Quality Childcare

Quality Child Care: Health and Safety Questions
1. Do all adults and children wash their hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before eating?
2. Are diaper-changing tables cleaned and disinfected with a bleach solution after each use?
3. Can the program show records of all the children’s required shots?
4. Are medicines labeled and out of children’s reach? Are adults trained in giving medicines and keeping records of what was given to whom?
5. Are cleaning supplies and other poisonous materials locked up, away from children’s reach?
6. What is the plan if a child is injured, sick or lost?
7. Are first aid kits easy for adults to get to?
8. What is the plan in case of disaster - fire, flood, earthquake, terrorism, etc.?
9. Can all adults be seen by someone else at all times when with children, throughout the rooms and/or through interior windows?
10. Have all adults been trained on preventing child abuse, spotting potential signs of abuse, and on rules on reporting suspected abuse?
11. Have all adults had their backgrounds checked nationally?

Quality Child Care:Supervision
12. Are children watched at all times, even when sleeping?
13. Are adults warm and welcoming. Do they pay individual attention to each child?
14. Do adults handle children’s behavior in positive ways, without yelling or using any physical punishment?
15. Are there enough adults to serve the children? (Ask local experts about the best staff/child ratios for different age groups.)
16. Do you know how many caregivers are there per group of children? (Hint: Your child will get more attention if each caregiver has fewer children to take care of.)
Quality Child Care:Learning Environment
17. Is program arranged in specific areas such as blocks, art, books, dress-up, table toys and puzzles?
18. Are lesson plans posted for everyone to see? Do they allow for children to be creative and actively involved? Are children learning while they play?
19. Is playground equipment in good condition? Are there sand or wood chips or a padded material underneath? Is the playground fenced to at least 4 feet? Is the playground (or yard) checked daily for dangerous objects?

Quality Child Care:Policies for Parents
20. Is it ok for you to drop in any time you want to?
21. Are you given written policies?
22. Will you have a formal conference about your child at least once a year?
Quality Child Care:Staff Training
23. If a child care center, does the director have a college degree and at least two years of experience?
24. Does the lead teacher in the classroom have at least a credential like a CDA** and one year of experience? In family child care, does the provider have at least one year of experience working with young children?
25. Is everyone trained in first aid and infant/child CPR?
26. Is there a training plan for everyone working with children?
27. In a center, is there a written salary schedule and are there benefits?
Quality Child Care:Administration
28. Are written personnel policies and job descriptions available?
29. Are center staff evaluated formally once a year?
30. Are parents and staff surveyed annually about their satisfaction?
31. Is the program as a whole evaluated annually in a formal way?
32. Is the program accredited by a national organization?
*Questions are based on research findings. ** CDA is Child Development Associates credential. Teachers and assistants might also have an Associate’s Degree from a community college or a Bachelor’s degree.