NWA Child Care

Seven Key Points Research was conducted on how to evaluate the quality of a childcare center/home. These seven key points were developed and are recommended for parents’ use.

1. Arrival and Departure: If you are able to see children arriving for the day or leaving at the end of the day, you can see how other parents and the staff relate to each other. You will also be able to see how other children feel about coming to the center and leaving. Are teachers taking time to talk to parents and to greet each child? Do teachers invite children into the classroom activities as they arrive? When a child is upset about a parent’s departure, do teachers comfort the child and try to introduce him or her to something interesting?
2. Mealtime and Snacks: Watching the child at mealtime in a center is important for several reasons. Notice whether children are allowed to sit where they want, whether they are a part of serving the meal and clean up, and whether teachers sit with the children. Mealtime should be a chance for children to have a pleasant social time with each other and with their teachers, and to take part in the choices and tasks involved.
3. Indoor Activities (reading, storytelling, quiet projects, nap, etc.): This is an opportunity to note how teachers manage their classroom and how the staff coordinates itself. Is there a variety of activities and learning opportunities, allowing the children to make choices? Is there a balance between structured group activities and free play? Does child get some individual attention during the day? Do children seem involved in the activities, or are they forced to participate against their will?
4. Discipline: Notice how the staff handles problem sin behavior. What do they do about a lonely or crying child, fighting children or accidents? Does there seem to be a consistency in handling problems? What kinds of behavior do they see as “problem behavior”? Are withdrawn or extremely quiet children ignored?
5. Consoling and Comfort: How is the hurt or unhappy child handled? After an incident involving two or more children, are all of the handled satisfactorily, the “wrongdoers” as well as the “victim”?
6. Active Group Play: Is running around, jumping, and letting off steam tolerated? IS there indoor space where this can happen when the weather is bad? Is there a full range of activities provided for both girls and boys? Are both girls and boys encouraged to be active? Do teachers recognize when children need active play, and initiate active games? Is out door play a part of the daily basis?
7. Transitions: Transition from one activity to another are important. Are children allowed to finish what they are doing before they are expected to go onto something else? Do they get clear cues and signals about what is coming next or what is expected of them? Are children bored and restless between activities? Are they kept waiting?