Please be kind, if you can not make an interview for any reason, call and let the provider know.
Things we want you to know and ask about:
Contracts are very important to a provider. We take time to make sure our hours, vacations, what we expect from parents and what we want the parents to expect from us are in the contracts. Please go over these carefully, if you do not understand a part please call the provider, we are more than happy to explain why we have something in our contract, however do not expect us to change anything.
Illness for the providers and the providers children do happen, please check with your provider about what her rules about payment adjustments rates would be, if any.
Vacations can be taken anytime during the year. Some providers only take a few days each month, some take a few weeks per year. Make sure you know what your provider does and what the rates would be when the provider is on vacation and when/if you go on vacation.
Reserved positions are something that vary between providers. Some don't hold positions at all. Make sure when you call you ask if there is a fee for this service.
Paper work, it may all seem pretty tedious, and we feel the same way but the State of Iowa requires us to have alot of information on hand. Some of the information helps us get to know your child before they come so we can help make the transition from the other daycare or from home a little easier.
What we want to know from you:
Tell us about your child/children. What do they like, what do they not like.
For infants:
How does he/she like to be held?
How does he/she fed?
How does he/she like to be burped?
How do they like to be laid down? (Alone to fall asleep or do they like to be rocked?)
How often do you change their diapers?
For older infants:
Is he/she sitting up with/without assistance?
Is he/she crawling, pulling up on things, taking small steps?
Does he/she eat from a high chair?
Do you give them utensils, cup?
Do you lay them down with a bottle?
Do you read to them?
When playing with them how long will them stay focus on a single toy? (depending on age this will be from a few seconds to a few minutes growing longer as the child gets older)
What words or sounds do you notice them making?
Would you like me to tell you when they learn something new or would you like your child to surprise you at home?
Toddlers:
Is he/she walking?
What words is he/she saying?
Are you reading to him/her?
What is his/her favorite story?
Are they off the bottle?
Are they using a spoon and/or fork and a cup?
What is a favorite toy?
What scares your child?
