National Daycare Centers Directory

For parents returning to the workforce after having children, the choice of daycare centers can be a difficult decision. The first thing to do is consider exactly what you need from your daycare provider. Decide whether you would rather drop your child off closer to home or to the office, along with the number of hours you will be leaving them at the center. Think about your child's maturity level and how well he or she plays with other children. This could be an important factor in choosing a day care center with a lot of children or one with a smaller group that may work better for excitable kids.

Once you have a list of daycare centers that meet your qualifications, call around and conduct a brief phone interview with each one. Ask about the number of children per teacher, policies on food, activities planned for the kids, and how much everything will cost. If you child has any medical conditions or food allergies, now is also the time to ask how those will be handled. After you are satisfied with the answers to your phone question, go out and visit the day care centers to inspect the safety and cleanliness of the facilities.