If you have lived in the same community for awhile, word of mouth endorsements are one of the best ways to find an at-home provider. Some of your friends or relatives may have children in daycare, or may even operate an at-home daycare of their own. Ask around and you will get some very useful information. If you are using the word of mouth method, make sure that you get as many reviews as possible. Any at-home provider should have a list of references available for you to call. Some helpful questions to ask the provider and her/his references are provided below.
If you are new in a community, and don’t know many people, you should be aware that there are often community referral resources available that can help you find a quality at-home provider. Contact your local department of health and human services to see if there is a referral service available in your community. After my wife and I relocated to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, we paid a very small fee for access to one of these referral services. The information provided, which included details about curriculum and licensing, was invaluable.
Here are some questions that you should ask any potential at-home provider.
Are you licensed?
Different states have different requirements for at-home daycare licensing. You must make sure that your at-home provider is licensed to provide daycare. This is the most basic step in ensuring your child’s safety. In addition, if you have a flex plan at work that allows you to save for daycare expenses on a pre-tax basis, your employer will normally only dispense funds to a licensed provider. Ask to see a copy of the license.
What training and experience do you have?
Ideally, your at-home provider will have long-term experience in the field. In addition, they will have taken some early childhood classes or have an early childhood degree. Quality at-home providers will also have CPR and basic first-aid training.