Page 37 - Choosing a Child Care Center

CHOOSING A CHILD CARE CENTER

these expectations to make sure that every child gets
personalized, one-on-one attention rather than just
melting into a crowd of students looked after by an
overwhelmed teacher. Quality programs will know
and exceed state mandated teacher-to-child ratios to
keep children safe and give them the best care. The
smaller the ratio, the more one-on-one care for your
child. If you feel overwhelmed by the number of
children in the center, your child probably will too, so
move on.
Personal first-hand referrals from someone you
trust are the best way to vet a center, since you’ll get
the honest experience of other parents with similar
standards to you. Asking your pediatrician for trusted
recommendations is another way to find out what
child care centers you should consider. This is espe-
cially helpful if you’ve just moved to a new town
where you don’t know anyone yet. It is vitally im-
portant for you to personally visit and tour potential
child care centers to make sure that you are enrolling
your children in a quality program that meshes well
with your family’s lifestyle and philosophies. There
are simply some things you can’t get a good idea of
online, such as the cleanliness of the facility, the
happiness of the children already enrolled, and the
attitude and education of the teaching staff.
It is important to know that you are choosing a
reputable school with good safety measures. You can

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