This is a checklist designed to help you decide what things about day care arrangements that are most important to you and your family. It can help you make sure your child's arrangement offers the things you believe important.

Read through the checklist and circle those items you want the day care site to provide. Then, when you talk to a possible caregiver or visit a home or center, decide whether the arrangement offers those things. Just check "yes" or "no." Use the check-off list to help you make a decision.

Does A Prospective or Current Caregiver:

• Appear to be warm and friendly? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem calm and gentle? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem to have a sense of humor? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem to be someone with whom you can develop a relaxed, sharing relationship? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem to be someone your child will enjoy being with? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem to feel good about himself or herself and the job? Yes ______ No ______

• Have child-rearing attitudes and methods similar to your own? Yes ______ No ______

• Use positive child guidance techniques? Yes ______ No ______

• Treat each child as a special person? Yes ______ No ______

• Understand what children can and want to do at different stages of growth? Yes ______ No ______

• Have the right materials and equipment on hand to help children learn and grow mentally and physically? Yes ______ No ______

• Patiently help children solve their problems? Yes ______ No ______

• Provide activities that encourage children to think things through? Yes ______ No ______

• Encourage good health habits, such as washing hands before eating? Yes ______ No ______

• Talk to the children and encourage them to express themselves through words and language? Yes ______ No ______

• Have art and music supplies suited to the ages of all children in care? Yes ______ No ______

• Seem to have enough time to look after all the children? Yes ______ No ______

• Help each child know, accept, and feel good about himself or herself? Yes ______ No ______

• Help each child become independent in ways you approve? Yes ______ No ______

• Help each child learn to get along with and respect other people, no matter what their backgrounds? Yes ______ No ______

• Provide a routine and rules children can understand and follow? Yes ______ No ______

• Accept and respect each family's cultural values? Yes ______ No ______

• Take time to discuss the child with the parent? Yes ______ No ______

• Have previous experience or training in working with children? Yes ______ No ______

• Spend time with parent(s) when there are questions? Yes ______ No ______

Employment First Table of Contents | Cooperative Extension Home Page

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kenneth R. Bolen, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.