Lots of parents wonder if attending daycare will affect their child in the future. The answer is yes because all experiences affect a childs future in one way or the other. There are actually a lot of benefits your child will experience by attending daycare that you may not have thought of.

Socialization
When your child attends daycare he will learn to socialize with others. Socialization is very important and the earlier kids start learning the better socializers they will become. In daycare kids are exposed to many other children so they learn how to play with their friends and how to share. They also learn to coexist with other children they may not care for much and resolve conflicts on their own. As a result, daycare can really help your child get a jumpstart on socialization early on and prepare him for school.

No Separation Anxiety
If you are not separated from your child until kindergarten begins then you may notice your child develops separation anxiety. This may be very stressful for parents, teachers, and the child. However, if your child attends daycare from an early age until they begin kindergarten they typically are able to get over their anxiety and understand that their parents will return at the end of the day. This certainly allows for a much smoother transition to kindergarten.

Prepared for Kindergarten
Daycare prepares kids for kindergarten. Many times they will learn their alphabet, numbers, and the like while in daycare. This gives kids a head start for kindergarten and allows them to enter with the basic knowledge of what they are going to learn.

Following Rules
Daycares have rules and if your child attends daycare he will certainly learn those rules and how to obey them. Learning to follow rules at a young age is very helpful to parents because the child will be responsive to rules at home as well as rules at school.

As you can see if you send your child to daycare there will be a lot of benefits from doing so. Of course there are some drawbacks associated with daycare but many of them are outweighed by the many benefits.

When touring an in home daycare there are a lot of things you should look for. You want to make sure you ask plenty of questions and make the best decision for childcare so pay attention. The following tips are just a few things that you should be looking for when you tour an in home daycare.

State License
First of all, look for the state license. If you dont see it ask where it is. You will want to make sure the in home daycare is licensed to provide this service and fully accredited within the law. If you cant find this information and the provider is unwilling to show it to you then you should definitely look for a different daycare.

Plenty of Space
You should also ask where the daycare facilities are and ask to be shown around. A house may be large, but if only one room is used for 10 kids then that is not enough space. You want to see where the kids are located during the day and how much space is actually available for them. The daycare provider should have no problems showing you around and giving you a complete tour.

Cleanliness
As you are touring make sure you pay attention to cleanliness. This includes the kitchen and the bathrooms. Rugs, furniture, and toys should also be evaluated for cleanliness. Germs get passed easily among kids in daycare and you want your kid to be in the cleanest and healthiest environment possible. If the daycare looks dirty when you tour imagine what it looks like when you arent there. Also, if you see any sign of a bug infestation you should say goodbye and mark that daycare off your list.

Age Appropriate Toys
In home daycare centers frequently have a wide range of ages at any given time. Even so it is still important that there are plenty of age appropriate toys for each age group. All kids need toys to play with and to keep them occupied. So, keep your eye out for the games and toys available for your childs particular developmental level.

Safety Equipment
All in home day care centers should be outfitted with first aid kits, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and other safety equipment. Your childs safety is of utmost importance and you wan to be reassured that in the event of an accident your child will be taken care of.

There are many other things you should be looking for when touring a in home daycare center. These are just some of the important ones that you definitely dont want to forget or overlook when you are touring.

All daycares are different so the typical day at one daycare may be wildly different from the typical daycare at another daycare. However, in many instances the typical daycare schedule is not so different from daycare to daycare. If you want to know a specific schedule from a specific daycare then you need to ask the director of the daycare for a better idea. The following is more or less a typical daycare schedule. However, keep in mind that most daycares have a schedule that changes a little bit from day to day depending on various activities and life!

Arrival
Most children arrive at daycare between 6:45 and 7:30 am. During this time frame children usually settle in and have free time to play or watch educational videos.

Breakfast
Breakfast is usually served around 7:45 am and lasts until approximately 8:15 am.

Free Play
Music, dancing, and free play usually follows breakfast to help kids settle down and get ready for the day.

Story Time
To help kids relax after free play there is usually an hour of story time. This might last from 8:45 9:45 am. This includes crafts or circle time as well.

Snack
Snack is usually served from 9:45 am to 10 am.

Recess
Children enjoy recess from 10-11 am. If weather permits the children play outside, if not motor skill activities are enjoyed indoors.

Clean Up
After recess it is time to clean up from 11 11:15 am.

Lunch
Once everything is clean the kids are ready for lunch from 11:15- 11:45 am.

Instructional Activities
After lunch the kids take part in some instructional activities. This might include the alphabet, watching an educational video, coloring, or some other project from 11:45 12:20 am.

Naptime
Children have naptime from 12:30 2:30 pm. This is quiet time for children who dont fall asleep. They may read books or rest quietly on their mat.

Crafts
Many times after naptime kids enjoy craft time or even story time. This is usually 2:30 3 pm.

Snack
Snack is served again from 3-3:30 pm.

Pick up time
Most children are picked up between 3:30 and 5:30 pm each day. During this time kids are allowed free time, outside time, or time for educational television.

If you dont have a very long maternity leave from your job you may be wondering how soon an infant can start daycare. The answer varies significantly from daycare to daycare so you will need to do some research to find out the policies of daycares near you.

Most daycares, however, wont accept an infant until at least six weeks of age. And this must be a full term infant. If you have to go back to work after two or four weeks then that might leave you in a bind. There are some home based daycares that might accept your young infant and there is also the option of hiring a nanny until your child is old enough for a daycare.

Then again, some daycares are open and available for infants as young as two weeks of age. This may seem very young to you and you dont want to leave your child so soon, but if you have to go back to work you may not have a choice.

The best thing you can do in this situation is start looking for daycare providers before you actually have your baby. If you know that you will need to go back to work within a certain period of time then start scouting out daycares early. That way if a problem arises you will be able to handle it without stressing out too much. Also, when you have your baby you will want to enjoy the time you have together before you have to go back to work. Plus, you will need to relax and heal from the birthing process rather than search for a daycare.

When you are visiting daycare centers, or calling them on the phone, ask about their minimum age requirements. If they say six weeks or older ask if there is any leeway because you must return to work before your infant is six weeks of age and need daycare. Some facilities might be willing to work with you while others simply cannot due to the demands a very young baby places on the staff. Frequently, if you are looking for daycare for your young infant an in home daycare center will be your best choice especially if it is small and there are no other infants at the center.

It might take some time and research to find childcare for your less than six week old infant, but then again it might not. It really depends on your area and what you are capable of paying on a weekly basis for childcare. Just remember to start looking early so that you can enjoy every free moment you have with your newborn.

If you are reading this article then you are looking for a daycare for your child and are trying to figure out exactly what you should be looking for. One of the most important things to look for when comparing daycares is what type of credentials do the teachers have. When you consider this information you will be able to determine what daycare has the best teachers and is the overall best fit for your child. It does take some work and lots of questions, but if you know what you are looking for then you are halfway there.

Each state has specific requirements and licensing procedures for childcare workers and daycare teachers. Some allow individuals with a high school education and little to no experience the ability to work in a daycare center while other states have more stringent credential requirements. Some daycare teachers are required to have a bachelors degree or a minimum of an associates degree. Others must have continuing education in the childcare field and/or a CDA.

The CDA is a Child Development Associate credential. This is recognized by 46 different states. In order for an individual to be eligible for the CDA credential the applicant must have at least 480 hours of experience, 120 hours of training, and a high school diploma. There is a one year program for individuals to learn about child development in the case where they do not have the experience. Those applicants who meet certain standards will be approved for the CDA credential.

Optimally, if you are looking for a great daycare teacher you would want them to have a bachelors degree in early childhood education as well as a CDA credential in addition to CPR/First Aid certification. You would also like a teacher to be enrolled in continuing education classes in order to constantly be learning new things and become a better teacher.

Remember that there is a lot of turnover in the daycare field because of low pay and stressful environments. So, finding a daycare teacher that has wonderful credentials may be tough. That is because people who have excellent credentials usually find a job teaching in the public school system and have a salary as well as insurance. Regardless, at least you know what to look for. The more education and credentials a teacher has the better, but that doesnt necessarily mean the teacher is great at what she does. So, try and consider the whole package when trying to find a daycare for your child.