Quality Childcare Is ...

We at Safer Child, Inc. (http://www.saferchild.org) are often asked about the qualities of good childcare. Here are some indicators that point to a program that's probably good quality:

Ratios: Child-to-caregiver ratios -- including children of caregivers -- are low.

Licensure & Training: The daycare is licensed -- perhaps even accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (http://www.naeyc.org/). Caregivers are licensed, and they all have adequate (and ongoing) experience and professional training in early childhood development and education. The director and all caregivers have submitted to background, criminal and reference checks. No caregivers is allowed access to children until background checks are complete. All credentials are open to you for viewing.

Basics of health & safety: Caregivers are trained, knowledgeable and supportive of the current, updated basics of child health and safety, such as: the importance of regular fire drills and inspections & health inspections; the techniques for both infant and child first aid procedures (including CPR); what are safe and appropriate child-to-caregiver ratios; that infants should sleep on their back; that no one must ever shake a baby or child; that car-safety-seats are recommended for children up to 8 years old; that toddlers and preschoolers need regular snacks and drinks; etc.

Inspections: The daycare has passed health, fire and safety inspections, and also passes your own independent observations. Regular fire and health inspections are done, and the daycare doesn't try to hide or minimize infractions.

Cleanliness: The daycare facilities are clean and well-cared for. All diaper-changing facilities are separate from eating areas. Medicines and cleaning products are kept locked away and out of reach of the children. Caregivers wash their hands and the children's hands with soap and water frequently, and especially before preparing any food.

Toys and games: The room contains lots of age-appropriate toys, books, games, building blocks, paints, puzzles, art supplies and various learning materials. New materials and equipment are added regularly. The materials are available to the children (with rules attached). The children's artwork, writing, and crafts decorate the ceiling and walls.

Playing: If you drop in to watch, you find the children playing or engaged in specific activities -- they aren't fighting, crying, wandering aimlessly or forced to sit still for long periods of time. Caregivers limit television, video watching and sweets. They seem happy to be there.

Feedback: Daycare directors/caregivers are interested in your concerns, and they work hard to accommodate you and your child. The staff meets regularly to evaluate the program and make positive changes. They are responsive to your suggestions, and open to your participation. Caregivers listen to your instructions for your child and follow them without complaint.
Professional recommendations: Other child care and child advocacy professionals -- including licensing offices, police, health inspectors and fire inspectors -- have good things to say about the facility and caregivers.

Comfort level: Your child seems happy and comfortable with the facility and the caregivers. Other parents and children seem happy and comfortable with the facility and caregivers -- even when you drop in unannounced, and you are allowed to drop in any time. You don't have nagging feelings of worry about the facility or the caregivers. There is a waiting list for the facility.

Security & Emergencies: The center closely monitors who comes in and who goes out of the facility. Only previously approved people leave the facility with a particular child, and authorities are immediately contacted in the case of an emergency. Staff who handle children in an unsafe manner are immediately relieved of their duties (staff are monitored by administrators). There is a standard procedure in place for notifying you of an emergency or illness. There also is a standard procedure for sending home children who are ill or obstructive. The center has an evacuation plan in place that is rehearsed monthly (your local fire department can review an existing plan for effectiveness).

Suitability: Your child is placed in a suitable, age-appropriate environment.

Continuity: There is continuity of caregiving from day to day and from the morning to the afternoon. When you pick up your child, you're able to find out what happened throughout the day and how things went. When you talk with your child, the details are similar to what you learned from the caregivers. (Bearing in mind that child care does have a high turnover), there isn't an unusually huge turnover of caregivers at this facility every month.

Transporting: Caregivers do not ever remove your child from the daycare without your knowledge and permission. But if your child is transported off-site, he/she is transported in a safe and appropriate vehicle with a proper restraining seat or seat belt. The daycare facility has a trained person on-site to properly install all car-safety seats.

Attention: Caregivers recognize that your child (and all children) are special and therefore worth special love and attention. Caregivers work individually with your child in addition to working with the whole group.

Attitude: Caregivers are warm, patient, comforting and responsive to your child's needs and to both verbal and nonverbal cues. They treat you and your child with courtesy and respect. They greet you and your child when you get there in the morning, and they bid you a pleasant farewell when you leave. They seem to enjoy their work, and the children respond well to them. They don't treat the children harshly or expect too much for their age.

Interaction: Caregivers physically interact with your child in playful ways, by talking, reading, singing, play-acting. They work hard to teach, guide, stimulate and nurture. Attention is given to all areas of a child's development -- cognitive, emotional, social and physical. They read to the children every day.

Routines: Caregivers establish routines and daily rituals so that your child knows what's coming and is comforted by familiarity.

Fresh air: Caregivers take your child outside every day (that weather permits) to play and get fresh air. All outside facilities are fenced, away from dangerous elements (such as busy roads, gangs and drug abusers), and the equipment is age-appropriate and safe. Caregivers go outside with the children and are with the children at all times.

Exploration: Caregivers encourage your child's daily exploration, play, thinking, testing, trying, asking, feeling, wanting -- but they keep the environment safe and disciplined. There are safety procedures in place for preventing children from wandering away from their rooms or out the door.

Discipline: Caregivers discipline your child in a gentle, loving manner. They refrain from hitting, yelling, pushing, criticizing, laughing at, or comparing your child unfavorably with other children. They do not allow the children to do any of these things to each other.

Bottom line: You have a good feeling. The children seem to enjoy being there, and you and your child have a good feeling about the facility and caregivers.


The information in this post is copyrighted. You may quote the original article. The proper citation is:
Rogers, L. (n.d.) "Quality childcare is ..." Retrieved (date) from the Safer Child, Inc. Web site: http://www.saferchild.org/quality.htm