What are the characteristics and qualities that make a daycare center high-quality? Of course, parents want what is best for their child when it comes to a daycare center; but if you are new to looking for a place to enroll your child, you may not be 100% sure what daycare characteristics separate the excellent, high-quality centers from the rest.
Here is a list of things to look for when searching for a high-quality daycare center.
What Makes a High-Quality Daycare Center?
- Correct Adult-to-Child Ratios
Small group sizes with the correct adult-to-child ratios ensure that settings are safe since the number of adults in the room can safely and vigilantly care for the number of children in the room. These correct adult-to-child ratios also encourage the best opportunities for growth and development since more individual attention can be given to each of the children in the room.
- Experienced Caregivers and Teachers
Having experienced caregivers and teachers in a childcare center is one of the things that really sets a high-quality center apart from the rest. Oftentimes daycare centers can be revolving doors of caregivers, so if you find a center with caregivers and teachers that have been there for a while or have extensive childcare experience, you are looking at something pretty special and high-quality.
- Meaningful Parent Involvement
High-quality daycare centers will offer opportunities for meaningful parent involvement as well.
This could be through field trips, parties, or special activities like a picnic in the park or a special lunch where Mom and Dad could come and eat with their little one. No one can replace you as a parent, so when caring and thoughtful teachers are able to incorporate ways for parents to be involved if they want to be, it shows a higher level of care, thought, and preparation.
- Education and Teaching
A high-quality daycare center creates detailed and age-appropriate lesson plans for its classes. These can include worksheets, hands-on learning activities, crafts, and reading to the class. The education portion of the day should be geared toward that age group of children’s current mental and physical stage of development.
- Fun and Unique Learning Opportunities
Everyone loves to have fun, and unique experiences, including children! A high-quality daycare center will offer fun learning experiences like being visited and taught by a fireman or police officer. It could also be something like having a fun painting day outside, planting a garden together, or raising a little class pet.
These are the qualities to be on the lookout for when you are searching for a high-quality daycare center. Finding the right childcare center for your family may take time, but when you find a center like this, you will be so glad that you took your time!