Comments on: Choosing a Daycare – Questions Every Parent Should Ask http://www.more4kids.info/464/choosing-a-daycare/ More4kids is a Parenting resource dedicated to helping encourage children's intellectual and emotional growth. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:02:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: Karen Bastille http://www.more4kids.info/464/choosing-a-daycare/#comment-35235 Karen Bastille Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:07:43 +0000 http://www.more4kids.info/464/choosing-a-daycare/#comment-35235 I retired after more than twenty five years in early childhood education aka childcare. May I add a couple more suggestions from my experience? -Make it a point to do "pop in " visits to your child's center at various points in the day. I know that's hard to do when you're working, but try to arrange your schedule so that you can observe lunch, rest time, outdoor play, mid-morning and mid-afternoon every few weeks or so. What you see when dropping off or picking up your child may be very different from the rest of your child's day. -Be aware that no matter how wonderful your child's teacher is, she will have an occassional sick day or personal day that will keep her out of work. What are the arrangements for substitute staff? Try and meet them. -There will also probably be a couple of hours in the morning and possibly in the afternoon when your child's teacher will not be there. Assuming your center is open for 10-12 hours and the teacher works 8-9 hours - you have a weak area there that is probably filled with younger assistant staff. Meet them. There are many fine childcare facilities operating in most communities - you owe it to your child to do the best you can to make sure he or she is attending one of them Karen I retired after more than twenty five years in early childhood education aka childcare. May I add a couple more suggestions from my experience?
-Make it a point to do "pop in " visits to your child's center at various points in the day. I know that's hard to do when you're working, but try to arrange your schedule so that you can observe lunch, rest time, outdoor play, mid-morning and mid-afternoon every few weeks or so. What you see when dropping off or picking up your child may be very different from the rest of your child's day.
-Be aware that no matter how wonderful your child's teacher is, she will have an occassional sick day or personal day that will keep her out of work. What are the arrangements for substitute staff? Try and meet them.
-There will also probably be a couple of hours in the morning and possibly in the afternoon when your child's teacher will not be there.
Assuming your center is open for 10-12 hours and the teacher works 8-9 hours – you have a weak area there that is probably filled with younger assistant staff. Meet them.

There are many fine childcare facilities operating in most communities -
you owe it to your child to do the best you can to make sure he or she is attending one of them
Karen

]]> By:   The Carnival of Family Life by Littlemummy.Com http://www.more4kids.info/464/choosing-a-daycare/#comment-35218   The Carnival of Family Life by Littlemummy.Com Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:47:42 +0000 http://www.more4kids.info/464/choosing-a-daycare/#comment-35218 [...] provides tips on Choosing a Daycare The So Called Me discusses daily life in Little Ones [...] [...] provides tips on Choosing a Daycare The So Called Me discusses daily life in Little Ones [...]

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