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choosing a
child
care center
can be a very scary thing to do, especially for new mothers. when you are balancing your own separation anxiety, thoughts of returning to work and fear of leaving your child with a strange, albeit capable person, the selection process can be overwhelming. so, what are some things you should con- sider when choosing the center that will best suit the needs of your family and keep your child happy, healthy and safe? dr. ?ompson davis, iii, associate professor of psychology at lsu, advises parents
to do their research with the following tips in mind: visit louisianabelieves.com dr. davis suggests that parents start off by ensuring the center is licensed by visit- ing louisianabelieves.com. ?e site also lists center infractions, if any. while one minor incident shouldn?t deter parents from choosing a particular center, multi- ple infractions are cause for alarm. ?ink like a child as part of your research, dr. davis sug- gests that you visit the center. while there, think in the perspective of a child? quite literally. look down at a child?s height level?walk around and see what the child will actually see. check for ap- propriate child-proofing and overall safe- ty. look for colorful images and items, games and toys. ask how the day will be spent: will the child get outside time, or is the entire day spent indoors? get to know the staff parents should check into the staff ?s training requirements and certifica- tions, as well as noting the child-to- adult ratio in the classroom. he also recommends that getting to know the staff is important. ask about a center?s routines and policies angela barnes, director of lsu child development laboratory preschool, teaches a course to potential staffers on how to work with children. barnes says the most important topic she covers is classroom set-up and scheduling. routines are an important component of childhood development. w hen do they go outside and how often? are children always in the same room? are medications given if your child needs them? w hat are children allowed to bring with them? ?e best center vs. the best-for-you center everyone swears by it and it?s the most fabulous center, but dr. davis warns that the most popular or top center might not be the right center for you. while word-of-mouth is certainly a helpful tool, parents should understand that it?s okay to look somewhere else, even if it means bypassing other parents? top picks. is there an open door policy any childcare center should have an open door policy?one in which you can drop in at anytime without calling. since your presence may disrupt the activities of the day, plan to try to stay hidden from your child?s view or drop in during nap and lunchtime. many childcare centers now have camera-monitored classrooms. communication is key. start looking early perhaps the most common advice we hear moms give to others is to begin looking for a childcare center as early as possible?like during your pregnancy. mom of two, kayla valenti, says, ?i wish someone had told me how difficult it can to be to find an opening in a childcare center. ?ere are waiting lists for the best places. i had no idea i needed to start looking well before my due date!? ? choosing a childcare center by leslie d. rose separation anxiety mom can expect to feel stressed along with her child when first beginning the childcare experience. dr. davis stresses the fact that separation anxiety is natural and healthy for the child, because it shows that he or she is capable of forming close relationships. for parents, dr. davis says, ?you?re used to being the primary caregiver?the one who gets to look after this infant?and now you really have to trust somebody else to do that. it?s perfectly normal to be anxious and worried about that, certainly to begin with.? 58 brparents.com | may 2016
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