According to the leading Web resource for new and expectant parents, Babycenter.com, good daycare centers are characterized by the following criteria:

A good daycare center should be known for its welcoming, friendly and nurturing environment. It must certainly be state certified. Additionally, you should ask parents who are current clients of the center for references either by meeting them personally in afternoons, at pick-up times, or by calling them if the center can disclose their contact information. Your first impression of the visit to the daycare center should be accounted for as well.

A good daycare center would we welcoming parents to drop by at any time to see their children or even participate in activities (i.e. it should have an open-door policy). It should also be flexible as far as letting you pick up and drop off your kids at different times. At the same time, it should have well established rules for operating hours, emergencies, attendance, discipline, and especially a strict ill-child policy. If the center does not have an open-door policy or it is seems unwelcoming to unscheduled parent visitations, it is most likely trying to hide something.

The best daycare centers have a well-planned, structured schedule of activities, which include plenty of time for physical activities, quit time, academically involving sessions for groups and individuals, group and individual activities, meal and snack times, and free time. TV and videos viewed should be somewhat educational and their content should be well-reviewed. TV and video viewing should constitute a little or no part of the daily activities.
The center should also offer a wide-range of age-appropriate toys, which stimulate creative and imaginative play.

Unlike home daycare and nannies, employees in daycare centers have to have a specialized education. They should have at least two years of college education, a background in early childhood development, and CPR and other emergency training.
The daycare center should have enough teacher personnel so your child gets the care and attention he or she needs.

A good center is clean and sanitary.

Make sure the center follows the basic rules of safety.

Look for a facility with an outdoor play area and spacious indoor area.

A good daycare center must be licensed by the state. Additionally, it may be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) . However, accreditations by the state or the NAEYC do not guarantee a quality care. You should visit the center and talk to parents, teachers, and other personnel to ensure yourself that your child would be cared for in the best manner.

Please visit Babycenter.com for more useful guidelines about daycare centers. For more informational readings about childcare please visit our Childcare Informational Links page.