If you are thinking about putting your child in daycare, you will want to know what to look for in resumes for child care providers. There are many things you want to make sure you know about the person who is watching your baby.
Reviewing Child Care Provider Resumes
With so many child care options available to you, you want to make sure you find the perfect match for your child. By reviewing resumes of potential nannies or daycare providers, you can become familiar with the individual's experience and education to help you make an informed decision based on your needs.
Some of the people and places you may consider interviewing are:
- College students, looking to make some extra money (Works great if you need them just a few hours a week.)
- Au Pair who will live with you for a semester or two (Allows a student, often foreign, a chance to live in your city while giving you live-in help.)
- Nanny, who will watch your children in your home
- In home child care provider (licensed or unlicensed)
- Daycare center
The type of provider you will choose will have to do with how much help you need, as well as a personal preference. Some people love having someone in their home, while others feel it is invasive.
Experience Watching Children
The first thing you want to look at is her experience with children. Use your judgment based on your needs and the length of time she will be with your child. An education major is a great person to hire for a few hours because you know she has an interest in education and children, and you will help her build her resume.
However, if you are looking for a full time provider, you want someone with more experience.
Continuing Education
There are numerous opportunities for child care providers to take classes that will help them improve upon their skills. Ask for a list of current continuing education programs she has attended. She should attend at least one a year.
Licensed or Unlicensed?
Somewhere on the resume you may find a certification issued from the state indicating she is a licensed daycare provider. If she has a daycare in her home, a certification means she is running it legally, and within state guidelines. A nanny may also have some kind of certification or representation from an agency.
Other Important Things to Look For
There are some things you might not find on a resume that you will want to check into.
Background Check
Since you are leaving your child with a stranger, no matter how wonderful she seems, always ask her for a background check. You can request she has the results mailed directly to you. A background check will let you know if she has spent any time in jail or been arrested for child abuse.
If she is married and her spouse will be around the children, ask to run a background check on him as well.
Non-smoking Home
Smoking is a personal preference, but if you are a non-smoker this may be important to you, especially if you are taking your baby to their home. Even if the provider does not smoke around the children, it can stay on the furniture, carpet, and on her clothes which may affect your baby. You have the right to ask her if she smokes.
Planned Curriculum
If you are thinking of enrolling your child in a center, or have a preschooler who will need some extra education, ask to look at her daycare curriculum. Providers who can show you a curriculum often offer a more structured environment
The Interview
Reviewing resumes for child care providers will help you narrow down your choices, but should not be a deciding factor. Before hiring an individual or center to watch your baby, make sure to interview her in her working environment.
Visit During Hours
Ask if you can visit her while she is watching other children. This will show you how kids interact with her, and how she responds to situations. Ask to just observe her. Feel free to bring your child and watch how your child behaves with her. If your child doesn't feel comfortable, move on.
Making Your Decision
There are many factors you will want to consider when looking at resumes for child care providers. Go with your gut instinct and the person who you feel the most comfortable with. This is a very important decision.
