I am beginnging to look at pre-school programs and MDO for our 2 year old son. I am looking for some advice on questions to ask as I tour and things to look for to help me/us make a decision. Thank you in advance for your help!!
Family eGuide did a couple of special issues about a month ago:
* Children's Day Out Programs in Lewisville,
Flower Mound & Highland Village
* Choosing a Children's Day Out program.
You may find both useful. You can check them out at www.familyeguide.com under "Archives/Special Issues"
Good Luck!
When I was looking for an MDO for my girls, I actually interviewed 3-4 different MDO directors about their programs. Here are the questions I asked:
What kind of taining and experience does the staff have?
How long has the staff been at the center (is there a high turnaround on staff)?
What is the teacher/child ratio?
Are the toys and equipment age appropriate at all times of the day?
How often are the toys and rooms cleaned? What are the sanitation practices?
Is there an outside play area and is it padded?
What if any time is spent outdoors?
What is the schedule of a typical day?
What form of discipline is used?
Can a parent drop in during the day and take a peek at their child?
Are "drop-ins" welcome at your school or does each child need to be enrolled for the whole semester?
Are background checks run on ALL building employees (not just the teachers)? How often are the background checks run?
What security procedures does the program currently have in place?
What are the drop off/pick up security measures?
Costs? Can I pay tuition online?
Is there a microwave or refrigerator available for my kids lunch?
What is the nap schedule for my child?
What is potty traning like at the school? Does anyone change my kids diapers besides their teacher?
What is the learning cirriculum and the extra-cirricular activies for your MDO program?
Do you provide daily progress reports on my child?
I hope this is helpful! alot of the school have the same core makeup, so it's a matter of picking out one that you feel comfortable with. It's your child so don't feel embarassed about asking tough questions! Good luck!
My son goes to Christ United Methodist in Plano - and the teachers there go through training every year so they are certified to teach young children and are registered with the state. I would ask about that as well as what their safety policies are (as far as checking kids in and out), what type of schedule they keep the kids on, and what there emergency procedures are. Go with your gut and find a place you will be comfortable leaving your child. My son LOVES going - and I am very comfortable leaving him with the teachers he loves.
My daughter's program (Sunshine Kids at Stonebridge United Methodist Church) gives a progress report every day to you in your take home folder. It has what they ate for snacks and lunch (since I pack it is nice to know what she is actually eating), when her diaper was changed and if it was wet/dirty, when she napped and woke up, what they learned, other things about her day (for instance, this week it said that she told all her friends "no ma'am" if they were doing something she felt they shouldn't be doing).
I would not have known to look for that but I really like having that information. As a SAHM, it is hard for me to miss out on 5 hours of her day. The progress report helps me feel more tuned in.
