The 5 Golden Keys to Finding Quality Child Care
Lauren A. Hakala
“You never know when the winds of change will occur, yet the leaning is in what it takes to navigate those transitional moments; there is when you discover yourself.” -Lauren 2021.
1. Use Your Imagination
Upon visiting, touring and observing, parents or guardians can ask themselves….Can you imagine yourself bringing your child here every day and can you then imagine your child here? If you have answered yes to these questions, then you can look into all the details of enrollment and see if it is a good fit for your family.
2. Take Notice
Are there happy, engaged children playing all about? Is a “close-by teacher” caring for any unhappy children? You should be able to ask questions about what you are seeing and a seasoned teacher or administrator should be able to answer you without disclosing the personal information of the child. Please remember to ask your questions once you are outside the classroom.
3. Observe the Teacher
The teacher should be able to remain part of the group and continuing tending to classroom tasks while still taking the time to acknowledge you. You should feel a sense of calmness and ease as children and teacher’s move about. Look for whether or not the environment is a safe space where the children feel held and experience a sense of belonging. Children might or might not notice you as a visitor. They may approach you but should resume playing again naturally. If not, notice how the teacher might include you as they re-engage them.
4. Check the Flow
The day’s schedule should be noticeable. One of the key questions to ask is: what does a typical day look like? This will be helpful information when you imagine how your child is and what they are doing throughout their day.
5. Follow Up
Find out how to best communicate with the Teachers and the Administrators about what the expectations are for families and to ask any follow-up questions. You should also get a sense for what the next steps in the enrollment process will be and what orientation will look like. Once that is established please ask your questions. As part of a good enrollment process the Director should check in to find out how your visit went and offer to be of service in any way that is needed going forward. Here is your chance to ask lingering questions and share any feedback on your experience.