Deciding who will take care of your child while you're at work or school can be a hard job. You want your child to be safe and happy when you can't be there. The child-care center or home you choose should be a place where your child can learn, play, and feel secure.
A visit to a child care center or home you are considering can be very helpful. Before you go, try to make an appointment. This will allow the person you need to talk with to set aside plenty of time to spend with you.

Take this guide with you when you visit a child care center or home. You might want to jot down notes in the blank spaces after each question. Later you can compare the places you visited and make a good choice.

Questions To Ask

• What time to you open and close each day?
• On what holidays or other days are you closed?
• What ages are the children in my child's group? (Other children should be close to your child's age.)
• How many children will be in the group? (Fewer is better.)
• Who will care for my child? (Ask to meet that person.)
• What meals and snacks do you serve? What times are they served? May I see this week's menu?
• When, where and for how long do children nap?
• Have you had any accidents on your playground recently? (If yes, ask for details.)
• Where will my child's things be stored? (Each child should have a safe, separate place for personal things that the child can reach easily.)
• What do you do when children misbehave? (No spanking or physical punishment should be allowed.)
• What will my child be doing all day? (Look for a variety of activities, including quiet times, active times, things to do alone, and things to do in a group.)

Things To Look For

• Look both indoors and outdoors. Play areas should have space and materials for a variety of activities, especially indoors. Some things to look for:
• One or more books per child
• Puzzles and table toys such as Legos, pegboards, and cubes
• Art materials such as clay, Play-Doh, large sheets of paper and colored paper, scissors, crayons, paints and yarn
• Props for "pretend" play such as dress-up clothes, dolls and child-size kitchens
• A shelf full of large blocks
• Large, sturdy cars and trucks
• Other play materials
• Are toys clean, unbroken and not missing parts?
• Are there enough toys and materials to occupy all children?
• Do the adults talk with and help individual children?

This guide is just a start. When you visit a child care center or home, talk to other parents to find out what they've liked or not liked about it. Ask questions and look around carefully. Then ask yourself if you would feel comfortable and happy being here all day. If the answer is yes, then chances are your child would be happy, too.

Texas Workforce Commission CC-0895(1096) Inv. No. 524925>

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