Visiting the Daycare/Preschool

After selecting the prospective daycare or preschool, a tour of each facility is the next step. It is important to view the actual environment and meet the staff. It is also important to observe the activities and schedules for the children, as well as the staff’s interactions with the children. That is, does the staff interact with the children in a friendly manner and listen attentively to the preschoolers? Since the child will be spending a number of hours a day with the staff, it is essential that the staff be diligent and caring.

Planning the visit. You should prepare a list of standard questions. Some questions should be based on information gathered from the brochure or from phone interviews. By asking the same questions to individual staff, you will obtain a good indication of how staff members view the program’s philosophy, its daily operation, and their attitudes toward both their job and the children they serve.

Some questions to ask are:
• What is the check-in/check-out policy for the children?
• Does the school have daily parental communication, both written and verbal, with the caregivers?
• What is the teacher-child ratio? (How many children is each adult responsible for?)
• How many children are in each class?
• Are there parent volunteers?

Classroom management. How does staff deal with discipline and order in the classroom? Ideally, the teacher should praise the children frequently. This can be done either verbally (“Good job, Carol!”) or nonverbally (giving out, for instance, a happy sticker). This is called positive behavior support. Research has found that the more verbal and nonverbal praise given to children who behave appropriately, the less time is spent by the teacher in dealing with inappropriate behavior. However, what happens when the same child behaves inappropriately? Does the teacher take the happy face sticker away from the child? Verbally reprimand the offender? And if the child does better, is the sticker then given back? Is the child praised for improving behavior? This behavior management system may or may not be suitable for very young children, so consider the complexity of any discipline efforts relative to your child’s age and maturity and determine if your child will understand the system. Children need to understand what is expected of them, and learn what is and is not acceptable through consistent adult guidance.

Also, pay attention to other aspects of the classroom management. Does the teacher allow the children to make choices, or are the children always told what to do? Are there positive role models? Are the children taught how to problem solve? Does the program foster independence and provide opportunities for activities to be rewarding for the child?

It is important to ask questions regarding serious behavior problems. Investigate what policies and procedures are in place to ensure a safe learning environment if children exhibit behavior problems such as hitting or biting.

Examine the environment. Since your child may be spending many hours at the daycare or preschool, it is important to observe not only the teachers, but also the physical environment. Clean buildings help to prevent illness or disease, and the cleanliness of the classrooms, bathroom, and kitchen will reflect the priority given to the welfare of the children.

Ask the director about specific physical features of the building. Is there a plan for evacuation in the event of a fire? Is there a sprinkler system? Is the facility painted with lead-based paint or has all the lead paint been removed?

Is the environment stimulating for the children? There should be colorful walls decorated with the children’s artwork, educational toys, and center areas with different types of activities (sand table, science area, toy kitchen area). The children should be allowed to explore these areas and have easy access so that they may develop play skills.

Outdoor play areas should be equally stimulating and should have a variety of playground equipment for climbing, swinging, and jumping. Maybe there is a riding area for small bikes and scooters. Are there shady areas that the children play in during the hotter months? Outdoor play areas that have appropriate, well-maintained equipment and plenty of space to run allow children to safely expend energy and develop social and play skills.

Daycare/Preschool Curriculum
All daycare and preschool programs should make an outline of the curriculum available to parents. The curriculum used by daycare or preschool programs should be consistent with the guidelines produced by your state’s Department of Education. You can find the curriculum guidelines on your state’s Department of Education website. Review the guidelines and the degree to which each daycare or preschool visited follows the guidelines. This will help you make a better decision about the choice of the daycare or preschool.

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