Daycare checklist: What makes a good daycare?

Daycare checklist: Important questions for the search and daycare visit

The daycare checklist gives you an overview of the most important questions you should ask yourself when looking for the right daycare center. You will be able to answer some of them on a tour of the day-care center and others in a conversation with the educators.

Place and time: Is the day-care center easily accessible?

• Proximity to where you live: Is it important to you to take your child to daycare on foot in the morning? Or that relatives live nearby in case something should happen?
• Opening times: If you work, the opening times of the day care center are particularly important. Do your working hours overlap with the opening hours of the day care center? How flexible is the daycare center? How long does it close during the holidays?

Supervision: Is the personnel key correct?

• Group: The exchange with peers is very important for the development of your child’s social behavior.
• Personnel ratio: For children in the first year of life, the care ratio should be 1:2, so that one educator takes care of a maximum of two children. For children aged one to two years, the recommended care ratio is 1:3. In the age group of two to three year olds, on the other hand, the recommended care ratio is 1:5. Depending on how the age groups are mixed, the care ratio should be adjusted. How many children are there in your chosen daycare center for one educator? And what happens when caregivers get sick?
• Reference person: It is important that each child is assigned a caregiver as a reference person with whom they can develop a strong bond. A frequent change of educators is rather unfavorable.
• Educators: The day-care center educators should not only respond lovingly to the children, but always have an open ear and time for parents to talk to them about their offspring. You must be regularly informed by the educators about the progress of your child.

Does the concept meet your expectations?

• Pedagogical concept: Whether you choose the Montessori , Waldorf or Reggio concept: Find out in advance about the pedagogical standards of the day-care center and how they convey this in everyday life. What learning goals would you like for your child?
• Provider: When registering in the day-care center , it is important to know whether it has a state or private provider. This affects both the registration times and criteria, as well as the day-care center costs .
• Parents: How much parents should get involved in the day-care center varies greatly. Ask the daycare management how much commitment is required of you.
• Familiarization: Getting started in a day care center is difficult for most little ones because the other children, teachers and the environment are unfamiliar. The pedagogical concept of the facility should therefore make it easier for your child to settle in. How do the educators organize the acclimatization in the day-care center ?
• Offers according to age groups: There should be age-appropriate play and learning opportunities for every age group. Are the activities offered adapted to the different developmental stages of the children? Is it part of the concept that children from different age groups play together?
• Free play: The daily routine should consist of a good balance of structure and freedom. It is ideal if your child can temporarily decide for themselves what they want to do.
• Costs: What are the costs? Do meals and material costs have to be paid additionally?

Does the equipment meet your expectations?

• Facility: What impression does the day care center make on you? Is the equipment suitable for children and does it invite them to play? Are there enough opportunities to play and run around outside?
• Places to retreat and sleep: Reading or snuggling corners are also important. Every child should be able to withdraw if they get too hectic.
• Hygiene: The toilets and washroom should meet the highest hygiene requirements, as children are particularly susceptible to germs and bacteria due to their weak immune systems. Are the toilets and washrooms clean? Can the little ones go to the toilets and washrooms at any time and do they get help?
• Romp: In the day care center of your choice there should be enough space so that all children can romp, play and develop freely. Therefore, the little ones should not only be able to exercise in the sun, but also in bad weather.

Are there additional offers?

• Sports: The day care center should offer gymnastics and movement games that promote your child’s motor skills.
• Music: Does the day care center use music to promote your child and his or her abilities?
• Games and crafts: Games and crafts are essential to develop your child’s fine motor skills. Does the day care center offer enough activities?
• Parents’ meetings: Parents should be given the opportunity to participate in parents’ meetings and to discuss current day-care center activities and topics.