As I near the day I can open My Little Home Childcare - I often reflect on what type of provider I hope to be by considering what I, myself, would look for in a provider. As a parent, I understand that you should want the best for your children. I think that there is nothing wrong with feeling like you have some say over what happens at daycare.
As a (soon to be) provider, I will obviously take pride in my work. However, I always want parents to feel like their provider is trustworthy, their children are in a safe/healthy environment, as well as have a say in what happens throughout the day. That being said, here are some things that I think you should expect from your provider.
1. Open Communication.
Parents should feel that they can talk with their provider about any issues and should know that their provider will come to them with any issues that she may have as well. A provider should be open and honest about a child’s behaviors, development, and anything else that happens in the daycare home. If you don’t feel you can talk to your provider about concerns/questions, or are not open minded to hearing concerns/questions from your provider, it may not be a good fit.
2. A Clean/Safe Environment.
Your provider should offer a clean and organized space for your child, both indoors and out. The space should provide plenty of room for your child to play and learn without a lot of non-child friendly items around. The environment needs to be safe, free of dangerous or broken furniture and toys. Homes should also be smoke free and everyone that has access to the home on a regular basis should have passed a background check.
3. Open Door Policy.
Parents should be welcome in the providers home at any time during daycare hours. From my understanding, most providers lock the doors during the day for safety reasons but unlock them during the usual pick up times. However, parents shouldn’t have to knock and wait for the provider to let them in (nor should they have to call first) before coming to pick up their child. A provider may ask that you let them know if you are going to pick your child up early, so that they can have them ready for you, but in general they should have an open door policy.
4. Basic Respect.
Your provider should respect your role as the parent and the decisions you make for your child. They should not offer unsolicited advice or critiques of your parenting skills, interfere or take sides in family issues, or impose religious views on a child in their care. If you and your provider don’t agree on parenting practices, then it’s best to find another provider. Your provider should also respect your family’s privacy and not share personal information with any other person or family.
5. Reliability.
Parents should be able to count on their provider. They should be notified in advance of any scheduling changes, new staff, or daycare closures. Obviously there will be times when a provider gets sick or has an emergency of their own and needs to close which makes the closure notification last minute but that shouldn’t happen often and some providers have a back up plan for this. Parents should expect their provider to stick to the hours and terms of the child care agreement that you both have signed and agreed to.
6. Knowledgeable.
You want a daycare provider that is knowledgeable on developmental stages and milestones of the children in their care. Someone who understands what each child is capable of and creates an age appropriate environment for them. If your provider is knowledgeable then you can also work with them to find solutions to any issues that you may be struggling with and you can turn to them for advice if needed.
7. Age Appropriate Environments.
No matter what style program your provider offers (play-based, structured schedule, Montessori, or traditional preschool), there should be a variety of age appropriate learning tools and toys for each age group in her care. If your provider has preschoolers and infants then there should be space for and a variety of toys for each age group, not just toys for one age group. A provider doesn’t need to have wall to wall toys, but make sure there is a good variety and that they are age appropriate as well as in good condition.
8. Supervision.
Your child care provider should be aware of all things that go on with the children in her home and know where every child is at all times. She should notice when children are behaving oddly or are not feeling well. If your provider is properly supervising your child then she will know things about your child, like what toys are their favorite and what interests them. While incidents and injuries do happen because kids are very active, providers that properly supervise children will have less incidents than those that offer less supervision.
9. Written Policies & Procedures.
Parents should have a list of written policies and procedures from their provider. This assures that everyone knows what is expected from them and clearly defines what your roll is and what your provider expects from you. It also explains what is expected of the provider and how her business is run. Having a written policy protects you both.
10. Compassion for your child.
Most importantly you want a provider that cares for your child in a loving and compassionate way. Your provider should make your child feel safe and happy. She should accept your child for who they are and find ways to encourage them to explore their interests and let their personality shine.
These 1o things help parents and providers work together to create the best environment possible for the children. What makes your daycare provider stand out from the rest?
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