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We encourage parents to make an informed choice about child care. You can look for specific information about state requirements for child care providers and other important information for parents at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) website. It is www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care. We also offer the following sample list of questions you can ask providers when you are interviewing them. Home Daycare Provider Interview Sheet
Name: _____________________________________________
Address/Phone:_______________________________________
Basics: A good home daycare has solid, up-to-date credentials, clear rules and regulations, a firm sick-child policy, and emergency backup care.
How long have you been in business?___________________________
Do you have a current state license? Yes / No
Are you accredited? Yes / No
Do you have space for my child? Yes / No
If not, can we get on a waiting list, and how long is it? ______________
What are your hours? _________________________________________
What is your holiday schedule?____________________________________
What other days are you closed?___________________________________
How flexible are you with pickup and drop-off times?
___________________________________________________________
What are your fees?___________________________________________
Do you have a late pickup fee?____________________________________
How and when do you bill?_________________________________________
Do you encourage visits from parents? Yes / No
What do you expect from me as a parent?
______________________________________________________________
Caregiver: The caregiver should be educated with at least twenty hours per year of training, a background in early childhood development (though many states don't require this), and CPR and 1st Aid training. The provider — and any assistants or helpers she has — should be responsible, enthusiastic, and well prepared, with philosophies and policies on key child rearing issues such as sleep, discipline, and feeding you are comfortable with.
Do you have any formal early childhood development or childcare training?
______________________________________________________________
How do you get your 20 hours of training?
_________________________________________________
How do you discipline children?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
How do you comfort children?
______________________________________________________________
Why do you work with children? What do you like most about caring for them? What do you dislike? ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Do you have current CPR and first-aid training?
CPR: Yes / No
First-Aid: Yes / No
Do you have any other helpers? _______________________________
If yes, what are their credentials?
____________________________________________________________
If no, who covers for you when you're not available?
Name:_______________________________________________________
Phone #______________________________
Size: Look for a home daycare with a relatively small group of children. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, registered family home daycare providers can take four children under 18 months, six total under five, and additional school-aged children depending on the ages/ratios (though they can add more children if they are licensed and have an assistant depending on the ages of the children in care). A provider must count her own children under age 12 in the ratio.
What is the adult-child ratio? _____ to ______
Ages of children in care? _________________
Activities: A home daycare must have a program or activity plan with a variety of activities based on the children’s developmental needs and ages. The schedule should be changed regularly so children have a chance to learn new skills. TV and videos should play little or no part in the day's schedule. There must be an adequate supply of clean, well-maintained toys for the children. Outside play should be included, in a fenced area with safe, maintained play equipment, weather permitting.
What activities do you like to do with the children?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What will my child be doing on any given day?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Do you let the kids watch television? Yes / No
Do you read to the children daily? Yes/ No
Hygiene and Safety: A good home daycare is clean and sanitary and observes basic safety rules. If you see poorly maintained equipment or the daycare seems dingy and cramped, keep looking. Hand washing is a part of the routine for caregivers and children. Toys and equipment are cleaned and sanitized regularly. Outside areas are properly maintained. Smoking is not permitted on the premises during business hours.
Do all caregivers and children wash their hands before & after diapering/toileting and feeding? Yes / No
How often are the toys cleaned and replaced?_____________________
What is your sick-child policy?
______________________________________________________________
Do you have a sign-in and sign-out sheet? Yes / No
Are the doors secure from strangers? Yes / No
Do you receive personal visitors (not affiliated with the business) during the day? Yes / No
Do you have a safe enclosed outside play area? Yes / No
Does anyone smoke on the premises? Yes/No
Food and Sleep: Obviously, nutritious meals and snacks are better than junk food. Make sure the home daycare menu covers all food groups or the provider participates in a USDA food program. For sleeping, bedding for infants should be fresh and firm (to reduce the risk of SIDS for babies). For all children, bedding should be clean and individual to the child. Nap areas should be clean and quiet. Children should sleep on mats or cots or in a crib or pack & play.
Do you provide lunch and snacks? Yes / No
If yes, what kind?________________________________________________
If not, what should I bring for my child?
______________________________________________________________
Do you feed babies on demand or on a schedule?
Demand / Schedule
Where do the children sleep?__________________________________
Do you have a nap schedule? Yes / No
Additional considerations: Be sure to take a moment to ask yourself the following questions when you visit.
Do the children seem happy and engaged? Yes / No
Are crying children responded to immediately? Yes / No
Is the home clean and pleasant? Yes / No
While you're at work, will you feel at ease knowing your child is in this setting? Yes / No
References: Ask each home daycare you're considering for a list of past and present references — and call them. Ask specific questions (don't ask whether they like the daycare; ask what exactly they like about it and what they don't). If their child is no longer there, ask why.
Could you recommend families I can call for references?
Name_____________________________
Phone#___________________________
Name_____________________________
Phone#___________________________ |
