Child Care Resource and Referral

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For Families > Looking for Child Care > Visiting and Evaluating Programs
 Checklist for Family Child Care Homes

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.

  • Take along checklist 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 to 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 that 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.

Name of Family Child Care Provider:

Address:

Date Visited:

Question Yes No
Is this a place where your child will be comfortable and happy? Yes No
Is the provider’s home appropriately childproofed? Yes No
Does the provider take the children outside each day for fresh air? Yes No
Do the children seem to be happily engaged in activities? Yes No
Does the provider show patience and a sense of humor with the children? Yes No
Is the provider flexible and open to adjusting the day to fit your child’s needs? Yes No
Does the provider show respect for the children? Yes No
Is cultural diversity respected and celebrated? Yes No

Infants

Question Yes No
Does the provider seem nurturing and experienced with caring for infants? Yes No
Does the provider hold the infants during feeding times? Yes No
Is each infant on his own schedule for feeding and napping? Yes No
Are there bright, interesting objects at the infants’ eye-level? Are there infant toys on the floor? Yes No
Are babies allowed to crawl and explore? Yes No

Toddlers

Question Yes No
Is the provider experienced in dealing with toddler behavior? Yes No
Are the toddlers taken outside at least twice per day, weather permitting? Yes No
Does the provider encourage toddlers to use words to resolve conflicts with other children? Yes No
Are the children allowed to watch TV? If so, what is the policy? Yes No

Preschool

Question Yes No
Is the program stimulating, with varied preschool activities? Yes No
Is the children’s artwork displayed at their eye-level? Yes No
Are the children allowed to watch TV? If so, what is the policy? Yes No

School-age

Question Yes No
Does the provider offer school-age activities? Yes No
Are the children allowed to watch TV? If so, what is the policy? Yes No
Is there a quiet area where your child can do her homework? Yes No
Does the provider seem experienced with and knowledgeable about school-age issues? Yes No
Does the provider have school-age children of her own present after school? Yes No
Are the school-age children ever allowed outside of the home on their own? If so, under what conditions? Yes No

NOTES:




 

Child Care Resource & Referral of Island, San Juan, and Whatcom Counties
1111 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 200 • Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-734-8396 • Toll Free: 1-888-444-1862
Fax: 360-671-5096 • TTY: 1-800-833-6388
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