| Day care, whether it falls under commercial or home | | | | The child would be comfortable around them, and the |
| day care, should always be thoroughly checked out | | | | sitters would be able to provide the names of at least |
| before the little one is enrolled, the baby sitter hired or | | | | two referees who were satisfied with their services. |
| any form of agreement signed. This ensures the | | | | Be sure to call up the referees and check. |
| parent's own peace of mind as well as the safety of | | | | With day care centers, the task becomes a bit easier |
| the child. | | | | as there are always other parents with whom one |
| Day care services are provided by nurseries, | | | | can talk. However, though the service may be regular, |
| churches, crèches, and professional / retired child | | | | it is always better to inquire a little deeper into the care |
| minders working from their homes and even by some | | | | aspect of the arrangement. |
| business establishments for the benefit of working | | | | Always ask the number of children assigned to one |
| parents. | | | | minder. The fewer children per minder, the more |
| After a preliminary phone interview with the centre or | | | | attention they will get. Also ask if the minders have |
| sitter, it is obviously essential to meet the care givers in | | | | worked at the centre for long and whether they will be |
| person so you can make a better judgment about | | | | the long term minder of their group. |
| their abilities. In the case of day care centers, a | | | | Ask about the standards of discipline and the center's |
| personal visit will enable you to see the facilities and | | | | policies on sickness. Inquire about staff training and |
| environment your child will be moving in without having | | | | check out the safety aspects of both building and |
| to depend on second hand information. | | | | playground to your satisfaction. All these things are |
| The term day care applies to the long term, regular | | | | vital to the well being of your child. If you can ask for a |
| and, often, daily care of a child, during the parents' | | | | copy of the centers policies with regard to how the |
| absence at specific times of the day. Like during the | | | | institution is run, all the better. |
| time when they're at work. | | | | Even after your child has been entered in a reliable |
| While a licensed day care centre would automatically | | | | day care of your choosing, it is advisable to make |
| provide quality care on a daily basis, home day care | | | | periodical visits, attend parent teacher meetings and |
| providers can sometimes be extremely irregular. This | | | | above all to always know how your child feels about |
| inconveniences parents and also upsets the schedule | | | | the centre. Keeping in touch with other parents is also |
| of the child, who has got used to the way his day | | | | a good way to track the progress of your child and |
| should progress. | | | | any possible problems that might arise at the day care |
| Home day care providers would ideally be responsible, | | | | centre. |
| competent individuals with prior experience in the field. | | | | |