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Home › Articles › Child Care Issues › How Safe Is Your Childcare?

How Safe Is Your Childcare?

Ensuring Your Child Is in Good Hands

By Teri Brown

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Though her child was only in that daycare for a few days, the experience made her wary, and when she began looking for another one, she went armed with a checklist of requirements. "I came a couple of times at different times throughout the days before she started to see if they were organized and the teachers had control over the kids in a friendly and energetic way," says Amor. "I looked at the play area outside to make sure it was clean and safe. I also looked around the walls to see if the outlets were plugged."

Knowledge is power when it comes to choosing a safe childcare situation for your child. Be armed with a list of safety requirements before you go and make sure to check out any references they give you. But for real security there is nothing better than having a referral from someone you know and trust. There are many childcare situations available for your child with safety-conscious, nurturing caregivers, and it is your responsibility to ferret them out.

And when you come to the point of making a decision, it's OK to use your intuition. "Parents should trust their gut feelings," says McDonald. "No matter how clean and safe it looks, if you feel uncomfortable with the situation, don't leave your child there."

Finding a safe and nurturing childcare situation from your child can be an overwhelming task, but guidelines from the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care can help make your task easier. You'll find these guidelines here.

More Information on Daycare Safety

Professional Association of Certified Childcare Educators (PACCE)
Marian McDonald
mcmcdonald@aol.com
503-284-5867

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons
Campus Mail Stop F541, P.O. Box 6508, Aurora, CO 80045
1-800-598-5437

National Association for the Education of Young Children
1509 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-424-2460

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. 20207-0001
(301) 504-6816

Child Care Bureau (a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)


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