Most Important Aspects to Consider for Picking Childcare Provider?

[Golden Rule]

I have been a childcare provider for many years and from time to time I wonder if I am out of date with current trends.

I wonder if maybe I can learn/offer something new... or if I should just stick with what works?

As parents, today, what are you looking for in a childcare situation? What are the things that tip the scale in favor of one provider/situation over another?

[GretasLittleFriends]

That is a great question. As a daycare provider with a couple of openings, I look forward to some answers (hints).

[Aya477]

Hi GoldenRule.

I must first say that I have only looked into center childcare but I hope that some of the items I find important are also relevant to your program.

In NC, licensed childcare facilities receive star ratings on a scale of 1-5 stars (home and center). A variety of factors determine the star rating but the main rating criteria comes down to curriculum offered and staff education. I have only looked at centers that were 4 or 5 stars. I also request a 3 year history from the state licensing that details visits, complaints, compliance, etc. If I find write ups that signify to me that there have been incidents where the staff do not exercise good judgment, then I toss those as options and will not even visit.

I want to see that my child isn't left to entertain himself for the majority of the day. I prefer alot of teacher directed activities. For our family, we really value teacher-child interaction. My child has been in a classroom before where the teachers did not interact with the children and it was a nightmare....the children did not bond with eachother, major behavior problems, the children expressed that they did not like the teachers, potty accidents, the list goes on...you name it and this classroom experienced it.

Discipline policy is important to me. I do not believe in time outs and would want a center who does not use time outs as punishment. In the 3 centers my child has attended, I can say with certainty that the one that has a no-time out policy has better behaved children. I think those teachers have better training with how to talk to children about their actions rather than put them off in a corner somewhere.

I also don't have to worry so much about toys because NC licensing requires certain themed centers to be available and a certain number of toys/manipulatives per center based on classroom maximum size. The next item would be child/teacher ratio. Some centers offer enhanced ratios above what the state mandates. Of course, the lowest ratio possible is my ideal choice.

What other aspects are on your mind for an opinion?

[Golden Rule]

Hi GoldenRule.

I must first say that I have only looked into center childcare but I hope that some of the items I find important are also relevant to your program.

In NC, licensed childcare facilities receive star ratings on a scale of 1-5 stars (home and center). A variety of factors determine the star rating but the main rating criteria comes down to curriculum offered and staff education. I have only looked at centers that were 4 or 5 stars. I also request a 3 year history from the state licensing that details visits, complaints, compliance, etc. If I find write ups that signify to me that there have been incidents where the staff do not exercise good judgment, then I toss those as options and will not even visit.

I want to see that my child isn't left to entertain himself for the majority of the day. I prefer alot of teacher directed activities. For our family, we really value teacher-child interaction. My child has been in a classroom before where the teachers did not interact with the children and it was a nightmare....the children did not bond with eachother, major behavior problems, the children expressed that they did not like the teachers, potty accidents, the list goes on...you name it and this classroom experienced it.

Discipline policy is important to me. I do not believe in time outs and would want a center who does not use time outs as punishment. In the 3 centers my child has attended, I can say with certainty that the one that has a no-time out policy has better behaved children. I think those teachers have better training with how to talk to children about their actions rather than put them off in a corner somewhere.

I also don't have to worry so much about toys because NC licensing requires certain themed centers to be available and a certain number of toys/manipulatives per center based on classroom maximum size. The next item would be child/teacher ratio. Some centers offer enhanced ratios above what the state mandates. Of course, the lowest ratio possible is my ideal choice.

What other aspects are on your mind for an opinion?

It never occured to me that parents would want a "no time out" policy.... Those are exactly the kinds of things I want to know. Thank you!

( Sidenote for you: I am actually required to have a time out policy by the state.... We are taught "re-direction, first. Then, one minute for every year of age in a time out area". I agree, it does not work well. My general goal is prevention, but like any other method, it is not always effective on every child.)

I guess I am looking for the "special/niche" things? Assuming that all "basic" needs and "general" requirements are well met...

[Michael]

We have a couple or articles that might also be helpful:

https://www.daycare.com/news/tips.html

https://www.daycare.com/fastfacts/daycare.html

[Golden Rule]

We have a couple or articles that might also be helpful:

https://www.daycare.com/news/tips.html

https://www.daycare.com/fastfacts/daycare.html

Thanks, Michael! Those are great. I printed the first one for my exiting four year olds Mothers. I think that will help them pick a pre-k.... They are so nervous I can't get them to go...!!

[Janet]

Thats a good question!

I've had the same group of kids pretty much forever, so I'm curious as to what parents are looking for, too. I have a time out policy but I seldom have to use it. I'm lucky to have kids that are receptive to redirection and incentive programs.

[MrSint]

As someone who's likely looking for a new daycare in the very near future - I'd say besides the basics - cleanliness, safety, cost, ratios etc...

Some of the things that'd bring US on board would be:

1 - Constructive learning plans - whatever there might be to engage little minds in a learning environment - activities, crafts, etc...

2 - Engaged staff - this is sort of a gray area, but to me - seeing a bright, positive, confident person caring for the kids goes a long way vs someone who comes across as crushingly bored or irritable who is more apt to sit around texting on the phone all day long.

3 - Most importantly - the DCP's attitude. I've seen plenty of examples of BOTH sides of the coin on here as well as in the few places we've seen. There are some that seem almost dismissive if not abbrassive about their clients. As if the clients owe them a debt of grattitude for even considering to care for their child. Considering that the cost is comparable to a new car every year, not to mention - it's their CHILD - when I get the sense that clients are regarded as some sort of discardable nuissance - it's a big turnoff. Conversely, DCPs who seem to exude a strong sense of customer service and appreciation for not only the business they receive, but also the responsibility of being entrusted with their clients' children - that gets my attention.

[Daycare Dad]

What parents are looking for?

This can be a tricky question but I think it shows a real commitment to offering great daycare by just asking the question.

As a father of two young ones there are some of the things I look for.

1. Clean and safe enviroment
2. "Up to date" discipline methods IE: Rediretion
3. "Up to date" diet and meal plans.
4. Preschool activities that are inline with local schools expectations for Kindergarten

http://www.decideondaycare.com of info as well. They are focused on helping parents find what daycare. On there site you should be able to find lots of things that parents are looking for in daycare.

I think you have to keep a mix of old ways that work and what some of the new techniques are. In a few years I have even seen changes in "preferred parenting".

[Michael]

This can be a tricky question but I think it shows a real commitment to offering great daycare by just asking the question.




As a father of two young ones there are some of the things I look for.

1. Clean and safe enviroment
2. "Up to date" discipline methods IE: Rediretion
3. "Up to date" diet and meal plans.
4. Preschool activities that are inline with local schools expectations for Kindergarten

http://www.decideondaycare.com of info as well. They are focused on helping parents find what daycare. On there site you should be able to find lots of things that parents are looking for in daycare.

I think you have to keep a mix of old ways that work and what some of the new techniques are. In a few years I have even seen changes in "preferred parenting".

Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum Daycare Dad. Your post is basically an advertisement. We rarely allow advertisments on the forum and usually they are from long standing members that contibute a great deal first. I am allowing your link this one time since we are all trying to further the standards in Daycare. Likewise your site has a lot of Google ads and you may have noticed Daycare.com does not.

[caregiver]

I'm sorry parents, but I am a daycare provider, a in-home one. I have been doing daycare for over 20 some years now. I do use a time out for discipline if necessary. I firmly believe that children need to know that if they misbehave that there are consequences for their actions. Redirecting them is basically talking them through what they have done wrong and if you have a 2 yr old, they really don't understand that. This is the reason we have so many undisciplined kids these days because you as parents do not make them understand that if they do something wrong it is ok. They need to know what they did was not acceptable and know that there is consequences for their actions. I do not put them in time out for a long period of time, but they do understand what time out means and I AM NOT being a mean provider or abusing the kids by doing this. Kids need discipline and too many kids these days are not getting it and you as parents NEED to STEP up and be the parent and not let your child be naughty and know they can get away with it. You are the parent, not their friend and to many of you are afraid to be the parent and want to let them do whatever they want so they will like you. Let them get mad at you, then they will know you are the boss, which you should be and not let them be your boss!

Sorry to put it like this to you parents, but over the years I have seen to many parents being bossed by their child, who may be only 2 or 3 yrs old and that is not being a good example to your kids. They need to know you are in charge.

[Abigail]

Robin, the up-to-date versions of time outs can vary according to the child's development level or age and also the providers personal beliefs. Outdated times outs would be yellings, hitting with a ruler or wooden spoon like spanking or other old-fashioned time out punishment. Redirection is good for young children who don't speak yet especially. Most time-outs start at age two and go based off of one minute per year of age and require an explanation of why they are in time out. That is still punishment and think that is good enough for the daycare setting. Besides, we must follow rules as a daycare provider and it comes down to whether each provider believes in time outs of not or redirection. It comes down to each parents choice whether they agree to how situations will be handled with their child at daycare.

[caregiver]

Abigal, my time outs are simply the child sits on the time out chair, which is a little child size chair and they sit for maybe 10 minutes, which is not that long. It gives them some time to think about what they did wrong and know that if they misbehave at doing the same thing again, they will end up in the time out chair again, until they know that what they did was wrong. I see nothing wrong with this, it is not abusive by any means and my daycare parents do the same thing at home and totally support me on this. When they are older, say 4-5 yrs old, then then do understand redirection, but a child younger does not. I DO NOT believe in spanking, the spoon or any other kind of punishment. I think the time outs are a good discipline action and the children do respond to this as they know they will end up in time out chair if they keep doing the misbehaving thing. We, as daycare providers have to teach the children right from wrong, So many parent these days are choosing to ignore bad behavior of their kids because they just don't want to take the time to do it, want to be their friend instead of being a parent and just are tired when they come home from their job and let the child do anything they want because they are tired and don't want to deal with it. So that is why it is up to us to show the kids what is acceptable and what is not as the parents are not doing it. That said, not all parents are like that, so I am not talking about all parents. I have a parent who does not want to try and be bothered with potty training on their almost 4 yr old because they are so TIRED when they get home from work and it would take too much time at night to sit with the child while he is on the potty trying to get him potty trained. Now that is just ridiculous to me. Anyway, yes it is up to the parents about what type of provider they want and what kind of rules they enforce.

[SilverSabre25]

Robin, I think you may misunderstand redirection. It works best with younger children, especially those who don't speak yet. If Johnny is taking a toy from Sally, it's much more effective to redirect Johnny to play with something else--as an adult you have to get down and help Johnny find something else. It also is the beginnings of teaching conflict resolution. Or, if Timmy is constantly trying to climb up on the table, you redirect him to a more suitable place for climbing. Time outs are effective to give the child (and grown-up) both a chance to step back, cool down, and get "one step removed" from the problem, and be able to handle it constructively. Time outs need to be used alongside redirection, talking about better ways to handle a situation, and other methods. 10 minutes is too long, IMO, and takes it from "cool down" to punishment.

[caregiver]

Sorry, yes, you are right, for a younger child that works better, but what if they keep doing it over and over and you have to tell or talk to them half a dozen times about doing the same thing, which happened to me.
I start the time outs at around 1 1/2 which is when my daycare parents have started that themselves. The child at that age can understand time outs then even if they are not talking, they understand what is going on.
The time outs are not a cool down for me, it is showing the child that like I said, there are consequences for their actions and if they know they will sit on the time out chair, they will think maybe they shouldn't do that again, whatever they were doing because they don't want to sit in time out again. Ten minutes IS NOT cruel! My daycare parents themselves do time outs at home for a lot longer then that and that is the parents, not me. Also, even if the child is not talking, it doesn't mean that they don't understand what they are doing! If the talking resolution doesn't work, then there is nothing wrong with the time outs. I guess I am older(50+)and am old fashion about disciplining kids and think too many people don't disciplining their children enough and that is why we have all these kids that when they get older seem to get into trouble. They are too used to getting their own way and no one has taught them that they don't get their own way all the time. Young parents of today's world, not all, but some of them are into themselves and don't want to take the time to work with their kids to show them what is right from wrong. They want"their time"! So someone has to deal with showing them how to do the right things and have to be taught at the young age, whether it is with the talking resolution, if that works or time outs. That usually means it is up to who looks after them during the day. I just can't stand by and watch children misbehaving and getting away with things because they know no one is going to do anything to stop them. If they know their is consequences to their action, they will think twice about doing it and that comes from how they were raised when they were young, either by parents or providers. I am not saying I believe in harsh punishment, but that kids need a direction from adults especially when they are young to form their life.
This is my last post about this because I don't think time outs are mean or cruel punishments and if nothing else works for the child before you have to use time outs, then it is our responsibility to help these children learn what is right to do and what is wrong.