DH and I have an appointment in a few hours to tour a daycare that we're considering for Rowan. It's our first time, and I don't know what all we need to ask. Any suggestions for things we should be looking for?
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DH and I have an appointment in a few hours to tour a daycare that we're considering for Rowan. It's our first time, and I don't know what all we need to ask. Any suggestions for things we should be looking for?
First suggestion. Go to Strauss ECE!!
Questions:
- Do they have a wait list?
- Do they require that you pay to hold her spot if you decide to keep her at home for awhile after #2 is born?
- Do they have part time options?
- Will they accommodate CDing? If not, why?
- Do they provide food for the kids? What do they feed them?
- What educational requirements do they have for their teachers?
- How to they handle disciplinary issues?
- How many kids are in each class?
- What is their approach for introducing literacy (I wish I'd asked this but I was in new parent shock and it seemed a far off issue)?
- Do they offer a discount for having two kids?
proof of background checks and certifications for employees
discipline approaches
incident processes and protocols -if they fall..get injured are sick etc..
food snack and drink nutritional info
potty training...cd..etc
curriculum info on when certain things are introduced..approaches to etc
This is probably too late, but I'll chime in anyway.
ditto to the above. I'll add the following:
security procedures for drop off/pick up
CPR/first aid training for staff, how often, which teachers, is there a nurse on staff
What does a daily schedule look like (I'd want to see reading, art, outdoor play, sensory play & free play in there at minimum)
What is the criteria to move into the next room (age, walking, potty trained, etc.)
Teacher/Child ratio - then make sure it meets state requirements and your own idea of what makes sense for that age. Some states have a very high ratio that I personally wouldn't like.
Do they have a TV and what programming/how often/what age children does it get used for.
Do they accommodate BFing moms who want to leave breastmilk for baby's bottles, is there a fridge to put it in etc. How do they ensure your baby only gets your milk
What is their Vacation policy and what days are they closed.
Most of all - go with your gut. You'll know if it's not a good decision because you won't feel right about it.
is it a home daycare or center?
I would definitely ask about food/menus. I have know a few home day care providers and have seen with my own eyes what they give the kids. Definitely not a balanced diet. I have only seen the poor kids get peanut butter sandwiches, various cookies, goldfish, etc. I know its hard to feed more than 1 kid, but seriously, some fruits/veggies would be nice.
Thanks for all the advice. We went, and were not impressed. I really wanted to like this place - it's super convenient to my home and office (like walking/bike riding distance), they have ranch animals, they have webcams, and they provide all the food. But we visited both the 1 year old class and the two year old class - the one year old room smelled bad, and there was just a big pack of kind of dirty looking kids standing around. One teacher was all the way on the other side of the room with one child, and the other teacher seemed to be just hanging out. The entire time we were in the room, one little boy was just standing there screaming, and nobody did anything abut it. Maybe that's just how that kid behaves, but Rowan is a screamer too, and I don't want her to just be ignored. The 2 year old classroom was better, but I wasn't entirely comfortable with it. Plus, the policies and procedures as explained by the assistant director are different than the written ones I was given.
Erin, I am going to check out Strauss.
You're likely to find dirty kids at every center you go to. Teagan comes home looking like she's been in a mud wrestling ring some days. It just means they've been having some messy fun. The screaming thing would bother me. T's teachers are really attentive and her lead teacher is like the freaking baby whisperer.
When do you plan to start her? If you're looking at Strauss, she'll be put in one of the 1 year old classrooms until enough slacker parents of 3 year olds have potty trained their damn kids.
I'm not bitter.
Eek. Usually the planned tours are when they're at their best! I was going to suggest if you like a center make a second surprise visit to ask questions and see the rooms again. I know as a teacher if a tour was set up in advanced I knew about it and would plan the day accordingly so they didn't see chaos in my room. Of they came unannounced we let them right in and that's when they were more likely to see kids running around and a teacher standing in the middle of the room thinking oh good grief. Ha ha.
We are very lucky that the 3 year olds do not have to be PT. They only have to be PT by 4 which is so nice if your child is having trouble PTing. You have to start by 3, but it doesn't have to be finished until the PreK room which they move into at 4.Quote:
Originally Posted by TiggersMommy