How do choose a preschool/daycare?

[Tiffearni]

First which is better? My DS will be 4 at the end of October.

How much do they run?

What do I look for? What do I ask?

I'm just trying to check into options.
I've never done daycare or preschool before, so I'm totally clueless. Please tell me everything about it that you can. I'm so nervous about even considering because my DS is sort of difficult and emotional at times. He hits, kicks, screams. I'm struggling to teach him how to deal with frustration, although he is a sweetie otherwise. How do I make sure that the ppl will be kind to him and treat him well regardless of how he behaves. I'm so nervous, can you tell?


Anyway, any info is GREATLY appreciated.

[Hermione]

Here is the My List I always ask when interviewing a new center:

What is the ratio of children to adults?

What education does your staff have?

What's the staff turnover rate?

How well do you know the staff?

What happens if a staff member is out for the day? Do you have
replacement staff?

What's your policy on sick children?

Are you allowed to give OTC meds? Only prescription? Homeopathic?

What discipline practices do you use?

How do you handle fights between children?

What happens if the child has a problem like biting or hitting?
(repeat social offender)

What is the policy on whose allowed to pick up my child?

What is your curriculum like?

How long do you allow the topic of interest to continue before changing it?

Do you have anti-bias curriculum? (teaching about differences of all people, having different races represented in dolls and toys)

How is the day planned out? What times are meals, naps, etc?

What does each of your programs look like? Could I see a lesson plan?

What if my child doesn't like the food that has been prepared?

Who prepares the food? Where?

Which holidays do you observe at the facility?

What kind of holiday activities do you plan?

Do you have a way for me to watch what's going on without my child
knowing? (i.e. closed-circuit TV, windows into the room)

Can I drop in whenever I'd like?

How is it determined when a child will move from one room to the next?

Do I need to provide diapers and wipes?

Is there an annual registration fee?


I really should add more, but this is the most important stuff. I have a degree in Early Childhood Ed, and I'll tell you-the most important thing is to go with your gut. If you wouldn't feel comfortable there-its not a place you'd want to send your child.

ETA: drop in a few times to the center. Observe different times of the day. Notice how meal time is handled. Watch how the teachers talk and interact with the kids. Maybe even talk to a few of the kids or parents.

Be tough on the center-you're employing them to care for your child. You're their boss and you deserve the best.

[NazirsMom]

hermione listed some good questions...

ds had a say in which daycare...now granted he was only 2 months old but when I took him to the one place, he was sleep the first time. I went back with my husband and he fussed the entire time. I took him outside, he was fine. we went back in, he fussed again.

when I took him to another place, he was calm and cool. He smiled and laughed at the director. he fussed for all of 3 minutes and then he fell asleep....

and that's the daycare that he has been at since then.

[cream_city]

I just posted on your other thread, but I think what you are looking for depends on the number of hours you need. It sounded on your previous thread like you don't need full time care, so I would say preschool.

Given what you said earlier, I'd look for one with a good ratio of caregivers to children (1:8 or 1:10 at most), and perhaps that offers part-time schedules. So your ds could go on M,W,F mornings, for ex. Or T,Th afternoons if he doesn't nap. If he doesn't nap, it's easier to get into afternoon slots at the really good preschools which are booked up.

I also like to look for caregivers who have been with a place for several years -- this won't be true of all of them, but at least one teacher should have been there for a few years.

Another thing I like is when they encourage parent participation in the rooms. One school my son went to was really a co-op, so parents took turns helping out in the rooms. It was great.

I think in terms of the actual physical space, I like to make sure there's plenty of room to run around (in cold climates like ours this means a good indoor gym as well as outdoor playground), maybe a garden the kids plant things in, pets like fish in the room and plants they grow, NO television, a dramatic play area, etc.

We've been lucky enough to send my son to a couple of great preschools, and I can't say enough about how good they were for helping him develop social skills. He is a difficult kid, he has ADHD, but the teachers have always worked so well with him.

[Tiffearni]

Great advice guys!

Cream City - I LOVE the idea of the co-op with parents. That would be WONDERFUL! I don't know if anyone does that around here. I'll be checking. ;)

[Hermione]

Great advice guys!

Cream City - I LOVE the idea of the co-op with parents. That would be WONDERFUL! I don't know if anyone does that around here. I'll be checking. ;)


Contact your local YMCA or NAEYC (National Assoc. for the Education of Young Children) and see if they give free child care or preschool referrals.

[Tiffearni]

Thanks so much for all of your help guys!

The search is over! YAY! I actually only went to two preschools. One yesterday and one today. It turns out that just by chance, someone canceled with the lady I REALLY wanted to watch DS. They just cancelled YESTERDAY -- The day I started looking! How great is that?!?!?! I'm sooooo excited!!!

I really appreciate all of your help. Thanks again guys!