Choosing a daycare or preschool for our little ones is a big decision. We want to make sure we are choosing a setting that is safe, developmentally appropriate, and high-quality so that we can have the peace of mind we need to focus on work and our families.
For moms new to the child care search, finding the right program can be especially daunting. I knew basically nothing about daycares or preschool (or any type of child care for that matter) when my son was born. I didn’t know they could be home-based or center-based, or that the fees would basically be the same as paying a mortgage. I researched like crazy and eventually found the right place, but it was a tedious process.
If you’re a first-time mom trying to figure out how to go about choosing a good child care program for your child, you might be feeling a little (a lot of) anxiety. That’s totally normal.
One of the very first steps to searching for and finding the right child care is figuring out your priorities. This post highlights some of the most important things to consider when searching for daycares or preschools.
Why choosing the right child care matters
Choosing the right child care is one of the most important decisions we can make for our children.
Why does choosing the right setting matter? Because during the first five years of life, our children’s interactions with us and other caregivers set the foundation for the rest of their lives. That means that the daycare or preschool we choose will have a huge impact on their growth and development.
Choosing the right setting is also important for our own peace of mind. That peace of mind is crucial for working moms, especially those in demanding or fast-paced roles. Knowing that our kids are safe and well-cared for allows us to focus on our jobs and dedicate meaningful time to our work.
Choosing a child care program is a decision that will ultimately have a big impact not just on our kids, but also on us. Consideration of lifestyle, personal, and logistical factors, as well as program quality, can help lead us to the right decision. Here are 15 important things to consider in your search.
1. Teacher engagement and responsiveness
Teachers are the heart and soul of any child care program. They are the ones who will be with our kids all day every day, setting daily plans, coordinating naps and mealtimes, teaching the basics, and keeping them safe.
Teacher warmth, engagement, and responsiveness is a big contributing factor to childhood development and overall child care quality. Engaged, caring, and warm teachers were the number one thing I looked for when searching for a child care program.
2. Quality rating systems
Most states and territories have some kind of quality rating and improvement system for registered child care programs. This rating system serves as a guide for parents and families to identify high-quality programs in their area. The rating systems are based on various characteristics, including accreditation, licensure, teacher qualifications, curriculum and learning plans, and administrative policies. They are a good indicator of a daycare or preschool’s overall quality.
To find this information for your state or territory, go to childcare.gov and search by your location.
3. Inspection reports
Inspection reports provide valuable information you probably won’t get from daycare directors or online reviews. They tell us information about compliance, licensure, violations, and other incidents that we should know about a child care program before considering enrollment.
Inspection reports are state specific and will usually be found via a state or territory’s early childcare division website.
4. Cost
I never knew what people meant when they said kids were expensive… until I had one of my own.
Sending our kids to daycare is expensive. Before starting our search, we should first have an idea of the budget we’re working with. Monthly daycare tuition can be steep, right up there with a mortgage or car loan. Although the cost does drop slightly as kids get older, the monthly ‘reduced’ rate is still pretty high. In major cities, that rate can climb even higher. Cost is one the biggest considerations for most families when searching for child care.
5. Location
The time we spend driving to and from daycare, our jobs, and our homes has a major impact on our quality of life. Our daily commute can be the difference between rushing through the evening routine and spending fifteen minutes of quality time with our kids before dinner. In addition, daycare emergencies and early pickups do happen, so how far away a child care facility is from our jobs or homes is an important thing to consider.
6. Communication
Dropping our children off in a new environment can be difficult for both moms and our kids alike. The uncertainty of not knowing what they’re doing and having to trust them in the care of others is understandably nerve-wracking. That’s why knowing how we will communicate with teachers throughout the day is important when choosing a daycare or preschool. We want open communication, quick responses, and frequent updates to feel confident and secure that our kids are okay.
7. Reviews and reputation
It’s always wise to take the reviews from other parents into account when looking for the right daycare or preschool setting.
When I was searching, I would chat with parents outside the daycare and listen to their experiences, read online reviews, and ask for opinions about the program in online parenting groups.
Reviews can be very biased so always take them with a grain of salt, but the general tone of what people are saying can tell us a lot about a child care program.
8. Cleanliness and general appearance
During my daycare search, I toured many facilities; some were spotlessly clean, some not so much. Seeing any dirt, dust, mold (automatic no), or stains were a big turnoff.
I’m not talking about messiness – mess is inevitable with kids – but actual cleanliness. How clean a daycare is says a lot about their management, policies and procedures, and attention to detail. Cleanliness is an important factor to consider when searching for a child care facility.
9. Class ratios
When searching for child care, you want to ask about class ratios and make notes of whether they are actually being adhered to during your tours. Class ratios are state-determined and are very important to pay attention to because they are designed to keep kids safe and appropriately supervised. Higher-than-normal class ratios are a red flag, indicating potential staffing issues and safety violations.
Younger children generally need more care and attention than older ones, so ratios change with age. In Maryland, the toddler class ratio is typically 10 preschoolers to 1 teacher, 6 toddlers to 1 teacher, or 3 infants to 1 teacher.
10. Classroom spaces and childproofing
It’s important to observe the actual classrooms our kids will be in when searching for a daycare or preschool. Things like the types of toys in the classroom (are they age-appropriate?), preventive safety measures (are the cabinets, doors, drawers, refrigerators, and outlets locked and secured? Are furniture edges rounded or covered?), and security measures (are doors childproofed?) are important to look at during your search. What you see will tell you a lot about how they care for their kids.
11. Outdoor playground
Spending time outdoors is important for children’s gross motor and strength development, so we should consider what a daycare or preschool’s outdoor play spaces look like when searching for the right program. Children need to be able to run and play outdoors in a safe, well-maintained space with appropriate supervision.
12. Security
Another very important thing to consider when searching for daycare is the facility’s security and access protocols. How do parents enter the building? Are doors password protected or otherwise secured to prevent strangers from walking in (and children walking out)? If someone other than a parent comes to pick up a child, how do they verify that person is actually authorized to do that?
When searching for a daycare or preschool, you want to make sure that there are sound security measures in place to keep your children safe.
13. Emergency and health protocols
Daycares and preschools should have a system for identifying which children have allergies and to what. Teachers should also certified perform CPR and basic first aid for children, and to administer emergency medications as needed. This is an important point to consider during your program search, especially if your child has allergies or other medical conditions that require consistent monitoring and a prompt emergency response.
14. Education philosophy
Early learning education philosophies are frameworks that tell us how our children will be cared for and the underlying principles that guide their daily activities. When searching for child care, a program’s education philosophy is something we want to take note of, as certain philosophies may align more with our family values than others.
15. Enrichment programs and electives
Although not an absolute requirement for quality child care, enrichment programs are important to consider. These are basically elective programs outside of the core curriculum where children can explore a particular subject in a more in-depth way. Examples include dance, yoga, STEM, art, cooking, and karate. Enrichment programs offer a convenient way for children to engage in various activities and enrich their daily experience.
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