Want to know the secret to finding the best childcare in Coral Springs? There are three important parts to the secret: research, look and listen.

First thing’s first, do all of the research you possibly can on a certain daycare in order to see if you are interested in learning more. Second, stop by and take a tour of the daycare to see what it looks like during a normal day of activity. Lastly, you’ll need to do some listening… to your heart that is!

Step 1: Research; Find Out Everything You Can About Coral Springs Daycare

Researching a daycare includes finding out all of the most important details and potential deal breakers up front. First and foremost, make sure to check up on reviews. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but if more than one reviewer is complaining about the same thing you may want to consider if the complaint is a deal breaker for you.

Other important things to identify during your original research:

• Are the teachers certified? If yes, what sorts of certification do they have?
• What is the teacher to child ratio? There is greater risk for issue when too many children are under the supervision of one teacher, plus they don’t receive the one-on-one attention they need and deserve.
• Do they provide daycare all year long? This is important because young children prefer the stability of the same caregivers and environment. In other words, you don’t want to move your child between different daycares throughout the year.
• Question policies regarding everything from disciplinary measures to how much time children are watching TV or playing on computers during daycare. Questions that fall under this umbrella include: Do children nap on a daily basis? How is bad behavior handled? The more questions you can think of, the better, as it prevents surprises down the road.

Step 2: Look; Tour The Daycare Facility During Operating Hours

Before you decide a certain daycare is right for your child, it’s important to go out and take a look during regular school hours. There are so many different things to be on the lookout for.

For one, how are the teachers interacting with the children? Ideally, teachers should be actively engaging with the students in their class, as opposed to preaching from the head of the room.

Take note how the children are interacting together? Do the students seem happy, or are more than a few acting bored and restless?

Is the place clean and appealing? If the floors look grimy and there’s an odd smell in the air, you’ve been warned. Scan walls, ceilings and even corners for signs of built-up dust, mold or water damage. What looks like a small eyesore could be something as serious as mold, capable of turning the air lethal and making children ill. What about bathrooms, are they child-friendly and clean?

Are there ample hands-on activities for kids? Be on the lookout for sand tables, crafting corners, puppet displays and other hands-on activities for kids.

What safety measures are in place to prevent accidents? Is video surveillance set up in classrooms to help monitor what goes on? Does the playground appear safe, or is sharp barbed wire showing in places?

Step 3: Listen; Take The Time To Consider Your Options

By listen, we mean listen to your heart. After researching and looking at one or more daycares, how do you feel about each one? No one knows your child like you do, and so deep down you probably already know the best option for him or her. Make a pros and cons list, run through scenarios or talk it over with your spouse, close friend or family member.

No matter what, make sure you feel 100% confident about whatever decision you make. If a daycare just doesn’t ‘feel’ right, listen to your intuition and thank yourself later.

At ABC Learning we are happy to answer all of your questions and give you a tour! Come see how we are leading the way for childcare in Coral Springs.