[nancynic]

Hi,

Looking for child care? A phone call can give you some basic information if you plan ahead and have some questions ready. Here is an example of a list:

Where is the child care home/center located?
What hours is care provided?
What the the ages of the children in care?
Are meals and snacks provided?
What is the charge? How about for more than one child?
Do parents pay when a child is sick or on vacation?
Are activities planned for children?
Do the children play outdoors?
How are children disciplined?
Can parents drop in to visit?

Of course, a visit or two (with your child(ren)) is very important too, but you can begin the process by telephoning.

You may have other questions ... what are they? They would be helpful for other parents.

What are your questions about child care? Your concerns?
What have you learned from having your children in care?

NancyNic

[Judilyn]

In the state of Illinois licensed centers are required to give out a booklet that has a basic over view of the different standards that they must follow. (It is very basic, the directors copy is very lenghty). Anyway there is a phone number in it where you can call to see if the center had any violations found during their last inspection. It surprises me how many people do not even read that booklet or call the number. The book contains helpful information like how many children can be in a room, how many children there can be to 1 staff.

I am not sure if other states do this. In Illinois it is even done for day care homes.

Judilyn

[lambeausam]

I, too, live in Illinois. It amazes me how many workers don't know the rules. I was putting my foster son's bottles in the refridgerator the other day and noticed that they were using 2 % milk in the infant/pre-toddler room. I took the milk out of the refridgerator and handed to the director, who looked confused until I reminded her that children this age are required to drink whole milk.

Definitely pays to know the rules!

[nancynic]

Hi,

It's so important to keep lines of communication open with care givers, and to know about safety standards, nutrition, and child care practices.

I had wonderful experiences when my boys were in child care ... and they benefitted from it. As they got older, they were secure in groups of children and always communicated well with adults.

It all comes back to communication.

NancyNic

[Judilyn]

Are you sure that it was the center's milk? At the center where I worked all milk is kept in the kitchen unless it is a child's personal milk. We have soome children who have a doctors order to have 2% milk but if so then it would be kept in the fridge in the infant room. If that is the case then it should be clearly labled wit that child's name and dated so that it is not given to another child.

[lambeausam]

It was definitely the "general use" milk for the infants/pre-toddlers. I asked the teacher before I took it to the director. In the past, I have also had to remind them about the popcorn and carrot sticks in the 2yo room. Not to mention, PG movies. Evidently they incorrectly assumed that all cartoons and Disney movies were rated G. I really like the center, but wish they were more knowledgable and adhered to regulations better.