If you’re in the market for a new daycare but feel overwhelmed about where to start, here’s a quick guide for researching new daycare options. 

Know the Types of Childcare

First things first, educate yourself on the types of childcare. These include:

• Daycare or child care center
• In-home childcare 
• Head Start and Early Head Start
• Prekindergarten programs
• School-age programs, such as the YMCA
• Military families child care options
• Informal home childcare, such as from a family or friend

While daycare is the most accessible and affordable childcare option, it may be worth looking into other choices to best fit the needs of your family. 

For instance, some children may do better in a smaller class size such as in-home childcare while others may enjoy larger groups at a daycare. At the same time, children who desire fewer playmates may benefit from exposure to larger groups so the transition to kindergarten isn’t overwhelming.  

Know Ohio’s Resources

Each state has different requirements for childcare. These differences may be things like teacher-to-child ratios or sanitation standards. 

Knowing Ohio’s standards will help you evaluate whether the daycare you’re considering is of quality. For instance, a daycare may have passed the state’s licensure standards but relaxed its everyday standards after licensure. These daycares should be avoided, as it puts your child in a potentially harmful or dangerous environment.

To find out Ohio’s resources and licensure standards, click here. 

Find Daycares in Your Area

One of the hardest parts of researching daycares is finding all the childcare options available in your area. Sometimes the search bar or map app isn’t sufficient in finding the childcare gems. 

Ohio.gov makes it easy to find local daycares with their search bar. You can search by city, zip code, program type, hours of operation, other services provided, and accreditation. 

Once you have a list of daycares in your area, you can start to delve more deeply into choosing a quality daycare that best fits the needs of your family.

Let’s face it: not all daycares are the same. Some daycares only meet the bare minimum state standards, while others go above and beyond to provide the safest, cleanest, most educational space they can.

Every parent wants their child enrolled in a high-quality daycare. But what are the defining characteristics for quality childcare? Here are three ways:

Stimulating Schedule and Environment

Childcare is more than making sure children stay out of trouble, eat their veggies, and get a nap on time. The daycare’s environment is what will shape your child’s understanding of the world, their creativity, and their drive to learn. 

Some daycares may skimp on creating a learning schedule and sticking to it. But at Care4Kids, we quality curriculum for our classes to ensure children’s development is stimulated by age-appropriate gross and fine motor tasks, music, and early childhood education.

Even babies and toddlers have a schedule! These young children grow exponentially when exposed to music, books, and simple arts and crafts. 

Safe and Sanitary Space

A facility that cares for dozens of children can get messy very quickly. It’s imperative that the staff employ proper sanitation practices to reduce the spread of germs and prevent accidents from happening.

The daycare space should also be a safe one: toys should be age-appropriate, first aid kits should be available, cleaning supplies should be locked away from a child’s reach, shelves should be anchored to the wall, and more. 

Licensed Business and Staff

Daycares must be licensed by the state of Ohio in order to legally operate. These licenses must be renewed annually. Check to ensure your daycare has a valid business license. You can also view if your daycare ever had a lapsed or revoked license. 

Daycares are required by law to only employ staff who have undergone a background check and maintain certain health qualifications, like a negative TB test. 

What sets quality daycares above average daycares is when staff continue to grow in their childcare skills. Seminars, conferences, or in-house training are great ways to maintain a high standard of childcare. 

At Care4Kids, we check all the boxes for quality childcare! Our curriculum and schedule are exciting for all ages, we maintain a safe and sanitary space, our business is licensed, and our staff continue to grow in their field. If you’re looking for quality childcare in the Wooster area, check out Care4Kids!

Choosing the right childcare for your family can feel like an overwhelming task. While it does take extra work upfront, there’s great satisfaction in finding the best childcare fit and confidence in the childcare provided.

Here are some beginning steps to choosing childcare.

Explore Types of Childcare 

There are many options for childcare. You could hire a friend or nanny, or enroll in home childcare or daycare. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of childcare. For instance, a nanny service provides one-on-one care, but is generally more expensive than daycare or home childcare. Daycare doesn’t provide the same one-on-one experience as a nanny, but it develops social skills, provides early childhood education, and has dependable hours. 

Care4Kids is one of the best daycares in the Wooster area. Our highly skilled teachers provide outstanding care and early childhood education.

Make a List of Daycare Options

Next, make a list of potential childcare options. You can do this by using a search page or with ChildCare.gov. 

Write down the details for each option, such as the location, operating hours, cost, and inspection records. Cross out anything that isn’t a good fit and arrange the options from first to last preference.

It can be challenging to keep each facility’s specifics organized. Making a Pro/Con list can be helpful in evaluating each option. Once a facility’s cons begin to outweigh the pros, cross it off your list. 

Investigate Each Daycare Option

Starting with your highest preference, further investigate each option:

• License: Check the facility’s license status. Each facility should update its license annually. See if the facility has ever had a license revoked or suspended.
• Inspection Reports: Dive deeper into the inspection reports. Check if the facility had any health or safety violations and if the facility fixed them. 
• Ratings: Read customer reviews and ratings to see others’ experiences at the facility. You should also be able to view any child care complaints. 

After further investigation, you may find that you can cross off more options or even rearrange your preference list.

Contact and Visit Each Daycare Option

With your revised preference list in hand, contact each option through email or a phone call. Have a list of questions ready, such as:

• Availability
• Confirming full-time and part-time prices
• How illnesses, medications, and first-aid situations are handled
• School closure policies
• Disciplinary measures

If the childcare option gives satisfactory answers, then arrange a visit. Some websites (like ours!) give virtual tours, but it’s best to see the childcare facility in person. Then you will know how to get there, the surrounding area, and whether you like the atmosphere of the building and staff. 

Make a Final Decision

Unless your decision is time-sensitive, give yourself a few days before making a final decision. Discuss your findings with your partner, friend, or family member. Most childcare facilities will allow a second visit if you’d like to ask more questions or see the facility again.

Care4Kids Is the Best Daycare Option in Wooster

Care4Kids offers outstanding childcare in the Wooster area. Parents give Care4Kids high ratings for the center being a safe and caring environment. Our staff are qualified and trained to care and teach children of all ages. Plus, Care4Kids’ location couldn’t be better! Ready to learn more? Contact us today!

Every parent wants to keep their child safe. Children are safest in their parents’ care, but parents can’t be with their children all the time. When you can’t be with your child, you want to have a responsible childcare team that values safety as much as you do! 

But what makes a childcare center safe? 

Every childcare center must be licensed by the state of Ohio and meet minimum standards for staff accreditation, safety, sanitization, and nutrition. While these minimum requirements are important, some daycares never do more than the basic standards. Going above and beyond the state’s minimum requirements sets quality daycares above average ones. 

Here are some key areas to keep in mind when you’re looking for childcare.

Secure Policies

Some preschools have lax safety policies. For instance, some facilities may let staff’s family members or friends inside during business hours. Letting any visitor into the building is a huge red flag. At Care4Kids we keep a tight rein on who we allow in the building so you don’t have to worry about strangers watching your children.

Our security cameras record everything in the building, playground, and parking lot. Additionally, our playground area is shielded from most foot and automobile traffic. 

High Sanitation Standards

In a post-pandemic world, everyone must be even more careful to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, including daycares! 

There are three primary ways daycares can practice proper sanitation for safety:

• Hand Washing: Staff need to wash their hands frequently–after every diaper change, after assisting a child on the toilet, before serving food, whenever they come in contact with bodily fluids, and sporadically throughout the day. Hand sanitizer should also be used frequently. Modeling these sanitary behaviors also helps children develop safe sanitation habits.
• Toy Sanitation: Toys must be cleaned regularly, especially in younger classrooms where children put everything in their mouths. A facility should clean toys throughout the day and before closing.
• Building Sanitation: Toilets and sinks should be cleaned with a bleach solution, and floors need to be mopped regularly. Additionally, the building should be routinely checked for mold, termites, water damage, and more.  

If you notice staff not washing their hands, dirty toys, or the building is unclean, talk to the daycare director or consider switching daycares.

At Care4Kids, we do our share to prevent the spread of viruses and illnesses. Although illness will still occur, we carefully train and hold our staff accountable to our sanitation policies. 

High Staff Standards and Policies

By state law, daycare workers must be background checked and maintain certain health standards to be employed by a daycare. However, checking these boxes doesn’t make a staff member automatically a good teacher or role model.

At Care4Kids, we are picky in our hiring process. We want the best teachers and staff so we can provide quality childcare and early education! Our teachers are skilled in classroom management, peacemaking skills, and early childhood education, and are all-around great role models for children.

Safety should be a top priority for any parent placing their children in the care of other adults. The childcare workers should be background-checked, competent, and caring, and each classroom should be clean and child-proofed. 

How do you know whether your childcare facility is safe for your child? Ensure the facility has a current Ohio childcare licensure!

What Is a Childcare License?

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will license a childcare facility when it meets the basic requirements for:

• Staff accreditation
• Safety
• Sanitization
• Nutrition

A daycare or childcare facility must renew its license every year. Operating a daycare without certification or with a lapsed license is illegal, and the director is subject to penalties. 

Why Is Licensure Important?

These regulations are vital for your child’s safety and happiness in a childcare facility. 

For instance:

• Staff Accreditation: If staff are not properly trained in classroom management and age-appropriate activities, your child could be subject to harm. All staff members need regular training on childcare and safety regulations. Well-intentioned but ignorant workers should not be responsible children. 
• Safety: The building must pass a safety inspection and have appropriate medical and safety devices available, like fire extinguishers and first aid equipment. Your child could be subject to harm if shelves are not anchored to the wall, toys are a choking hazard, or first aid equipment is not readily available. 
• Sanitation: Your child could get sick if the facility is not cleaned throughout the day, there is mold growing on the walls, or childcare workers don’t wash their hands after changing a diaper. 
• Nutrition: If your child receives breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the facility, the daycare must offer optimal foods for growing children. Your child could miss out on vital nutrients if a facility doesn’t offer a balanced diet or could gain unnecessary weight if the menu has too many high-fat or sugary foods.

Care4Kids Goes the Extra Mile for Safety

At Care4Kids, you don’t have to wonder if your child is in a safe environment. Not only does Care4Kids have an Ohio state license, but we go above and beyond state requirements to ensure your child’s safety. 

We carefully monitor visitors to ensure no unauthorized person enters the building. Our small class sizes minimize the spread of illnesses and allow children to receive quality care and attention from teachers. Finally, we pride ourselves on our nutritious menu that meets health standards and tastes good, too!

If you’re looking for childcare in the Wooster area, Care4Kids should be at the top of your list!

Wooster is one of the best places to enroll your child in childcare. It is safe, easily accessible from several main roads, has great proximity to many stores and restaurants, and is in an excellent school district.

Even though Care4Kids location is ideal, you may still be wondering if Care4Kids is the right fit for your family.

Luckily, there are dozens of parents who have taken the time to write reviews for Care4Kids! Here are what some of our parents love about Care4Kids:

Care4Kids Provides Excellent Childcare

Parents want their children to be in a safe and loving environment at daycare, and that’s just what Care4Kids seeks to provide! Here is a review from a pleased parent on how well Care4Kids’ teachers care for the children:

“They truly care about the kids! We feel so lucky to have found such a good daycare that takes great care of our infant son.” –Jessica

Care4Kids Has Excellent Communication With Parents

Most daycares have a way for parents to check in with their child’s teacher, and Care4Kids is no exception! This parent is pleased with the communication method and frequency Care4Kids has between parents and teachers:

“Care 4 Kids does a great job. They communicate well on the app, have great staff and directors, and provide educational childcare. I know my child is well taken care of there.” –Tori

Care4Kids Provides Excellent Childcare in Safe Location

Parents want their child in a safe part of town and safe with their teachers. Care4Kids has both of these benefits! Aswathy shares this recommendation:

“Care 4 Kids is one of the best and safest day care in Wooster Ohio. My daughter started there when she was not even a year old and now is 3 years old. All teachers are well trained and make kids to do different activities everyday. We definitely recommend this day care to other families who are looking for a best daycare for their child.”

Care4Kids Provides an Excellent Daycare Experience

Parents are highly satisfied with the overall experience Care4Kids gives their children. Here are some reviews from happy parents!

“I love Care 4 Kids! I was super nervous about putting my daughter in daycare. The teachers at Care 4 Kids made me feel so comfortable and my daughter enjoys going there, she would practically jump out of my arms to the teachers! Thank you for making my first daycare experience, one to remember in the most positive way!” -Nicole

“Overall experience with Care 4 kids in the 3 or so years has been good. Have met some great people.” -Mya

Don’t just take our word for it–Care4Kids is staffed by qualified, caring teachers who provide excellent childcare for all ages! Ready to learn more? Contact us today!