National Network for Child Care's ~Connections Newsletter~

Nancy F. Morse, M.A.
Instructor
Human Development and Family Studies
Parkland College, Champaign, Illinois


Interviews help you and the parents decide if your center - and your program philosophy - are right for the child. Each child is unique. Each family is unique. Each child care program is unique. Children do best in situations in which the philosophy of the program and the views of parents are similar. And the child care program will do best if what you offer is compatible with what the parents need and expect. If your hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., you are asking for trouble if you accept a family in which both parents work until 6 o'clock. Here are some ideas for conducting a successful interview.

PICK A GOOD TIME.
Schedule the interview so that both the parent and the child can come. Also, pick a time when you will be able to concentrate on the interview.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.
Make a list of the information you want to share. Talk about your hours and fees, the ages and number of children in your center, if you take sick children and how sick they can be, meal procedures, what the children will do during the day, your approach to discipline, and your goals for children. It helps to have your policies written down in a handbook that you can give to the parents.

Make a list of the information you want to find out. You will want to know the hours care is needed, what the parents expect of you, their views on bringing up children, their approach to discipline, the types of activities they would like for their child, and their view of how children should be prepared for school. You will also want to observe the parent and child together. This is why it is important to have the child along.

DURING THE INTERVIEW.
Make the child comfortable with an appropriate activity. The child will probably want to remain close to the parent while you talk.

- Start informally. Talk a bit about yourrself and the center. Find out a bit about the child and his family. You may want to ask things such as how old the child is, if he has any brothers or sisters, and if the family lives in the neighborhood.

- Exchange information. Talk about your ppolicies and your contract, your program philosophy, and the forms parents will need to sign. Encourage the parent to talk about his needs and expectations. Have an honest discussion. Don't try to convince parents that your methods are best or bend your convictions in order to go along with their ideas. Be sure to listen carefully to the parents questions and answer them honestly.

- Go on a tour. Show the parent around alll parts of the center. This is also a good time to observe how the parent and child act toward each other. You may want to allow some time for the child to play in the room they would be in.

Allow time for reflection. At the end of the interview, arrange to meet again to clarify any questions that may come up after the interview. If it is impossible to have a second meeting, at least arrange to talk again by phone. Then, you'll be ready to make a final decision.

SET UP A TRIAL PERIOD.
It is often a good idea to start new children on a trial basis for three or four weeks. This will make it easier for either you or the parent to end the arrangement if it is not working out well.