By Nick Mil

First, decide what you want. Are you looking for child care facility that is near your job? Or would you find it more convenient to have your child at a daycare closer to your home? Do you want your child in a child care center with a bunch of kids, or would you prefer the smaller environment of a home daycare? Write everything down so you can analyze everything later on.

Second, ask around. References from friends, relatives, or neighbors is a good place to start. If someone you trust has a good impression of a child care provider, that is your best measurement of a good provider.

Next, do your research. Aside from personal recommendations, look online. Find a site that provides a directory of child care providers. Place more weight on ones that allow parents to review the providers directly, rather than just an impersonal review by the site owner. Also look for stats such as number of students, number of adults/assistants, and other amenities such as playsets, computers, etc.

Then, you need to start visiting child care providers that make your short list. Make sure you visit during a normal day, when all the children are at the facility. See how the provider interacts with the children, see the mood of the children, and anything else you can observe. Ask lots of questions. Start with simple things, like the teacher to student ratio, and days off for holidays, and progress to more pertinent questions, like what to do with sick children, and what happens when the provider is sick.

Pay close attention to all the details. Is the facility clean? Are all cabinets and other danger areas for children properly secured? Are there any stairs or doors a child could get into trouble with? Is the outside play area safe and secure?

These are just some basics that you can use to properly evaluate your choice of child care provider. There are many out there, and some are better than others. Only if you perform your due diligence can you have a reasonable expectation of finding a good facility for your child. Good luck on your search.

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