Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Chosen Daycare Centre

Aside from providing care, your choice of daycare centre also plays a significant role in developing your child’s social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Therefore, it is very important for parents  to assess their chosen childcare centre carefully; because what’s ideal for one child may not be so for another. So to help you with your decision, we’ve compiled the top 10 questions you should ask your chosen daycare centre when you enquire or visit them.

What are the important questions you should ask your chosen daycare centre?

Here are some of the questions you should ask your chosen day care center before enrolling your child:

1. Do you offer or operate in flexible hours? 

Knowing their operating hours and if they offer flexible hours is important, especially if you have an on-call job. You may ask if they are able to offer extended hours of care, in case you undergo overtime at work.

2. What is the child/staff ratio?

One thing parents fail to notice when choosing a child care centre, is the ratio between the child and staff within the facility. However, this is something you should be cautious about. Afterall, you want your child to receive adequate care and attention during their stay in the facility.

3. Are your carers, educators and staff well-trained and have appropriate certification?

It’s comforting to know that the people who’ll take care of your child are well-trained and certified within their job. So before signing up your child, it is best to know that you will be handing your child to professional carers and educators.

4. How will your program meet the different needs, interests and experiences of the children?

Ask them if their program is available to view so that you can get an understanding of the kind of program that is being implemented in the centre. This will help you decide if their program meets you and your child’s needs.

5. What is your process if my child is unwell, upset or having a hard time?

A crucial factor to consider is how they attend to children if they are sick. How will they process medication for sick children? Do they take note of a child’s medical condition? Will they immediately contact you in case something happens to your child?

This will help you see their preparedness for unexpected things such as a child not feeling well so that you’ll know that they truly care for the children.

6. Do you have a sample of your daily menu and is it readily available for parents to view?

Aside from getting to know what your child’s day will look like at the daycare centre, you should also know where they are going to source the food and who will prepare it. Do they have an in-house chef or are they going to get the food from a cafeteria outside their centre?

What will their menu look like? Do they provide age-appropriate and nutritious food? Can they provide separate food for children with allergies or food restrictions? Make sure you know these things well and let them know ahead if your child has food restrictions.

Here at Cherubs we take pride in delivering healthy, nutritious and delicious meals. Learn more about us.

7. Can I be involved in my child’s time at your centre and how can I participate?

There are daycare centres that encourage parents to be with their children while at the centre. This provides a bonding time for you and your child. However, some parents may not like this especially if they have a very busy schedule. So this is something you need to consider, as well.

8. Are you able to visit your child throughout the day?

Enquire about whether you are able to visit your child throughout the day. It is very important in the early stages to have organised play dates at the centre to enable your child to gradually transition into care.

9. How much will your childcare services cost?

Lastly, you need to ask the childcare centre about their service fees. Will the food, nappies, wipes and other essential things like hats or sunscreen be included in the fee?

10. In regards to security, does the centre have security swipe keys?

Centres that provide security swipe keys for current families only can provide a much safer environment than centres without this option. This gives parents peace of mind that their child is being protected.

About Cherubs Childcare Centre

Do you want secure, high-quality childcare and early education for your child?

Cherubs Early Learning and Kindergarten is here for you and your child. We have licensed carers, educators, and staff that are passionate about helping parents in taking care of their children. Talk to us today and let us discuss the childcare services we can provide you.