Visiting child care (1090)

When you choose child care for you child, you're choosing the place where your child will have a home away from home. After you have interviewed several providers on the phone, you will want to set up appointments to visit their homes or centers. It's a good idea to visit when children are there and bring along your child so he can meet the provider and other children. It is also good to make another visit at a different time of day.

First impressions are important. As you walk in, listen, there should be noise at a pleasant level indicating that the children are involved in play and activities together. If the TV is on, find out how long the provider has it on each day. There should be very little television on the schedule.

Look around. Is the setting clean? Do you see a variety of toys for each age child? Do the children seem happy and at home? Do they have a quiet area for naps and a safe place to play outside?

Observe the family child care provider or staff at a center as they interact with the children, look for people who talk directly with the children, get down on the floor with them, and in general seem to like being with kids. Your provider should be able to provide affection and attention in a safe and clean environment.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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