Parent Considerations for Child Care Centers in NJ

Children are a very important gift from God and it is your duty to love and cherish them. The way you treat them and the choices you make with regards to their welfare early in their lives shapes their destinies. You must ensure that they are protected and receive a good foundation from a reputable child care center. Child care centers in NJ are among some of the best in the country and you will have no problem finding a great place for your kids. The choice is not however a straightforward-one as there are some bad apples that you need to avoid.

It is very important to take some time in making this decision by going through the available options looking at the important aspects of a child care center. Before you even make any considerations, the center that qualifies to your list must be properly licensed. Licensing provides you with a first line of protection against sub-standard services and facilities as every center has to satisfy a stringent set of local ordinances to access licensing. If the center is in possession of provisional licensing then this is valid for only a year and it means that at the time of acquiring the license, the center did not meet all the requirements for licensing. Check the dates on the license and stay away if it has lapsed. Should the license be valid and you decide to enroll your child there then you must check on the status of the licensing after the expiration of this temporary licensing. On satisfying all ordinances, a full license is issued.

If you work odd hours you need a center that has 24 hour access and vice versa. You must ask about the center’s policy with regards to dropping off and picking up your kids. Some center s will levy a fine for lateness and it is good to know all this information upfront so that you decide accordingly.

The center must have mechanisms to restrict and monitor public access to the center by the general public and various delivery personnel. All the employees must be subject to background checks which include checking the sex offenders register and criminal records.

You must learn more about the means of communication employed between the teachers and the parents and get the full details of the teacher when you enroll your child. There must also be opportunities to meet with the teachers and discuss various issues of concern at regular meetings.