Safety and Health in Daycare

When visiting a daycare center, there are a lot of questions parents might have. This is particularly true if it is their first experience with daycare. If you do not know where to begin, the process can be stressful.

Safety and health is a common subject matter that sometimes comes up when searching for daycare. Whenever you’re searching for daycare near me, here are a couple of vital questions to ask and aspects to think about:

Preventing Sickness at the Center

Taking good care of ourselves and practicing healthy habits may be second nature to a lot of individuals. However, for our kids who have developing immune systems, they need to learn healthy habits.

You will want to look for a daycare center that will help your kids establish lifelong healthy habits, from teaching kids how to use tissues to shoeless environments. Here are a couple of questions to ask:

• If a kid gets ill during the day, what will happen?
• Do kids have to stay out of the center for a particular period of time if they’re ill?
• Are liquid soaps, sinks, and tissues available readily?
• Can I see a sample lunch or snack menu?
• Is encouraging a healthy lifestyle part of the curriculum?
• Do you lead by example by including kids in the exercise routine and preparation of healthy meals?
• Can you share your sickness policy?

Allergy and Food Management

You might be hesitant to enroll in a daycare center if your kid has a food allergy. You’ve got to verify that the center has solid procedures and policies in place to handle every allergy. Also, they’ve got to take these matters extremely seriously. Here are a couple of questions to ask:

• What happens in the case of an emergency?
• Does the EpiPen go everywhere my kid goes?
• Who can give an EpiPen?
• Is the center nut-free and can you verify what that means to you?
• How does the center confirm that every kid gets the right food?
• Can you tell me how the center keeps track of whose food is whose?
• Do you train in allergy reaction prevention and treatment?
• How are food allergies managed?

Supervision and Ratios

Though teacher-to-kid rations might depend slightly from one state to another, they’re mandated and should be followed.

• Does the center have roll-call procedures and transition track?
• Are kids supervised properly?
• Ask about the classroom’s ratios.

First Aid and CPR

Ask if staff members are well-trained in case of an emergency and are updated on certifications.

• Is it mandatory for them to keep certifications updated?
• Do teachers have certifications in first aid and CPR?

Open Door Policies and Security

It is vital to know the front door security of the center. This includes a secure entrance where the front doors are situated.

• How do visitors, or people who are authorized to pick-up or drop-off get in?
• How do families enter the center?
• Are pick-up and drop-off procedures consistent and detailed?
• Is there an open-door policy? Are families welcomed to drop by at any point?