NWA Child Care

How to Evaluate the Quality of a Child Care Program
There are three areas to look at when you visit a child care program:

• The relationship between the Provider and the children
• The Program
• Physical aspects, health/nutrition and safety

It is essential that you feel happy and confident about the provider that you choose. You may want to consider:

• Does the provider appear to be warm, friendly, calm and patient?
• Do the children seem happy and involved?
• Does the provider listen to what the children have to say?
• Does the provider have child-rearing attitudes that are similar to your own?
• Are difficult children handled in a manner you approve of?
• Does the provider understand what children can do and want to do at different stages of growth?
• Are children allowed to make choices?
• Does the provider talk to the children and encourage them to express themselves through words and creative activities?
• Does the provider hold and touch the children in a caring manner?
• Do children feel good about themselves?
• Does the provider use a positive reinforcement approach when discipline and guiding children?
• Are children encouraged to learn to get along with and to respect other people?
• Is enough attention given to all the children?
• Does the provider have previous experience or training in working with children?
• Is the provider someone with whom you can develop a relaxed, sharing relationship?
• Does the provider like the children?
• Do the children like the provider?
• How many different care givers will be with your child be with during the day? Are there different shifts of caregivers?
• How frequent is staff turnover? Can you expect the same person to care for your child for the next year?