State licenses do offer parents some assurance that day care providers have met certain minimal levels of health, safety, and supervision, but licenses are issued for two-year periods.
Experts agree that experienced staff and low turnover are important factors.
The environment should emphasize creativity and fun, with lots of drawing and coloring tools and toys inside, and playground equipment outside. Perhaps most important, the caretaker-child ratio should be low. Ideally, one teacher or assistant should be allotted for every five children. You'll want to put some research into this most important decision. Hopefully, you'll then experience a higher payoff in terms of your child's educational benefit and satisfaction quotient.