[ Home ] [ Up ] [ INTRODUCTION ] [ 1. CHILD CARE CHOICES.. ] [ 2. HOW YOUR CHILD ] [ 3. GETTING STARTED ] [ 4. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR ] [ 5. GOING FINE KEEPING IT ] [ 6. RECOGNIZING PROBLEMS ] [ 7. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ] 5. GOING FINE, KEEPING IT
THAT WAYOnce you find a provider, your job is not over. You need to watch to be sure that your child is getting the care that he needs. Observe the setting and talk to your provider often. Observing the setting means to pay attention to how the child care home or center looks, sounds, and smells. - Is it clean? Does broken equipment get fixed quickly?
- Is there a happy hum of activity? Or do you notice a lot of yelling both from the provider and the children?
- Does it smell all right? A slight odor after a potty "accident" is one thing, but a persistent bad smell usually means that there is a problem.
- Do the children seem happy? Does your child look forward to going to day care? Does he settle in quickly?
Drop by at different times of the day to spend time with your child. Stay a little longer in the mornings or afternoons every now and then. Watch your child play with other children and the provider. Watch how the provider treats you and your child. Look at the checklists in Chapter 4 to be sure that your provider is continuing to give good care to the children. Talk and listen to your child, too. Ask questions that can't be answered by a "yes" or "no", like "Tell me what you did today?" or "What's your favorite thing about day care?" or even "What's your least favorite thing about day care?" NOTE: In licensed day care, providers are not allowed to hit or spank children for any reason. Good providers have better ways of teaching children to mind them. If your provider is unlicensed, you should tell her that she may not spank or hit your child. Having a good relationship with your provider will help prevent problems. - Take time to stop and talk even if there are no problems or concerns.
- Respect her time.
- Pay on time.
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