Your visit to several child care programs is a crucial part of your selection process. What you observe during your visit will tell you many things about a program.
-
Print out and take along our checklists and questions to ask during your visit to the program.
-
Take notes on your observations and on answers given to your questions by the providers, teachers and/or directors These notes will be helpful in determining further questions and to differentiate between the programs you have observed.
-
Allow plenty of time to tour the entire facility, both indoor and outdoor spaces.
-
Schedule an initial visit by yourself, and then bring your child with you during your second visit, if possible.
-
Make sure you observe the group that your child would attend.
-
Feel free to follow up your visit with further calls to the director or provider. Be sure all your questions and concerns are addressed so that you can feel confident about the care your child will receive.
-
Ask to meet all of the staff who will care for your child during the day.
-
Visit the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) (www.nysocfs.org) website which will provide you with information regarding licensing and regulatory compliance history of any child care provider who is or was licensed by OCFS.
