8 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Daycare Center

Every parent wants to ensure that they select the best daycare in Katy, TX, for their child. After all, every parent wants to see their child thrive in a positive, friendly, home-like environment. However, most parents term pricing the primary factor in deciding what daycare facility is suited for their child. But isn’t it essential to conduct in-depth research before choosing a child care in Katy?

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a daycare. Scroll down and read to ensure that your child is in the best hands.

What Are Their Operation Hours?

The first factor every parent should consider is the operation hours of a daycare. Most parents work long, challenging shifts, and want their child to be in a daycare that matches their work hours. On the other hand, you should opt for a daycare with short hours if you work part-time.

Sit down with your partner and decide how many hours you plan on leaving your child at a daycare center, and narrow down your options by looking for daycare centers that are okay with you picking up your child late or early, if needed.

What Does the Daycare Teach?

The primary purpose of daycare centers is to keep your child engaged and safe, but that’s not all! Daycare centers are also responsible for preparing children for further education. Most daycare centers have a specific curriculum. This curriculum includes activities that happen in that daycare.

Parents searching for the right daycare center should consider the daycare’s curriculum before enrolling their child. You need to ensure that they have the academic structure you prefer, especially if your child has specific academic or developmental needs.

How Many Teachers Does the Daycare Have?

Another essential factor you should consider when choosing a daycare is the ratio of teachers to children. According to research, children learn better in smaller groups, where they can get individual attention from their teachers. A daycare center with 1 teacher per dozens of children will be a huge academic setback for your child.

Therefore, we recommend you look for daycare centers with smaller classrooms. Your child is more likely to learn better in classrooms with fewer children and a dedicated teacher who can guide every child personally.

Do They Have a Hygienic Environment?

While we understand that daycare centers can be a little messy, with toys and colors sprawled in classrooms, a good daycare facility should have a hygienic environment. This means having clean bathrooms, kitchens, classrooms, and playgrounds. We recommend parents take a behind-the-scenes tour when visiting a daycare center for the first time.

Ensure that the building is free from pests and insects and trash is inside the dustbins instead of all around it. In addition, notice if the staff adheres to hygiene standards. Your child will spend multiple hours a day in daycare, and an unclean environment can create a health risk, which no parent wants!

What’s the Daily Meal Policy at the Daycare Facility?

As mentioned above, your child will spend multiple hours at the daycare center, which means they need healthy and nutritious meals. Before selecting a daycare facility, ask the management about their daily snacks and meals policy. Will your child bring food from their house, or will the staff provide the snacks?

If you don’t have enough time to prepare food for your child every morning, we recommend selecting a daycare center that takes care of their meals. However, if your child has any food allergy or your household follows a specific diet, ensure that the daycare center accommodates that. If not, you should opt for a daycare facility that allows children to bring their own food.

Moreover, if you’re okay with selecting a daycare center that provides snacks, check what meals your child will eat daily. You don’t want your child munching on lots of unhealthy snacks every day.

Is the Daycare Center Near Your House or Workplace?

Another factor parents must consider when choosing a daycare is the daycare’s location. Most parents prefer enrolling their child in a daycare facility that's near their house. However, we understand that you might have a different living situation.

For instance, if you want to drop your child at the daycare on your way to work, you should select a daycare that lies en route. Moreover, if you want to pick up your child during your work lunch break, choosing a daycare facility near your workplace might be a better option.

What Do Other Parents Say About a Daycare Facility?

Other parents’ reviews about any daycare facility are among the most important factors to consider when choosing a daycare. You can find these reviews on a daycare’s website or social platforms. It shouldn’t be difficult to say that you should select a daycare center with almost all positive reviews.

In addition, you can ask the daycare center’s management to hand you a list of contact information of other parents. Ensure that the enrolled children’s parents are satisfied with a child care facility.

Does the Staff Have Professional Credentials and Training?

Parents should ensure that a daycare facility’s teachers have the required credentials and training when choosing a daycare. Ask the daycare’s management about the education and experience of every teacher. Moreover, ensure that the daycare has the necessary academic licenses and certificates.

Select a Credible Preschool and Daycare in Katy, TX

Without proper research, your child might end up in a daycare center that’s unclean, has inexperienced teachers, or provides unhealthy meals. We recommend trying Centerra Ranch Montessori School, one of the best childcare centers in Katy.

Besides winning the best preschool in Katy, TX award for two years in a row, this daycare is also known for its friendly and home-like environment.

Reach out to this fantastic daycare in Katy, TX, and enroll your child today.

About the Author

The author is a child education and development expert affiliated with one of the top preschools in Katy, TX, Centerra Ranch Montessori School. She provides helpful guidance to parents about ensuring better growth and development of their children.

I am a hardworking and dedicated digital marketing professional. I specialize in creating content the audience actually wants to read.