One - the relationship between the provider and the children. Two - the program itself. Three - the physical environment. Starting from the top, no one will argue that a warm, loving atmosphere for kids doesn't come first. But a center also needs to be open and accessible to parents.
Low wages can sometimes create high turnover, which only hurts the kids.
Parents should take time to sit down with the center's director to talk about turnover rates and what kind of incentives are offered to keep teachers at the facility long term. The program is the second thing parents should look for in a quality daycare. While many parents look for appropriate activities for their age kids, a lot of the experts will tell you that kids in their early years will learn from just playing. Toddlers especially need materials and equipment that will spark their interest and let them test things out for themselves. Other things to look for are time for indoor and outdoor play, and time for group and individual activities.