What would you look for in an at home daycare?

sabrina69barnes

 I posted an ad on craigslist to start watching 1 or 2 kids and I have an interview with a couple with a 6 week old baby. I've been a working mom before but my mom watched my son so I've never looked for other childcare. Aside from things like having a clean house, clean background check, and liking kids and having plenty of toys,  what kinds of things do you look for?

wheelenl

1) First aid/CPR certification?

2) Are you closed certain weeks during the year?

3) Do you provide meals, if so what are they?

4) Is your yard fenced?

5) Is there a pool nearby (not even in your yard necessarily), or a sketchy dog?

6) What is your sick policy (for children)?

7) What is your snow day policy, if any? Do you take in a bunch of other kids when it snows (whose parents have to work)? Do you close for snow? (If it's at your house I'm imagining you wouldn't just playing through scenarios.)

8) What do you do activity wise, not just having toys?

Good luck!

SoldiersGreenBean

A state license.

Activities, not just 'free play'

No smoking

A healthy menu, including snacks.  A little flexibility, though.

harvest-wed

I look at the style of engagement that the person has, more supervisory or sitting on the floor playing with the kids?  Do they have any ideas about the different domains of development that would Ideally be stimulated daily?  gross motor, fine motor, language / literacy, social, self care, problem solving / attention,...  I would also want to know if they use a curriculum or weekly or monthly themes,  ... do they watch TV?  How much?

 

good luck!

harvest-wed

also do they drive with the kids?  I would NOT want this.

shouldbworkin

 

Everything Wheeleni said, plus if you're closed, who pays?  If the parent keeps the child home when you're "open," do they still pay?  How many other kids are there and can you give everyone enough one on one time?  Where will the kids be spending their day?  Is it a place I want my kids to be all day long (i.e. not in a basement)?  Where will my kids sleep, eat, use the bathroom/wash?  Is it conducive to what my kids need?

naflmj

We wanted someone who was licensed and had excellent refernces. No TV in the play area was important as well...clearly some people have TV's in the space but if the kids were watching when I walked in, that was a deal breaker.

luvmagoldn

1.  Licensed?

2. Separate sleeping area for the babies?

3.  Cribs and linens provided?  How often are the linens washed?

4.  Where are bottles stored?  Is there a separate refrigerator for the day care?

5.  Do I bring diapers and wipes?  Do I have to bring enough only for the day or do you have room to store boxes of diapers?

6.  Are daily reports given to the parents?

7. Who else lives in the home?  Who else might be in the home during day care hours?  Is there a gun in the home?

8.  Do you anticipate taking the children with you to run errands? (This was a BIG no for me).

To sum it up, I wanted someone to take the job of caring for my children seriously.  I wanted the structure of a larger day care center but with fewer children and more opportunity for one-on-one interactions.