Before entrusting one's baby to a daycare center, parents must be certain that it is an environment which will keep the child safe and nurture his or her social and cognitive development. Referrals from other parents certainly matter, but it is essential that the parent first visit the facility in-person. In order to select the best center for infant day care Union City GA parents must look for the following characteristics.
Possession of a state license is really the minimum credential a daycare should possess, ideally it will also have received an accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as this organization calls for additional requirements to be met. The center should foster the personal growth of each child, with a ratio of no more than 3 babies for each caregiver, and there should not be a high turnover of staff.
Upon observation, staff should demonstrate genuine passion caring for their young charges, and the infants should be well-kept, clean, and generally appear content in their care environment. Rooms for play should be spacious and supplied with age-appropriate books and toys, and there should be no small items which pose choking hazards. A quiet room with separate cribs should be provided for nap-time.
If the facility also accommodates older children, there needs to be a separation of age groups. Babies who are less than one year of age, should not be interacting with toddlers or preschoolers whose boisterous style of play may result in an injury to the infants. Measures must be taken to ensure that all doors are securely locked and not accessible to the children, and any adult visitors to the center must be monitored closely.
It is important that the facility exercise strict hygiene practices, as evidenced by posted signs throughout the center. Rules for sanitation should include frequent hand washing, preparation of food must not take place near the diaper change area, infants shall not share personal items, children must be current on their immunizations, and if they are sick, they should stay home.
Basic safety measures which are present in most homes, also need to be accounted for at the center. Exits must be clearly marked, floors must not be too cluttered to allow a clear walkway, window-guards must be used, stairways gated, and there are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Cribs must be free of pillows or bedding which poses a suffocation hazard, and babies must be placed on their backs to sleep.
Parents should ask about the facility's daily schedule to get a better idea of the experiences their infants will have there. A good program for young children includes plenty of interactive games, singing, story-time, and floor-play. They should also provide each parent with a run-down of the child's activities and the care he or she received each day.
Whenever possible, it is best to pay the center a "surprise visit", as this is more likely to provide parents with an accurate picture of its operations than one which is planned. It's important to actually bring the baby along to meet the caregivers first before enrolling him or her, to make sure the child will feel at ease with them.
Possession of a state license is really the minimum credential a daycare should possess, ideally it will also have received an accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as this organization calls for additional requirements to be met. The center should foster the personal growth of each child, with a ratio of no more than 3 babies for each caregiver, and there should not be a high turnover of staff.
Upon observation, staff should demonstrate genuine passion caring for their young charges, and the infants should be well-kept, clean, and generally appear content in their care environment. Rooms for play should be spacious and supplied with age-appropriate books and toys, and there should be no small items which pose choking hazards. A quiet room with separate cribs should be provided for nap-time.
If the facility also accommodates older children, there needs to be a separation of age groups. Babies who are less than one year of age, should not be interacting with toddlers or preschoolers whose boisterous style of play may result in an injury to the infants. Measures must be taken to ensure that all doors are securely locked and not accessible to the children, and any adult visitors to the center must be monitored closely.
It is important that the facility exercise strict hygiene practices, as evidenced by posted signs throughout the center. Rules for sanitation should include frequent hand washing, preparation of food must not take place near the diaper change area, infants shall not share personal items, children must be current on their immunizations, and if they are sick, they should stay home.
Basic safety measures which are present in most homes, also need to be accounted for at the center. Exits must be clearly marked, floors must not be too cluttered to allow a clear walkway, window-guards must be used, stairways gated, and there are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Cribs must be free of pillows or bedding which poses a suffocation hazard, and babies must be placed on their backs to sleep.
Parents should ask about the facility's daily schedule to get a better idea of the experiences their infants will have there. A good program for young children includes plenty of interactive games, singing, story-time, and floor-play. They should also provide each parent with a run-down of the child's activities and the care he or she received each day.
Whenever possible, it is best to pay the center a "surprise visit", as this is more likely to provide parents with an accurate picture of its operations than one which is planned. It's important to actually bring the baby along to meet the caregivers first before enrolling him or her, to make sure the child will feel at ease with them.
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