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Here’s the Deal: Finding summer child care
Your kids are out of school and you have to work — so what are your options?
For many working parents, primarily those who have children of elementary school age and younger, the best option is to employ a child care provider.
But how do you pick the situation is best for your family?
Visit/interview
If you are considering a child care facility, the best way to find out what it would be like for your child is to visit.
Leanna Madsen, the manager of the child care center at Children’s Medical Center in Dayton, said the most important barometer of whether or not to choose a site is how it makes you feel.
“Safety is No. 1. Trust your gut,” Madsen said. “When you visit, does it feel like chaos or does it feel safe? Is the staff focused on the children or are they more concerned with you?”
If you are considering a nanny or baby sitter, make sure you get a good feeling from her as well.
“Do the background checks,” said Cathi Wingate, the owner of Nannies4Hire.com, a national Web site that matches parents with caregivers. “Find out who is coming into your home. Check out references. Get to know about her family background.”
Ask questions
Be prepared to ask questions of the facility and the nanny (as they apply), such as:
What is the adult-to-child ratio? The Ohio state maximum is 18 children to one adult. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a ratio of one staff person for three to five small children and one staff member for seven to 10 older children.
Are groups separated by age? If so, this can allow for more age-appropriate activities and fewer chances for little ones to be overshadowed by bigger kids. Can your kids be in the same group?
What are the caregiver qualifications? Ask about training, experience and turnover.
What are the discipline policies? How do they address fighting? Bullying? Swearing? Ask for a copy of their policies to make sure their philosophy is in line with yours.
How safe is the facility? Check the building and playground. Are poison control phone numbers and ambulance phone numbers clearly posted? Are there fire alarms? Do they hold fire drills?
Does the playground have impact-absorbing surfaces, such as wood chips, under the swings and slides? Are the children protected from strangers? Are safety gates used for small children? Are outlets covered?
How clean is the facility? How often is the bathroom cleaned? Are the toys and counter tops washed every day?
How do they handle sickness/injury? When do they notify parents? Is medicine given? Is there a nurse on staff? Are the children required to have up-to-date vaccinations?
Is hand-washing a priority? Is the staff certified in first aid? When should you keep your kids home from the center? Will they retain a medical history for the child?
What’s for lunch? Does the site ask for kids to bring lunch? If not, what is on the menu? Is lunch chaotic or calm? Is the food properly stored? Are the kids offered enough fluids?
What is a typical day like? What exactly will the kids be doing? Are there opportunities for every child to succeed? Is there downtime? How often do the kids watch TV or play video games?
How are field trips handled? What is the safety plan? How long are the kids in the van? What about water safety? Who is assigned to whom? Do caregivers apply sunscreen?
Is there an educational component? Is time made to freshen up on reading and math, or is there an effort to teach something new?
What is the cost? How much is it per week? Per day? Do you still pay if your child misses time for illness or vacation? Are there deals for siblings? What discounts are available?
“Quality child care doesn’t come cheap — unless it’s Grandma,” Madsen said.
Third party check
One way to get information locally is to contact 4C Miami Valley, a designated child care resource and referral agency for the region. The agency, which is on 5th street in Dayton, can be contacted at (937) 220-9660.
Karen Middendorf of 4C also suggested parents look into the Step Up to Quality program, a voluntary Three-Star Quality Rating System that recognizes and promotes early care and education programs.
For information on Step Up to Quality, visit the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Web site or call (877) 852-0010.
A way to check on a facility directly is to contact the Better Business Bureau. On its Web site at DaytonBBB.org, consumers can type in the name of the facility and get a full report.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Sunday columns
Comments
By Frank
May 5, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
First if I were not willing to make the sacrifices to insure my children were care for by my family I would not have them at all. Grandma took care of me sometimes when I was a kid. Second, if you get day care your child is being raised by someone who does not love him or her. This breaks the bond of families and keeps groups from forming that will make changes in the corrupt government. Do you not see that the government spend more money supporting the disolution of marriages than trying to keep families together. Children of single family homes are much more likely to care for no one other than themselves than a child raised by his parrents. This is good if you are a government who does not want the people to come together to make changes! Shame on you if you left your spouse and use the governemnt to get paid! You are as negligent as anyone I have even met!