Research will help make right match; Parents need to visit and ask questions before deciding

Parents should identify their needs, schedule a visit, and consider a center's staffing when looking for child care in Anne Arundel County.

There are good choices out there, said Megan Holt, director at Weems Creek Nursery School, which has been in West Annapolis for 45 years. Parents should start by identifying what exactly they want, such as part-time or full-time care.

And then, parents should be make visits and ask questions.

"If you have a good feeling about it, it's probably a good choice," Holt said.

Weems Creek receives many online inquires, Holt said, but you don't get a real feel for a place until you walk into it.

A clean, neat environment is important, as well as whether children are engaged with staff members and activities, she said.

"If you have good instincts, trust your instincts when you walk in," Holt said.

The Maryland State Department of Education suggests checking three things during a visit: the providers, the children and the space. Parents should look if the care provider is someone you feel you can trust, who listens and responds to children, uses a calm voice and who speaks to children on their own level. Parents should look for children who are happy and engaged, have a chance to make choices and explore, and who understand and follow the program's rules and routines.

If meals and snacks are provided, parents should ask if they are nutritious. In general, parents should check to see if the location has a safe, happy, healthy feel to it, the site says.

The education department has a list of possible phone interview questions available online. Parents should ask about price, whether price includes meals and snacks, if there is a contract or service agreement, if advance notice is required before leaving a program, what kind of activities are offered daily, what size groups are in, and what experience the caregivers have.

Lori McGinley directs the Crofton Children's Centre, which serves the Crofton, Gambrills and Odenton community. McGinley agreed that visiting a center before making a decision is an important step. Her center has an open-door policy, she said, so there is no need to make an appointment before visiting.

"You can just pop in, which is something we recommend," McGinley said. "It gives the parent a chance to observe the classroom. It gives the parent a chance to observe teacher interactions, as well as the curriculum."

McGinley said the Crofton Children's Centre's philosophy is learning through play.

"We want learning to be fun for them. We're learning math through matching games, we're learning colors through songs, that type of thing," McGinley said.

Some parents may prefer a more structured, academic approach - it's just a matter of preference, McGinley said.

McGinley suggested asking about staff turnover rates.

"The longevity of a staff sometimes says a lot about the center," she said.

Teacher-to-child ratio is another factor, McGinley said. State requirements for staff-to-child ratios are available at www.earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org, and vary depending on group size and composition. For example, for a group of 3- or 4-year-olds one staff member is required for every 10 children.

Another is schedule flexibility - some centers might require a full-time commitment rather than part-time services.

Credit: By Rachael Pacella - rpacella@capgaznews.com

Caption: Teachers Kate Mott and Meriam LeFevers at Weems Creek Nursery School and Kindergarten in Annapolis lead the morning Pre-K class in a drawing exercise based on a famous quilt maker.

Aries Matheos/BSMG Staff