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Daycare checklist for parents

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LEE COUNTY, Fla.- At Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, CEO Nadereh Salim tells WINK News, parents should use all five of their senses when picking a day care.

Look around, do you see anything that could be dangerous to a kid?

The Department of Children and Families report for Kids Kastle says there were gaps in the gate where kids could easily slip away. Salim also recommends using your sense of smell.

“Does it smell clean and sanitary or does it smell like it needs to be cleaned up?” Salim said, “Listen to what you’re hearing. Are kids laughing or are kids crying?”

The DCF report for Kids Kastle states this facility didn’t have documentation that staff members were screened.

“It’s terrible,” said one community member, “they shouldn’t be allowed to run a day care with no credentials.”

Parents can easily search their day care provider online and look for violations on their own. We picked a random childcare center in Fort Myers. The report states that day care had expired bread, technically a minor infraction.

“Serious would be things that would really endanger the kids lives,” Salim said, “exposed wiring, broken windows; things that the kids could get seriously, physically hurt.”

A daycare center can have dozens of minor infractions and still be allowed to operate, while another could have one serious infraction and get shut down immediately. Once you pick a daycare, Salim recommends parents stop by unannounced to make sure your kid is getting the best care.

Click here if you’d like to check out your day care provider on the DCF website.

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