When a baby attends day care, it is imperative that his or her parents can rest assured knowing that they have chosen the best possible environment for their child which is both safe and stimulating. During the selection process, it can be helpful to get recommendations from other parents, but more importantly, the parent of the prospective attendee must tour the facility in-person. If searching for an exceptional infant day care Union City GA parents must check for the following features.
The center should possess at minimum a state license, which indicates that it meets health and safety standards set by the government, and preferably it should also be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an organization which has even higher standards. There should be a ratio of 3 infants to 1 caregiver, low turnover of caregivers, and a philosophy that encourages healthy growth on many levels.
Parents touring the facility should note how the staff and the babies in their care look and behave, the former should display the patience, gentleness, and playfulness associated with a dedicated childcare provider, while the latter should look content and be kept tidy. Play areas should be spacious and stocked with an assortment of infant-friendly books and toys, with no potential choking hazards, and the nap area should have a crib for each child.
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.
Stringent hygiene rules need to posted and practiced by all workers and older children. Infants' personal care items should never be shared, hands must be washed often, and food should not be prepared in close proximity to the diaper change area. Children must be up-to-date with their vaccinations, and if they are ill, they should remain at home.
Safety measures, commonly found in most homes, should also be present. Stairways must be protected with gates, windows secured with window-guards, floors must not be cluttered as to provide a clear walkway, exits clearly marked, and there must also be smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on the premises. Infants need to be placed on their backs to sleep in a crib free of pillows or puffy bedding which can pose a suffocation risk.
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.
The center should possess at minimum a state license, which indicates that it meets health and safety standards set by the government, and preferably it should also be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an organization which has even higher standards. There should be a ratio of 3 infants to 1 caregiver, low turnover of caregivers, and a philosophy that encourages healthy growth on many levels.
Parents touring the facility should note how the staff and the babies in their care look and behave, the former should display the patience, gentleness, and playfulness associated with a dedicated childcare provider, while the latter should look content and be kept tidy. Play areas should be spacious and stocked with an assortment of infant-friendly books and toys, with no potential choking hazards, and the nap area should have a crib for each child.
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.
Stringent hygiene rules need to posted and practiced by all workers and older children. Infants' personal care items should never be shared, hands must be washed often, and food should not be prepared in close proximity to the diaper change area. Children must be up-to-date with their vaccinations, and if they are ill, they should remain at home.
Safety measures, commonly found in most homes, should also be present. Stairways must be protected with gates, windows secured with window-guards, floors must not be cluttered as to provide a clear walkway, exits clearly marked, and there must also be smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on the premises. Infants need to be placed on their backs to sleep in a crib free of pillows or puffy bedding which can pose a suffocation risk.
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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