18 Hudson Valley Parent
n
January 2020
plenty of time (for him) to explore
materials at his own pace."
Safety and security are of
paramount concern. Bring a
checklist of questions during your
visit to a center or school. Ask what
security measures are in place for
drop off and pickup, if there are
classroom cameras and if procedures
for fire/safety drills are documented.
New York State has specific reg-
ulations regarding staffing, so ask
for the school's staff-to-child ratio
to ensure that your child has ap-
propriate supervision. Also find out
how providers communicate with
parents during the day. For instance,
will they chat with you daily during
pickup, or use a secure chat service
to send you text messages or photos
of your child?
Consider how the school
pace is maintained and orga-
nized. Disorganized piles of mate-
rials, dirty bathrooms and a lack of
childproofing can be big safety con-
cerns. Alison McBride of Stone Ridge
is a mother of four who researched
options for her children's daycare. "I
think it's important to find a day-
care that appears clean and safe for
your child," she said. "Happiness of
the staff when you go for a tour (is
also important) and ask if there's
a highturnover rate for staff. Many
places look really nice but if they are
constantly getting new staff some-
thing isn't right. Your kids deserve to
be around happy people."
Enrollment cost can vary
greatly. Private daycares may
charge an hourly or daily rate while
daycare centers and preschools typi-
cally charge a flat tuition rate. If you
require before- and after-hour care,
or snacks or meals, an additional
cost may be required. While the fee
may not necessarily reflect the quali-
ty of care, staff attitudes and a clean,
well-cared for environment can be
key to how well your child thrives.
Roxanne Ferber is a mom,
freelance writer and owner of The
Whatever Mom blog.
HOW TO DECIDE
(Continued from Page 16)
For more information on
daycare center, nursery
schools and preschools in
New York State, visit:
• daycare.com/new_york_day-
care_listings.html
• ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/re-
ferralagencies.asp
• p12.nysed.gov/earlylearning
