The Ultimate List of Do’s & Don’ts When Choosing a Daycare or Preschool

Our smart guide to choosing the daycare or preschool that’s best for you & your family

Choosing a daycare or preschool is an important decision involving a lot of factors. You want what’s best for your child, but you also want something you can afford. The whole process can feel very overwhelming, especially if you’re a new parent. We’ve collected some tips and tricks to forming a guide to help you simplify your checklist and confidently choose the daycare or preschool that’s right for your family and finances.

Group or Home-based Daycare

There are two types of daycare available in the United States: group daycare and home daycare. Both types of daycares are business operations-- however, group daycares are typically more similar to a school setting with a large number of children, and home daycare centers are independently-owned and operated out of someone's private home.  

Group Daycare

Group daycare facilities are licensed and inspected by the state government and are often referred to as preschools. Children are usually grouped together by age-- infants, toddlers, and so on-- and many of these facilities utilize curriculum for each age group. Sometimes these centers are run by employers, faith-based groups, and even schools (sometimes as part of their early childhood development curriculum as a type of residency).  

The upsides to group daycares is that they often have a larger time range for their hours of operation, and you have the comfort and security of knowing that each person in charge of your child(ren) is required to have the state minimum standards of education and training. There are also restrictions and requirements about the ratio of caregiver to children to help prevent a lack of supervision. And the socialization of your child-- no matter what the age-- is always a good thing.  

The downsides to group daycare include things like a lack of operating hours on holidays where parents may still need to work, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and New Year's Day. Being a group setting also means that your children are exposed to illnesses and potential allergens that are out of your control-- although you can rest assured that most (if not all) states require these facilities only to admit children who have been vaccinated. And while the state regulates cleanliness and staffing, there are times when those requirements are unable to be met temporarily.  

Home Daycare

Home daycare centers are privately-owned and operated out of the proprietor's home, which does add an intimate touch to the atmosphere. Often, the person who owns the business watches their children at the same time-- it is an ingenious and effective method of being a stay-at-home parent while still bringing in income.  

Upsides of private, in-home care include smaller groups and the possibility of more individualized attention. You'll also have the opportunity to talk directly with the person in charge of taking care of your child or children, so you can problem-solve immediately and also make sure that your caregiving/parenting philosophies match up. It also means that you can discuss one-on-one activities and interactions they and your child will have with each other.  

The downsides of in-home daycare lead with the possibility that the state may not have as stringent requirements as they do for group facilities. Not all states hold in-home daycare to the same standards, so do your homework to see what-- if any-- legal requirements are placed on in-home daycare centers in your state. Start by checking out your state's department of education website. You can also check the National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations for an interactive map where you can click on each state to see their requirements.  

The reasons that in-home daycare providers are subject to fewer restrictions and regulations than group daycare vary from state to state. Most states do have minimal requirements for owning and operating an in-home daycare center, such as background checks for the household members and childproofing the areas of the house to which children have access. This ensures that some standards are kept for the safety and wellbeing of the child, while still respecting the privacy of the resident and keeping the cost of operations affordable. 

Certifications, Education & Training

Once you’ve decided on the type of daycare you’d like for your child or children, it’s time to check out what kind of reputation and education and training each proprietor has. Often, certifications, education, and training documents are displayed-- if so, check them out. If not, and the proprietor cannot produce them quickly-- maybe don’t choose that location. 

Certifications

States will have specific requirements for certifying daycare centers. You’ll need to do some research to see what your state requires for the type of daycare center you’ve chosen-- group or private. However, no matter what kind of daycare you choose, there are specific certifications for which you’ll want to ask the proprietor. These include first aid, CPR, and health inspections. 

Education & Training

You don’t want just anyone working with your child-- or anyone’s children-- without the right educational background and training. That’s not to say that everyone who works in caregiving for kids should be required to have a Master’s degree and hundreds of hours of training-- that would place the viability of daycare out of reach for too many people who are just naturally good with kids. However, it is preferable-- and depending on the state requirements, mandatory-- for some or most of the staff in the daycare center to have a degree of some sort in early childhood development or education. 

You also want to check for proof of continuing education in the form of training. Those who have teaching degrees and certifications are often required by the state to complete so many hours of professional development within a specific time frame. Ask to see proof, as many states provide educators with online tracking and training typically offer a certificate of some sort as tangible proof of attendance. Organizations such as The Red Cross also offer certifications and training for educators and caregivers. 

Curriculum

In addition to the staff’s education and professional development, you’ll want to examine the curriculum endorsed or utilized by the daycare provider.  What will your child or children get out of this experience other than supervision?  

Purchased Curriculum

Many daycare centers who are group centers purchase a pre-made curriculum from early childhood education companies.  The benefits to this include reliable resources, state standards, and (sometimes) online access to progress tracking.  It also means that there should be materials for you to examine during a visit as samples of what your kids will learn.  There might even be resources for you as a parent!  

Individualized Curriculum

Some daycare centers like to build their own curriculum, which definitely allows them to customize their lessons and activities to their mission.  This may be especially important to faith-based providers.  Again, ask to see what they’re offering and check for any take-home resources or samples.  

Special Needs Families

Daycare for special needs children requires specialized and/or individualized curriculum.  Many schools and daycare centers can refer (or may have on staff) someone to test for learning disabilities and autism.  You’ll need to check if the center offers adaptations or modifications and differentiation in their curriculum for special needs and different learning styles.  

Visits and Interviews

Always schedule a visit and have a checklist of important issues as well as any questions you may have.  Also, take your child’s medical records and any other important information with you in case of enrollment screenings.  

Interviews

Definitely go with a printed or written list of questions that include subjects such as: what is the disciplinary process?  Are there fees or charges if I’m late dropping off my children?  What kind of security processes are in place for pick up?  What kind of background checks do you run?  

Visits

Whenever possible, schedule a visit.  Look for cleanliness, displayed credentials, and how the staff interacts with each other and with the children already under their care.  Are folks washing their hands frequently (not just after diaper changes and before mealtimes)?  Are supervisors interacting with caregivers in a respectful manner?  Are caregivers down on the floor, directly playing and interacting respectfully and enthusiastically with their charges?  If you see anyone on their cell phones, clusters of children watching movies or in baby swings instead of playing or learning, maybe don’t choose that center.  

Whatever style of daycare you choose, be sure that if you sense anything is wrong that you speak up.  Yes, children thrive in an environment of commitment and consistency, but only if that environment is the one you believe to be the healthiest and best for them.  Don’t be afraid to change your mind until you find the daycare that is best for you and your children.