days my child is on vacation or sick?
Do I pay for the Provider’s sick days/vacation days?
What are the hours of operation?
Is care available on school holidays and vacations?
When will my child not be allowed to come to day care (due to sickness)?
Is there space to isolate sick children?
What are the policies regarding emergencies?
What is the policy on terminating care of a child?

Parent Involvement:

May I observe the program before and after enrollment?
Are surprise visits by parents encouraged?
May I partake in activities (birthday parties, picnics)?
Are parents’ ideas welcome?
Are there ways for parents to get involved?

Space and Safety:

Is there adequate indoor and outdoor space?
Are all areas clean?
Is the home safe for children (stairways protected, outlets covered, poisons out of reach)?
Is the outdoor play area safe?
Is it fenced?
Can the Provider see the whole area at all times?
What kind of play equipment is available?
Is it in good repair (safe, clean) and appropriate for my child?
Can my child bring toys from home (special toy, security blanket)?
Do caregivers always wash hands after diaper changes, blowing noses, and before handling food?
Are medications handled safely?

Daily Activities:

What is the typical day?
Will I receive a daily report on my child and his/her activities?
Does the daily schedule allow for free time and planned activities?
How much would I like of each?
Is there a daily balance of play time, story time, activity time, and nap time?
Where are these activities located? (Where is the sleeping area?
Where are children allowed to play in the house?)
Is there a comfortable and restful area for naps?
Is there sufficient quiet time?
Are there outdoor and indoor activities?
How much would I like of each?
Does the Provider plan activities like nature walks, bus rides, visits to museums? (Provider must first receive your permission to do these things.)
What are the limits set on watching TV?
Are there music experiences?
Are activities appropriate for my child’s age/ability?
Are there enough play and educational materials?
Are they within my child’s reach?
Does the program keep up with the children’s changing interests?
For school aged children, does the Provider prefer the children stay home or can they play at other kids’ homes (the Provider must first receive your permission) or have friends over?
How are the children supervised?

Special Needs:

Will the Provider be able to meet my/my child’s special needs (nutrition, medical, developmental, cultural, religious)?
What will my child be fed (does the Provider have a planned menu to view)?
Can my child maintain a special diet here?
Is the food balanced, varied, and nutritious?
Which meals are provided?
What time are snacks/meals provided?
What will the Provider do if my child doesn’t like a meal?
Would anything in the surroundings irritate an allergy (foods, animals, dust, etc.)?

Behavior Management:

How will my child be disciplined (without physical punishment or shaming)?
Does the Provider agree with me on what behaviors should be disciplined (and how)?
Are limits clear, reasonable, and consistent?
Can the Provider positively redirect children?
Is positive reinforcement used?

The Provider:

What is the Provider’s personality (cheerful, flexible, patient, understanding, relaxed, warm)?
Does the Provider take good care of him/herself?
Will the Provider always be ready to answer my questions?
Is the Provider a suitable role model?
Does the Provider seem to really like children?
Do the Provider and the children enjoy being together?
Does the Provider have age appropriate expectations?
Does the Provider listen to children, rather than simply giving directions/corrections?
Does the Provider treat each child as an individual, with dignity and respect?
Does the Provider get down on each child’s level to speak to the child?
Does the Provider smile, look at, talk with, and listen to individual children?
Does the Provider greet and warmly welcome children when they arrive, helping them to feel comfortable, safe, and secure?
Are children’s needs met quickly, even when things get busy?
Are the children comforted when necessary?
What does the Provider do when a child cries?
Is the Provider sensitive to the emotional needs of children?
Does the Provider encourage identifying emotions?
Does the Provider encourage sharing?
Does the Provider encourage appropriate touching?
What would the Provider do if a child bites?
Does the Provider encourage sensitivity to others (empathy)?
Does the Provider encourage independence, exploring, creativity?
Does the Provider help children gain confidence in themselves (example: compliment them when they do a good job)?

THE CHILD CARE:

Are the other children in the home happy and relaxed?
How do the children interact with each other (rough housing, cooperation)?
Is the program and the Provider responsive to the varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds of children and families as well as anti-biased toward gender, income levels, or physical and mental abilities?
Are a variety of backgrounds (cultures, ethnicities, genders, ages, etc.) evident in pictures and toys?
Is the Provider respectful of my family’s lifestyle and values?

MISCELLANEOUS:

What approach will be used with toilet training (timing, wording, method)?
Does the Provider smoke? (This is not allowed in the day care residence during hours of operation.)
What is expected of me as a parent (fees, clothing, diapers, food, etc.)?
Are the goals of this program compatible with mine?
What are my instincts telling me?
Is this the kind of place where I’d like to hang out?
•Will my child(ren) be happy here?

Ask about the schedule for the day such as when kids eat meals, snacks. What kind of activities do they do? Watch TV. Also if they provide meals and when your daughter gets older milk. Also if they are on the food program because that dictates what they serve your child. Late fees and early drop off fees. How are children disciplined. How is a child comforted when they cry. Changing diapers, how often it's done. Also giving your child medicine, what do they need to know. How often and how are toys cleaned. Do they provide diapers and wipes. Where will your child sleep. Make sure your child is the only one that sleeps in that crib/bed and that the sheets are only for your child. Also try to go there during open hours so you can observe what it's like when children are there. Look at how clean their home is. Also be sure to get references and call them. I hope that helps. I know how hard it is to find someone to trust your child with. Good luck!

As someone who had to do this three times (due to closings) I've liked the resources from Child Care Resource and Referral. I'd suggest you "google" this option, or they may be listed in the phone book. I also think the county day care licensor will know how to connec to them. They had an enoromous list of questions of things that I never thought to ask for home-based, center based or nannies. I would suggest visiting after hours-or when it is the most quiet to have the providers full attention -for the 1st visit. I'd then visit again with your child (ask the provider for a good time to come with your child). I've stayed at home providers for about an hour during play time-usually reserved for those who are "strong contenders." BEst of luck!

How many children they care for and if this changes in the summer when school age kids are out.

What their sick policy is and how strict they are on enforcing this

What their vacation/sick time is

How they handle certain behaviors/bad children

How often they check diapers

In case of emergency what plans are set up

Meal schedules/snack if it's different when the child is under 2 due to allergy foods they are suppose to stay away from like peanut butter etc.

If they have field trips or leave the house

If the county has ever come out to investigate and then double check on that

How nap times work, now and then again when your child is older and may not need a nap

Try and find questions you need to know NOW and think ahead when your child is 3-4 years old and their needs change

I would ask if they have pets. I have allergies so this was important to me. Next ask what does an average day look like. What types of lunches are given? This is only for information if you plan to stay anywhere long term. Do they watch tv and for how long. Do they go outside when it is nice out. Does the daycare take children in a vehicle anywhere. I'm glad my provider doesn't, I'm not comforable with that. Their hours. Days they are closed. Weekly fee. Vacation (as most daycares you need to pay when you child is there or not) Hope this helps a little.