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ONCE YOUR CHILD STARTS DAYCARE...

As a parent, it's your responsibility to make sure your child is having a positive daycare experience - learning and getting along with others. You can never be too busy to be a concerned and involved parent during your child's critical formative years.

Therefore, be sure to ask these and other questions after your child starts daycare - preferably within the first three weeks:

1. Are they happy to go to daycare?	Yes	No
2. Do they regularly bring crafts home?	Yes	No
3. Do they come home with unexplained bruises or scrapes?	Yes	No
4. Is their behavior changing rapidly?	Yes	No
5. Are they more aggressive, passive, or defiant?	Yes	No
6. Can they explain what they did at daycare today?	Yes	No

If you answer "No" to any of these questions, you should be concerned about your child's daycare experience. Be sure to contact the daycare provider about your concerns.

Encourage your child or children to talk about their friends at daycare, especially their behavior. Such talk is healthy and informative. Most children love to talk about others.

SOURCE: Adapted from Trudy S. Woodring and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D., The Military Spouse's Map Through the Maze Pocket Guide (Manassas Park: Impact Publications), page 15. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.