How to Choose a Daycare in Framingham: A Parent's Checklist

Every child care center in Massachusetts is licensed and inspected by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licensing covers the basics that keep children safe: staff background checks, training requirements, group sizes, health and safety standards, and regular inspections.

You can look up any program on the EEC website to confirm it is licensed and see its inspection history. It takes two minutes and it is worth doing before you fall in love with a classroom.

First impressions are useful. You are looking for a place that feels calm, clean, and busy in a happy way. Notice how the adults talk to the children and whether the children seem comfortable approaching them.

• Teachers are down at the children's level, talking with them, not just supervising from a chair.
• Rooms are clean and organized, with materials children can actually reach.
• There are separate spaces for different ages, including separate outdoor areas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• Children's work is on the walls and it looks like children made it.
• The front entrance is secure and visitors are expected to check in.

Bring this list. Write the answers down, because after two or three tours the details blur together.

• What are your hours, and do you offer early drop-off or occasional drop-in days?
• How long have your teachers been here? What training do they have?
• How do you communicate with parents during the day?
• What does a typical day look like for my child's age group?
• How do you handle naps, meals, and potty training?
• What is your sick policy, and how do you handle closures for weather?
• Can I see the outdoor play areas and any special rooms (gym, library, STEAM room)?
• What happens if I am running late at pickup?

A wonderful center that adds forty minutes to your morning will wear on you. Map the drive at the time you would actually be doing it. For MetroWest families, a location near the Mass Pike and Route 9 can make the difference between a smooth morning and a stressful one, especially when both parents commute in different directions.

After your tours, the right choice is usually clear. It is the place where the teachers were warm, your questions were answered without hedging, and you could picture your child there. If you are torn between two, ask both for a second visit at a different time of day. Morning drop-off and late afternoon look different, and both tell you something.

When you are ready, we would love to show you around Mountainside. Tours take about thirty minutes and you can bring your child.