12 questions to ask before choosing a child care provider

This paid piece is sponsored by Truks-N-Trykes NurseryCare.

Selecting a child care center is an important decision that most new parents are required to make, and they are required to make it quickly in the Sioux Falls market.

Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference — so we got some advice from a pro.

Bri McCarty, co-owner of Truks-N-Trykes NurseryCare, shares the 12 questions you should considering asking while searching for the perfect fit for your family.

1. Is the center licensed?

All centers in the state of South Dakota are required to be licensed with the state, but if you are looking at in-home facilities, they are not. They are required to register with the city, but licensing a facility has different requirements and different rules they are required to abide by. Both facility types can be great, you just need to establish which fits better with your family’s needs.

2. What days is the center open?

This may seem silly, but there is quite an array of schedules that centers have. Some centers follow the school district’s schedule. So if the school is closed for in-service, your child care center may be as well.

Other centers like ours try to stick to national holidays. We are closed New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our centers are also closed on Presidents Day for an all-staff training.

3. What ratios do you follow?

If you are a licensed center, the state has mandated ratios. The ratio for children birth to 36 months is one caregiver for every five kids. Children 3- to 5-years-old are a 1:10 ratio, and children 6 and older are 1:15. These are minimum requirements, so your facility may choose to do less kids.

Our new Prep location will house children age 3 to 5, and we will be doing a 1:8 ratio.

4. Do your teachers lesson plan?

Another requirement set forth by the state is that each classroom is required to have a lesson plan. With this question, you are going to want to dive in deeper as to what those lesson plans entail. Do they have a social/emotional aspect? Are they incorporating literacy daily? Do the kids get time to explore STEAM activities? Ask how often they participate in free play? What does free play look like?

5. How do you communicate?

Communication is the foundation to a great relationship. You will want to ask the prospective facility how it communicates. Will it send you emails? Does it talk through text messages, phone calls, etc.? We use a platform called Brightwheel to message directly with our parents and to log the children’s activities.

6. What supplies do you need to provide?

New parents often have no idea what they need to bring to their child’s first day. Some centers may provide everything down to the bottle and blanket, and other centers leave the option open to parents. At our center, we simply say “If you would put it in the diaper bag, bring one to the center.”

This means that their necessities will evolve over time. As an infant, they need a pacifier, bottle, formula, change of clothes, diapers and more. As a 2-year-old, it might just be diapers, wipes, a change of clothes and a blanket for naptime.

7. What is their schedule?

Once again, the state requires licensed centers to have a schedule for each classroom. These little ones thrive on routine, so it is great to find out ahead of time what the schedule looks like so you can start to adjust your little one’s routine at home.

8. Do you require vaccinations?

Some centers allow you to use medical and religious exemptions on vaccination requirements. Check with your prospective center to see what their guidelines are. At our NurseryCare location, we do not accept the exemptions and require all to follow the state-recommended vaccinations.

9. Do you have cameras?

Most facilities have some sort of camera system. It is nice as a parent to have that extra added peace of mind that everything is documented, and it is the same for the owners and directors of the center.

We have an open-door policy with our camera system, so our parents can request to view our cameras at any time with us. The cameras also are great for tracking down a lost shoe, sock or blanket!

10. What background checks are done?

Licensed facilities are required to run a background check through DCI and the FBI. Check with the facility to find out if it requires anything above and beyond those checks.

11. What are your rates?

I like to save this one until the end because you want to know what you are getting for the price you are paying. Cost is a factor, but you want to consider the benefits that the facility may offer. If a center has lower ratios, that most likely will result in a higher cost.

If the center is providing organic food, that will result in higher tuition. Evaluate what the facility has and how it aligns with your desires for your child. That will give you an idea of whether the value is worth the price per week.

12. How do I secure a spot?

This is the final question. You will want to find out how you can ensure that you have a spot reserved for your child on the desired start date. Most facilities have you fill out an enrollment packet and place a nonrefundable deposit. Some places might keep it informal and simply write your name on a list.

Remember that when you are selecting a child care center, you are selecting a partner to help raise your children. That is an important responsibility, and you want to ensure you are choosing a facility that will nurture your child and have a positive relationship with you as well.

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