If you are comparing us to our competition, the staff of Honey Childcare Center offers the following guidelines to choosing quality child care.
1. Choose a center that is accredited by the NAEYC this will ensure that the facility you are choosing has gone though a rigorous training and accreditation process. An NAEYC accredited center is held to very high standards and is a must when choosing a child care facility.
2. Choose a center that has been in business for at lest 5 years. Many centers pop up and disappear as quickly as they come. You don’t want your family to get settled in a center only to have it close once you are comfortable.
3. Find a center by getting referrals from other family that you trust. They can give insight as to what life at the center is like.
4. Look for a center that employs and supports a teaching staff that has the educational qualifications, knowledge, and professional commitment necessary to promote your child’s learning and development.
5. Find a center that encourages parent involvement, a center that has an open door policy is a must. Do your best to establish a quality relationship with your child’s teachers and the centers administrator, this will ensure a great transition for your child and foster sensitivity to your family composition, language and culture.
6. Take the time to review the physical environment of the center. You are looking for a center that has a safe and healthful environment. Make sure the center is well maintained both indoors and outdoors. This includes the facilities equipment and materials.
7. Ask about the programs curriculum, you want to find a program that implements a curriculum that is consistent with its goals for children and promotes learning and development in each of the following areas; social, emotional, physical, language and cognitive.
8. Look for a program that keeps you well informed as to your child progress on a regular basis. Assessments of your child’s learning and development are crucial. Assessments methods should include observations, check lists and charting scales.
9. Choose a center that has strong leadership and management. This will ensure that the program effectively implements policies, procedure, and systems. Make sure the program has written policies and procedures, which are shared with families, and which address issues such as the programs philosophy, curriculum, goals, and policies on guidance, discipline and emergency plans.
10. Select a program that promotes the nutrition and health of children and protects children and staff from illness and injury. Make sure the center cleans and sanitizes all surfaces in the facility, encourages regular hand washing and has a clear plan for dealing with a child that is ill, as children must be healthy and safe in order to learn and grown.
