Mary's Childcare

The time has come: you’re ready to find a child care center. Whether you’re going back to work or just looking for more support during the day, it’s important to find the right partner. You don’t want to trust the most precious member of your family to just anyone. But what should you look for? You know you want a high-quality center, but how do you know if you’ve found it? I’ve got you covered. This simple, three-step checklist will help you find the right preschool program for your child. We hope to meet you and your family soon!

Step #1. Write your child care wish list

Before you tour, take some time to think about your family's wants and needs in a child care center. Maybe you're thinking about Kindergarten-readiness. Or perhaps social and emotional development is more of a priority. You can even leave space for your questions, concerns, and fears. This is a big moment for your family, and whatever you're feeling is 100% valid.

During the tour, this list can help you stay focused on what's most important. You can even use it as a conversation guide! Make sure the staff at the center can answer your questions or point you to resources that can.

Step #2. Keep an eye out for safety

Pay attention and ask lots of questions about the center's safety rules and practices. For example, how will they make sure your child is accounted for throughout the day? Do they have clear policies to make sure only approved adults can come in? What's the plan if there's an emergency in the area?

The best child care centers pay attention to every detail, big and small. You should be confident that your child is in the best hands, no matter what happens.

Step #3. Look for teachers who love what they do

Great teachers love what they do, and have a natural ability to connect with every child in their care. Is your center hiring the best? You can find out by watching them in action. Are they ready to get their hands dirty with crayons and glue sticks? Can they jump from reading a story to the whole class to helping a child find their lovie in a single bound?

The best early childhood teachers are natural born leaders. At KinderCare, we find them using a tool we developed just for us by Gallup. Finding the best teachers is the best way to make sure children love going to school every day!