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Questions to ask your caregiver over the phone:

Is there an opening for my child?
What hours and days are you open?
Where are you located?
How much do you charge?
When is payment due?
Do you charge for holidays, absences due to vacation or illness, or late pickups?
How many children do you care for?
How much child care experience and education do you have?
How many adults care for the children?
What ages doe you serve?
Must a child be toilet trained?

Further questions to ask when it is a home setting:

Are there others living in the home?
Who and what age are they?
Who, besides the provider, may be caring for my child?
Will my child be taken out of the home while in your care?
Are there pets or smoking in the home?

Things to look for when you visit the caregiver’s location:

 Positive interactions between caregiver and children.
Children getting lots of attention.
Children who are happy and comfortable with their caregiver.
Clean, safe, and healthy indoor and outdoor spaces.
Safety features such as gates on stairs, caps on electrical outlets, and a locked cabinet for medicine, poisons and cleaning products.
A variety of toys and learning materials, such as books, puzzles, blocks, and climbing equipment, that your child will find interesting.

Things to ask your caregiver when you visit:

Can I visit at any time?
How do you handle discipline?
What do you do if my child is sick?
How do you handle an emergency?
Do you have a back-up caregiver?
Where do children take naps?
Do caregivers have up-to-date CPR and First Aid training?
Do caregivers have training in child care?
May I see a copy of your license?
Are you accredited?
May I have a list of parents (current and former) who have used your care?

Questions to ask other parents when Checking references on your caregiver

 Was the caregiver reliable?
How did the caregiver discipline your child?
How did you get along with the caregiver?
Was the caregiver respectful of your values and culture?
Would you recommend the caregiver?
If your child is no longer with the caregiver, why did you leave?

Questions to ask yourself from what you have learned:

 Is there a balance of free play and routines?
Can the caregiver meet the special needs of my child?
Which caregiver should I choose so that my child will be happy and grow?
Is the child care affordable?
Do I feel good about my decision?

How to stay involved once you’ve chosen a caregiver:

How can I work my schedule so that I can...

• talk to my caregiver?

• talk to my child about how the day went?

• visit my child in care?

• work with my caregiver to discuss

problems that arise?

• help my child grow?

• meet with other parents?

Deb Dupras of Great Start/4C of the UP adds, “Our linked centers are inspected every 2 years with a yearly interim visit (unannounced). Homes are inspected at time of licensing, and 10% are drawn every year to be checked at random. You can go to www.michigan.gov/childcare and click on your county. At the bottom of the page you can download inspection reports on each center, as well as any ongoing complaints. Your provider also is required to keep a record for you to view regarding any licensing issues.

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