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.
Besides possessing the minimum requirement of a state license which confirms that the facility meets government health and safety standards, the daycare center should also be one that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which requires even higher standards of care. The turnover rate of caregivers should be fairly low, with a ratio of 3 babies for each caregiver, and the center's philosophy should emphasize growth.
Babies at the center should look happy, clean, and well cared for, and the staff should display genuine dedication to interacting with and looking after these young children. There should be large rooms for playtime filled with toys and books geared to age, and free of any objects that may pose safety hazards such as small toys, and there should be a separate area furnished with individual cribs for nap-time.
If older children also attend the daycare, they should not be permitted to play with the babies as they are not likely to be able to do so without possibly harming them. Doors must be locked and inaccessible to the children to prevent escapes, and all unfamiliar adult visitors must be closely monitored by staff.
In order to promote good health, strict hygiene practices must be posted and followed. This typically means no sharing of personal care items for the babies, food should not be prepared near the diaper change area, frequent washing of hands, up-to-date vaccinations, and sick children should be kept 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.
Dropping by the facility unexpectedly, provided this is allowed, is the most likely way to get an accurate picture of its operations, not one that has been carefully staged for appearances. Bringing the baby along to meet the caregivers is also a must before enrolling him or her, to be certain that this environment will be a good fit.
Besides possessing the minimum requirement of a state license which confirms that the facility meets government health and safety standards, the daycare center should also be one that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which requires even higher standards of care. The turnover rate of caregivers should be fairly low, with a ratio of 3 babies for each caregiver, and the center's philosophy should emphasize growth.
Babies at the center should look happy, clean, and well cared for, and the staff should display genuine dedication to interacting with and looking after these young children. There should be large rooms for playtime filled with toys and books geared to age, and free of any objects that may pose safety hazards such as small toys, and there should be a separate area furnished with individual cribs for nap-time.
If older children also attend the daycare, they should not be permitted to play with the babies as they are not likely to be able to do so without possibly harming them. Doors must be locked and inaccessible to the children to prevent escapes, and all unfamiliar adult visitors must be closely monitored by staff.
In order to promote good health, strict hygiene practices must be posted and followed. This typically means no sharing of personal care items for the babies, food should not be prepared near the diaper change area, frequent washing of hands, up-to-date vaccinations, and sick children should be kept 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.
Dropping by the facility unexpectedly, provided this is allowed, is the most likely way to get an accurate picture of its operations, not one that has been carefully staged for appearances. Bringing the baby along to meet the caregivers is also a must before enrolling him or her, to be certain that this environment will be a good fit.
About the Author:
When you are looking for information about reliable infant day care Union City GA locals can pay a visit to our web pages here today. Details are available at http://www.leapfrog-usa.com now.
