Time flies fast. You welcomed your little munchkin into the world a few months or a year ago, but it feels like it was yesterday. And just with that, your career break comes to an end. 

As you prepare to return to work, the search for the perfect daycare begins. It’s a mix of emotions, isn’t it? 

You’re excited to rejoin the workforce and that your baby will explore new experiences, meet other little ones, and start learning. But there is also a bit of anxiety at the thought of entrusting someone else with their care. 

Handing your infant over to someone else’s care is no small step. This decision carries so much weight, which is why you must be careful when choosing a daycare. 

On top of that, African American children generally have higher enrollment rates in daycare compared to other racial groups. This statistic is often attributed to several factors, including higher rates of parental employment and the subsequent need for reliable childcare.

“African American children generally have higher enrollment rates in daycare compared to other racial groups.”

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 63% of African American children under five are cared for by someone other than a parent at least once a week, a slightly higher rate than that of White children. This increased reliance on daycare can also be linked to socioeconomic factors, as many Black families require dual-income households, making external childcare a necessity​.

The U.S., for instance, has more than 575,528 daycare businesses. Likewise, over 45,366 businesses in Canada provide care for children. 

But do all of them provide quality care?  Unfortunately, no. Not every daycare meets the standards you’d want for your child. That’s why it’s so important to know what to look for and how to ensure your little one is in good hands. 

Here, we’ll share a few tips that can help you find a daycare where your little one will thrive while you’re away. 

#1 Gather Information About Local Daycare Centers

Don’t assume all daycare centers are of high quality, warns WebMD. You must research all the centers in and around your locality. 

Google is your go-to source. But recommendations from friends and family are also just as valuable. So, ask them if they have any personal experiences with specific daycare centers or if they can share any suggestions.  

Another great option to “find the best daycare near me” is to search for potential day nurseries in online directories. They will help you connect with daycares that fit your criteria. 

You can explore various daycare providers and their offerings on platforms like Childcare Center. That will give you a clearer picture of which daycares are available. It offers a plethora of filters, from location, age, distance, and even licensing, to help narrow your search. 

You can also compare different centers based on their programs and pricing. Reviews and ratings are also displayed, so you can gauge the experiences of other parents and get a sense of the quality of care provided.

#2 Pay A Visit To Your Top Picks

It’s not a good idea to settle on any daycare center without visiting the location. 

The deputy director of DCF’s Bureau of Early Care Regulations, dRosalva Orozco, encourages families to visit daycare centers. Rosalva says you can learn a lot by dropping by at day nurseries. Hence, schedule visits to the daycare centers you’ve shortlisted. 

When you walk through the door, soak in the atmosphere. Is it warm and inviting? You want a place where your kid feels at home.

Observe the interactions between staff and children. Are caregivers kneeling down to talk to the kids? If they don’t do that, they are not fully attentive. 

Pay attention to kids as well. Notice if they are happy and engaged in their activities. This can tell you a lot about the daycare’s culture.

Take a good look around—check for cleanliness, organization, and safety features like secure exits and CCTV cameras. And don’t forget the outdoor play area. It should be a safe space to burn off energy, not a place where children are at risk of injury. 

#3 Check For Licensing And Accreditation

Don’t skip this step, or you might regret it. 

Just this August, Michigan revoked Tiny Tators Childcare’s license after it failed to provide appropriate care to children and failed to supervise them. The day nursery also used prohibited techniques for discipline when caring for children. 

Another longtime childcare center’s license was suspended in Richford. Parents made allegations that the facility had unsanitary conditions, was understaffed, and their children weren’t taken care of properly. 

Thus, it’s essential to make sure that the daycare is licensed and meets your state’s regulations. Licensing requirements can vary from country to country, so it’s essential to do your homework. 

Take, for example, Canada. Louise De Lannoy, the executive director of Outdoor Play Canada in Kanata, Ontario, explains that the property and daycare programs must adhere to multiple regulations. Those involve the building, playground, furnishings, staff education, record, nutrition, and programming. 

Visiting the Department of Licensing of your country or state will help you verify the licensing status of the childcare you’re planning to enroll your child in. 

Accreditation from organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) can also be a good sign that the daycare meets high-quality standards. 

Research says that children in high-quality childcare experience positive long-term outcomes. 

Make Your Decision

It can be a bit stressful to decide which daycare center to enroll your child in. But it won’t be that difficult if you do your homework through research, visits, and verifying licenses and accreditation.

Once you’ve made your choice, drop by unannounced. When you show up unexpectedly, you get a genuine glimpse of how things operate on a typical day. You might catch the staff in their natural interactions with the kids, which can tell you a lot about their caregiving style.

Don’t enroll your child if something feels off. Continue your search. Soon enough, you will find a place that feels just right for you and your child. 

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