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Finding quality care for your child - both before and after
school, is a very important task. This sheet will help you
to identify various factors that may indicate the quality
of a certain program. After evaluation, choose carefully,
keeping in mind what is best for your child and your family.
Consider. Many school-age day care programs are
licensed by the state and by the City of Cincinnati, if
within the city limits. However, licensing does not assure
quality. You should expect more than the bare minimum standards
that licensing requires.
Call. Call several centers or schools to find out
the hours and days in session, ages of children served and
cost of each program, including materials. Consider the
proximity to your child's school and transportation needs.
Then make appointments with those that sound promising.
Visit and Evaluate. Visit at least two or three
centers while the children are there. Spend at least one
hour observing the program and talking with the director.
Listed are characteristics of a good program. Place a check
for each yes answer.
Environment
- Classrooms are clean, attractive, safe, roomy and comfortable
- An outdoor playground protected from hazards that offers
space to run , tumble and play organized games and sports
- Child-size tables and chairs and soft, comfortable
areas
- Enough toys, games and materials so that children don't
have to wait to use them
- Games, arts and crafts, sports and dramatic play for
children of all ages
Staff
- Experts recommend one adult caregiver for every 10 to
15 children
- Staff talk with and listen to the children
- Staff are warn, caring, patient, positive and creative
- Staff are energetic and in control, while being flexible
and fun
- They have a sense of humor
- Staff seem to like being with children
- Adults are positive role models for children
- Staff have training in child development and experience
working with school-sage children
Program
- Children are well supervised
- Activities are offered that are appropriate for children
of all ages
- Time for conversation, reading, listening to music,
homework, or being alone
- A balance between adult-planned activities and individual
choices
- Activities are interesting, fun and challenging where
children can learn by doing and can succeed
- Children work cooperatively on projects and games to
solve problems
- Children seem happy and interested (would you like to
spend your day here if you were a child?
Policies
- Holidays and hours of operation are clearly posted
- Emergency procedures are posted
- Policy for admitting or prohibiting sick children
- Nutritious snacks are served daily
- If appropriate, breakfast and lunches are served that
meet the minimum daily nutritional requirements for school-age
children. Ask to see a sample menu.
- You are comfortable with the discipline polity
- There is a written policy that eliminates spanking,
shaking or hurting a child in any way. Ask to see it.
- Parents receive communications about special activities,
trips or problems
- Programs for parents planned around child development
and parenting issues and other areas that meet parental
needs
- Parents are encouraged to make suggestions, participate
in the program or become involved in planning
- Parents are allowed to visit any time
Warning
Signals
- The center does not encourage parents to observe.
- The children move about without any guidance or involvement
for 30 minutes or more.
- The staff spend most of their time scolding or ordering
the children
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