You should know when to keep your youngster home and how the center will respond if he becomes sick during the day. Ideally, there should be a mix of physical activity and quiet times. Some activities should be group oriented and other individualized. There should be set times for meals and snacks. While a certain amount of structure is desirable, there should also be time for free play and special events.
Some programs rely heavily on parent participation, while others require very little.
At the very least, quality programs should welcome your opinions and allow you to visit your child during the day. Do not consider any program that is closed to parents for part or all of the day. A well-organized program should have clearly defined rules and regulations regarding hours of operation, transportation of children, field trips, meals and snacks, administration of medication and first aid, emergency evacuations, notification of child's absence, weather cancellations, withdrawal of children from the program, supplies or equipment that parents must provide, special celebrations, and how parents may contact the staff during the day and at night. Because each baby develops in his own particular manner, it's impossible to tell exactly when or how your child will perfect a given skill. The milestones listed will give you a general idea of what to expect, but don't be alarmed if your own baby's development takes a slightly different course.