Choosing a Babysitter, Preschool, Child Care Center or Day Care Center

Leaving your child with a child caregiver always causes parents great concern. Parents must trust others with caring for, teaching and protecting their child. One way to lessen the worry is to do your research in order to chose your child caregiver with confidence. Here are some tips to keep in mind when looking for a caring and nurturing facility.

Choosing a Babysitter:

• Interview all potential babysitters well:
  ~ Ask their age (you may want to hire an older teen if you have very young children).
  ~ Ask about their past babysitting or work experience.
  ~ Ask why they are interested in babysitting.
  ~ Ask what activities they enjoy doing with children.
  ~ Ask about other activities they are involved in.
  ~ Ask if they have taken CPR or babysitter's courses.
  ~ Ask for and check references.

• Talk to other families who have hired this babysitter:
  ~ Ask about reliability, trustworthiness and abilities.

• Invite the potential babysitter to your home.
  ~ Observe the babysitter interacting with your children.

• Discuss your views on discipline and child care.
  ~ The sitter should understand how you expect your child to be treated and the forms of discipline you deem appropriate.

• Discuss your house rules especially those pertaining to visitors, bed times, study times, snacks, TV/video game/computer time, etc.

• Talk with your children about the babysitter.
  ~ It is important for your children to feel comfortable with the sitter. Listen to your children and trust them. Respond to the concerns they may express.

• After you hire a compatible sitter, remember to always leave important telephone numbers posted in case of an emergency (relatives, neighbors, doctors, fire, police and where you can be reached while you are out or at work).

Things to consider when choosing other Child Care Programs or Facilities:

• Contact the state Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division; child care information and referral services, or other child care agencies to find out whether the program is reputable and if any complaints have been made in the past.

• Talk to other parents who use the program--ask questions about the teachers (credentials, personalities, responsiveness to parents' concerns), caretakers, facility (cleanliness, safety measures etc.) and programs offered.

• Find out if you have the right to drop in and visit the facility at any time.

• Ask if the school or center welcomes parental participation. Be alert to the degree of openness and attitude about your participation.

• Check policies regarding absences. As a safety measure, some schools will notify parents if their children are not in school.

• Never give an organization blanket permission to take your child off the premises--make sure you are informed about every outing.

• Prohibit, in writing, the release of your child to anyone without your authorization. Notify the program of who will pick up your child. Check to see if the school or program verifies phones calls stating anyone other than a designated person will be picking up your child (by calling you back at your listed number.)