Tamarindo Real Estate

With the current state of the economy, many moms are facing the inevitable: finding a job outside of the home. The biggest challenge when returning to work is searching for a reputable child care provider. There are many child care options for working parents: private daycare centers, Montessori preschool programs, Mother’s Day Out programs (usually found in church organizations), and in-home child care providers such as nannies, babysitters, or providers who care for children in their own home.

You will need to research the options available to you locally, then choose which centers you want to visit. Before visiting the center or in-home child care provider, be sure develop a list of questions to ask the director or provider. Here is a checklist you can use: * How many staff members are there and are there enough to adequately supervise the children?
* Are the staff members CPR and First Aid certified? What other qualifications do the staff members have?
* If this is a child care home, are there any other adults or children in the home during the hours of operation?
* Is the area clean and safe with clear exits in case of emergency? Is there a clearly posted emergency exit plan or can the staff member sufficiently demonstrate the exit strategy?
* Are first aid supplies and fire extinguishers readily available?
* What kind of discipline philosophy is followed at the child care facility (verbal warnings, time-out)?
* Are there stairs? Are the stairs gated to prevent accidents and falls?
* Are precautions taken to maximize safety such as covering outlets, putting latches on drawers and cabinets where chemicals or medications are stored?
* Are toys, games, and play areas clean and how often are they cleaned? What chemicals or method of cleaning is used to clean the toys, games, and play areas?
* Are toys appropriate for the age of the child and are the toys separated by age so that younger children do not have access to small objects that can cause a choking hazard?
* Are there any weapons on the premises and where are they stored?
* If this is a child care home, are there any pets? If so, will children have contact with the pets? Are the pets current on rabies and vaccinations?
* Do children have access to clean toilets? Is there an area for handwashing with soap and individual paper towels for drying hands?
* If there is a pool, does the homeowner have a fence around the pool, a self-latching gate? What precautions are taken to ensure that a child cannot gain access to the pool?
* Playground equipment must be anchored and surrounded by a shock absorbing material.
* What types of meals and snacks are served? Are they nutritious? Does the child care center participate in the child care food program?
* What types of activities will your child be participating in? Are they educational and allow for playtime indoors and outdoors during the day? Do they go on any field trips, walks to a park, swimming and what precautions are taken to ensure safety if they do?
* Can the program adequately accommodate special needs and how so?

More information about researching and locating in-home child care providers can be found at A to Z Childcare Directory. After you read more tips, you can search our database of providers to find a provider in your state. It is a completely free service, so login and search for the right provider.

If you are looking for a babysitter, Sittercity provides a great service that will help you screen and locate babysitters. My sister-in-law even used this service when she had to travel out of town for a wedding. She was very impressed with the service and the babysitter that she entrusted her son to. Find great sitters in your area on Sittercity.com. Try Sittercity for free today!

Browse Pre-Screened Nanny Profiles
at Care.com. You will find a large selection of care providers using their services, especially if you are looking for a nanny or au pair.

Whether you are looking for a daycare center, in-home child care provider, nanny, or babysitter, make sure you are 100% satisfied with the service you are receiving. After all, you are leaving your child in their hands.

Tags | child care provider, find child care, in-home child care, search for child care