| In this article we are going to discuss 10 things that you | | | | Changes - The center should give the parents plenty |
| should definitely expect from a daycare center that is | | | | of advance notice of any changes that are going to |
| providing care for your child while you're at work.Child | | | | take place that may affect the care of the child. This |
| care centers are not clones. Each one will have | | | | way the parents can make plans to have the child |
| different things available to the child depending on the | | | | moved to another center if they are not happy with |
| budget the center has. Some will have many activities | | | | the proposed changes.6. No Interference In The Child's |
| and others will have very few. But there are 10 things | | | | Family - The child care provider should not talk to the |
| you should expect from any child care center no | | | | child about any problems the parents may or may not |
| matter what their operating budget is.1. Open Access | | | | be having. It is not for the child care provider to meddle |
| To Their Center - Parents must be able to call on or | | | | in the lives of the family. The first and only responsibility |
| walk in on a daycare center at any time unannounced. | | | | is to care for the child.7. No Advice Offered And No |
| The provider should also allow the parent to make any | | | | Judging Of Parenting Practices - If a child care |
| amount of reasonable phone calls in order to check up | | | | provider does not agree with some of the parent's |
| on their child. The provider and the parent should work | | | | methods of raising their child it is none of their business. |
| out a schedule for those phone calls to find out the | | | | They are only to offer advice if asked.8. Assurance |
| times that are best and also agree on how many | | | | That Everyone In Contact With Child Is Trustworthy - |
| phone calls in a day are reasonable.2. Safety For Your | | | | If it is a large center and there are many people there |
| Child - The daycare center where your child is staying | | | | then each one should be certified to be trustworthy |
| should be in a safe environment. All possible | | | | and safe. A center should take all reasonable |
| precautions should be taken to make sure that your | | | | precautions when hiring staff and should provide the |
| child is safe such as, plugging electrical sockets, | | | | parents with information on how workers are hired |
| keeping knives and sharp objects in a safe place and | | | | and what screening process everyone goes through.9. |
| out of reach, closing off stairways and using only safe | | | | Open Communication - The provider should keep the |
| and well maintained equipment. If your child has to | | | | parents constantly posted of any instances at the |
| travel, the provider should also use safety seats and | | | | center that they should be aware of including the |
| seat belts when traveling.3. Honesty And Confidence - | | | | child's progress or lack of progress. The parents |
| Providers should not promise things that they can't do. | | | | should be kept in the loop regarding all activities the |
| They should be honest about the care that will be | | | | child participates in and those the child has problems |
| given. Also, there should be confidentiality about your | | | | with. It should be as if the parent is right there |
| child even being there. Nobody should be given any | | | | observing.10. Finally, No Surprises - This means that the |
| information about your child if strangers should call | | | | provider should not suddenly tell you that they have |
| unless you specifically say it's okay.4. Acceptance Of | | | | taken a part time job elsewhere and their teenage |
| Parent's Wishes - Centers should make every effort | | | | daughter will now watch the child. Or if at a center you |
| to comply with the wishes of the parents such as the | | | | don't want to hear that your child's teacher suddenly |
| food the child will eat, activities the child will or won't | | | | disappeared with no reason given.If you are confident |
| participate in and any special care that needs to be | | | | about all 10 of these items than more likely than not |
| given to the child. If the parents don't want people | | | | you have found a child care provider that you can feel |
| smoking around their child then the environment should | | | | confident in. |
| be kept smoke free.5. Advance Notice Of Any | | | | |