Finding a Child Day Center

By Kathryn Mirick, Director, The Kensington School

One of the most important decisions you may make for you little one is choosing the right daycare option. It is vital to find a childcare setting where your child’s specific needs are met and a place where you as a parent will feel comfortable and at ease leaving your child.

A child day care program in Virginia refers to a regularly operating service arrangement for children where, during the absence of a parent or guardian, a person or organization has agreed to assume responsibility for the supervision, protection, and well-being of a child.

There are two options when considering a child day care program: center based or family based.

Center based licensed programs must meet the standards promulgated by the Child Day-Care Council. The Virginia Department of Social Services enforces these standards by inspecting centers at least twice a year and investigating complaints.

Family based centers that operate 6 to 12 children must also follow licensing standards, which are proposed by the State Board of Social Services and enforced by the Division of Licensing Programs, ensuring that the activities, services, and facilities of the family day home are conducive to the welfare of the children in care. In home facilities have the option of voluntary registering their state licensure when they supervise less than 6 children a day, not including their own child.

Child care centers operated by religious institutions may also be exempt from licensure, not having a continuous monitoring of the state requirements.

Here are some important tips to assist parents in researching a child day center:

Resources: When looking for child day centers to visit, ask for recommendations from friends, and contact your childcare resource and referral agencies for names of providers.

Make a Visit: Although conducting a preliminary phone interview with the Director of a facility may answer general questions about the facility, don’t base your thoughts about a childcare over a phone conversation. Give the center a chance by visiting them and meeting those who work there.

Take Notes: For each childcare that you visit be sure to bring a pad of paper and pencil to write down your notes, questions, feelings.

Cost: Ask if tuition is paid monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly. Is there a registration fee to enroll your child? Is the registration a onetime fee or will it be an annual fee? Is there a yearly/monthly supply or activity fee? What does the tuition include? What forms of payment does the child day center accept?

Staff Requirements: Check with the child day center to ensure all of the teachers are certified in First Aid and CPR. Center licensed by The Department of Social Services are required by law to conduct criminal, background, and reference checks on each employee and volunteer. A family based center may not be required to be background checked, make sure you ask for permission to run a background check on the owner and employees. Ask for references from current and past families to gain their personal perspective and experience.

Teacher Qualifications: Ask the child day center what their qualifications are for Lead Teachers, Assistants, and other staff working closely with your child. Most centers require at least 5 years of experience working with children and a degree in education or a related field of study. Does the facility require teachers to do continuing education courses?

Retention of Staff: Since consistency for children is so vital to their development it is important to ask questions about staff retention. How long has the staff been at the facility? What is the teacher turnover rate?

Curriculum: Ask the director what the specific curriculum is for the child day center you are interested in. Ask to see an example of their daily program. Do you see activities listed on the daily schedule executed throughout the facility? Is there artwork on the walls? Are there pictures of the children’s daily activities. Ask to see examples of what the children do throughout the day.

Reports: Check any reports that are posted from the licensing bureau. Find out what infractions the center has received. These reports are required to be posted in a common area for view to the public as a requirement by the Virginia Department of Social Services. You may also research infraction on each child day center by visiting the VDSS website.

Feel out the Environment: Do children look happy? Is the environment clean? Do you trust that provider? Do you feel that the provider is loving, level headed, energetic, and generally loves all children?

Rules and Regulations: Collect all information regarding policies for a center. Make sure you are aware of all rules, and regulations regarding discipline, sick policies, emergency procedures, safety and evacuation drills,

Safety: Talk with the child day care provider about security and safety of your child. How do parents check their child in and out each day? How is attendance monitored throughout the day. What is their pick up policy when it is not a parent picking up? Does the center transport children? How do they ensure children are kept accounted for at all times when leaving the classroom? What safety and evacuation drills do they have in place, and how often do they practice all of these drills? Do the children take field trips? What are the safety precautions if a child is transported.

Cleanliness: How often the toys in each classroom are cleaned, do they have a dishwasher to sanitize toys, or what type of cleaning disinfectant is used? What is the sick policy children and how soon do I have to pick my child up when I find out they are sick?

Classroom Visit: Talk with the Director and ask to sit in the perspective classroom to watch what a typical day would be like for your child. See how the children interact with the teachers. Do the children look happy and do the teachers enjoy being with the children? Also, ask if they issue a trial day for the child?

Recommendations and References: Talk with your friends, other parents, etc. Word of Mouth is the best way to find useful information about the childcare center you’re interested in! Don’t be afraid to also ask for references from current parents enrolled at the child day center.

Take your time making a decision, and don’t base your decision on price, fancy equipment, and convenience. Your choice should be based on finding a provider who will love and nurture your child. Rely on your gut feeling!

Kathryn Mirick has worked along side with Rachel to create the ideal pre-school and child development center and contributed in the establishment of The Kensington School. Prior to the Kensington School, Kathryn held the position as a Lead Teacher for a private pre-school in Williamsburg, which gave her the opportunity to learn classroom management as well as interact with the children and their families. She has had many years of experience working with children from internships in college to babysitting and nannying positions. Kathryn received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development with a minor in Sociology from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH.