| |
Take this guide with you when you visit a child care center or home. You might want to jot down notes in the blank spaces after each question. Later you can compare the places you visited and make a good choice. A Parent’s Guide to Choosing
Safe and Healthy Child Care Supervision.
Yes No
Are children supervised at all times, even when they are sleeping?
How do the caregivers discipline children? (Hint: Discipline should be positive, clear, consistent, and fair.)
Hand washing and Diapering
Do all caregivers and children wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the bathroom or changing diapers?
Is the place where diapers are changed clean?
Do caregivers always keep a hand on the child while diapering?
Do caregivers remove the soiled diaper without dirtying any surface not already in contact with stool or urine?
Do caregivers clean and sanitize the surface after finishing the changing process?
Director Qualifications
Does the director of a child care center have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field?
Has the director worked in child care for at least 2 years?
Does the director understand what children need to grow and learn?
Lead Teacher Qualifications
Does the lead teacher in a child care center have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field?
Has the teacher worked in child care for at least 1 year?
Does the teacher give children lessons and toys that are right for their ages?
Toxic Substances
Are toxic substances like cleaning supplies and pest killers kept away from children?
Has the building been checked for dangerous substances like radon, lead, and asbestos?
Is poison control information posted?
Emergency Plan
Does the child care program have an emergency plan if a child is injured, sick, or lost?
Does the child care program have first aid kits?
Does the child care program have information about who to contact in an emergency?
Fire Drills
Does the child care program have a plan in case of a disaster like a fire, tornado, flood, blizzard, or earthquake?
Does the child care program do practice drills once every month?
Child Abuse
Can caregivers be seen by others at all times, so a child is never alone with one caregiver?
Have all caregivers gone through a background check?
Have the caregivers been trained how to prevent child abuse, how to recognize signs of child abuse, and how to report suspected child abuse?
Medications
Does the child care program keep medication out of reach from children?
Are the caregivers trained and the medications labeled to make sure the right child gets the right amount of the right medication at the right time?
Staff Training/First Aid
Have caregivers been trained how to keep children healthy and safe from injury and illness?
Do they know how to do first aid and rescue breathing?
Have they been trained to understand and meet the needs of children of different ages?
Are all child care staff, volunteers, and substitutes trained on and implementing infant back sleeping and safe sleep policies to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, crib death)? (Hint: When infants are sleeping, are they on their backs with no pillows, quilts, stuffed toys, or other soft bedding in the crib with them?)
Playgrounds
Is the playground inspected for safety often?
Is the playground surrounded by a fence?
If there is a sandbox, is it clean?
Are the soil and playground surfaces checked often for dangerous substances and hazards?
Is equipment the right size and type for the age of children who use it?
This guide is just a start. When you visit a child care center or home, talk to other parents to find out what they've liked or not liked about it. Ask questions and look around carefully. Then ask yourself if you would feel comfortable and happy being here all day. If the answer is yes, then chances are your child would be happy, too.
VIEW ADDITIONAL:> HELPFUL CHILDCARE INFORMATION
|
|
|
