How to Choose a Daycare in Philadelphia

What should I figure out before I start looking?

Before you call anyone, take ten minutes and write down what you can't do without. It makes every phone call shorter, and it keeps you from falling for a nice lobby at a center that doesn't fit your life.

• Your child's age and start date. An infant room and an after-school program are very different, and centers don't always have room in every age group at the same time. Ask early.
• The hours you actually need. Count your commute both ways. If your shift starts at 7:00, a center that opens at 7:00 won't work.
• Where it should be. Near home, near work, or somewhere on the way between. Picture the trip on a cold, rainy morning, whether you drive, take SEPTA or walk.
• How you'll pay. Private pay, Child Care Works (the state subsidy many families still call CCIS), or a mix. If you think you might qualify for Child Care Works, start that application early.
• School pick-up. If you have an older child, ask whether the center offers pick-up and drop-off and how it works with your child's school.

How do I check that a daycare is licensed in Pennsylvania?

Child care centers in Pennsylvania are licensed by PA DHS through its Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). A licensed center holds a certificate of compliance from the state. Ask to see it when you visit, and make sure the name and address on it match the building you're standing in.

The state also inspects licensed centers and keeps a record of what inspectors find. Ask the director when the last inspection was, whether anything came up, and how it was fixed. A center that had an issue and corrected it quickly can still be a good choice. A center that dodges the question is telling you something too.

If you want to look up a center's record on your own, PA DHS or your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) can point you to the current lookup tool. In Philadelphia that's ELRC Region 18, at 1-888-461-KIDS.

What is Keystone STARS, and should it matter to me?

Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's quality rating system for early learning programs. Programs are rated on a scale from STAR 1 to STAR 4. A rating looks at more than the basic license, so it's a useful starting point when you compare centers.

It isn't the whole picture, though. A rating won't tell you whether a teacher gets down on the floor with your toddler, or how a center handles a hard drop-off morning. Ask any center what its current level is and what it's working on, and then go see for yourself.

How do I pay for daycare in Philadelphia?

Most families pay privately, use Child Care Works, or combine the two. Child Care Works is run in Philadelphia through ELRC Region 18, and the ELRC decides whether you qualify and what share, if any, your family pays. Our Child Care Works guide walks through how to apply.

Whichever way you pay, ask every center the same money questions so you can compare fairly:

• Do you accept Child Care Works, and will you help with the provider paperwork?
• What is the rate for my child's age and schedule, and what does it include?
• Are there registration, supply or late pick-up fees?
• How much notice do you need if we leave?

Already on Child Care Works and thinking about switching? Ask the new center whether it will handle the transfer paperwork for you.

What should I look for when I visit?

A website and a phone call only tell you so much. Visit while children are there, so you see a normal day instead of an empty room. While you're there, notice:

• How teachers talk to children. Are they at eye level, patient, and using kids' names?
• Whether the children seem busy and comfortable, not just quiet.
• Whether rooms look clean and safe, with a clear place for eating, napping and play.
• How the front door works. Who can walk in, and how staff check who is picking up a child.

We put together a longer, printable list in our guide to questions to ask on a daycare tour.

How will the center keep me in the loop?

You'll be apart from your child for most of the day, so ask how you'll know what happened while you were gone. Good questions include:

• How will I hear about my child's day? A daily note, photos, an app?
• How do I reach my child's teacher during the day?
• How will you tell me if my child gets hurt or sick?
• How do you share closures and schedule changes?

Some centers use an app, others use paper reports or texts. The tool matters less than getting regular, honest updates and knowing exactly who to call.

What are the red flags?

Trust your gut. These are good reasons to slow down or keep looking:

• The center won't let you see the rooms before you enroll.
• No one can show you a license, or the name and address on it don't match.
• Simple questions about inspections, fees or staffing get vague answers.
• You feel pushed to sign up on the spot.
• Children look ignored, or the staff seem stretched too thin to notice them.
• Doors are propped open, or anyone can walk in without being stopped.

How does A Touch of Blessings fit this list?

We're a child care center with two locations in North Philadelphia, both near Temple University: 921 N 18th St. (19130) and 2318 Cecil B. Moore Ave. (19121). We care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with extended hours on request.

We accept Child Care Works and private pay, offer pick-up and drop-off, and handle the paperwork for families switching from another daycare, including CCIS transfers. Use this checklist with us the same way you'd use it anywhere else. Ask us every question on it. Quick answers to common ones are on our parent FAQ.