StressFree Day Care

One of the toughest moments that a parent must endure is dropping their child off at day care. It's near impossible to not think about this child while you are at work. The lists below include a few things you can try to simplify the child care Utah process.

Before Your Decision

• Schedule a Visit: Unfortunately, not all day care centers are the same. Some are tidy and operated by caring staff members; others aren't in any condition for children. Make sure you take a good look inside to know what to expect. You will also want to familiarize yourself with the day care staff.
• Review Accreditation: Accreditation is a simple way to learn the standards that a day care meets. A few accreditation organizations are the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC), the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC), and the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).
• Calculate Adult-to-Child Ratio: To be successful, there shouldn't be more children at a day care facility than what their staff can handle. A ratio of one teacher for every ten children is fine for four-year-olds, but the ratio should be decreased to 1:4 for infants.

After Your Decision

• Schedule Meetings: Make sure to have regular meetings with the day care staff. This will ensure that you are always current on your child's behavior patterns, what they are learning, and upcoming events at the facility.
• Volunteer: Volunteer appointments can be found at all day care organizations. The work required could range from watching children during the day or coming after hours to clean or make repairs.
• Changing Your Mind is OK: Don't be afraid to switch to a new day care provider if something doesn't sit right with you. Your child's health is too important for an uncomfortable conversation to get in the way.