1. Location of the home: Parents prefer child care arrangements closer to home or their work. This is more convient for them and it also cuts back on their drive time.

2. Telephone Interview Skills: Parents like to talk to a provider who knows what she is doing. Keep a smile in your voice. If a parent calls at a time when it is impossible for you to give them your undivided attention, then let them know that you are interested, but you need to call them back shortly.

3. Exterior Appearance of the Providers Home: Homes need to be in good repair. It's true what they say about first impressions. Try to make your home an inviting place where parents would want to bring their children. Your home is a reflection on you.

4. Providers Appearance: It is important for the provider to groom and dress for childcare success everyday. It doesn't mean that you have to wear your best clothes or wear make up, just as long as your clothes are clean and presentable. Children don't care what you wear, but daycare parents do.

5. Cleanliness of a Providers Home: First Impressions can make or break a business relationship. No matter how wonderful a provider is, if their home/center is not clean and organized, parents will look else where for care for their children. Think about it, would you want to leave your child in a dirty environment?

6. Personal Interview Skills: Parents often do not know exactly what they are searching for when they start looking for child care. Providers must know what they have to offer and be able to promote their program to parents.

7. Personal and General Home Organization: For providers to really look and feel like they are professional in their business they need to be organized. No matter how great a provider is with children, if their business is in disarray, parents will think that they are not very professional or serious about their business.

8. Age Specific Toys: Parents want to make sure that their children will have enough age appropriate things to do throughout the day so that they don't become bored. Having a good amount of age appropriate items and places for the children to play with those items is something that parents will look for. If you were a parent looking for care, would you want to leave your children in the care of someone who had no toys, arts and crafts or other items for the children to play with?

9. Written Policies: Providers need a written contract or agreement to be sure they have clarified rules and policies, which helps to eliminate misunderstandings with parents from the very beginning. To see a sample daycare contract just click here.

10.Professionalism: What is professionalism in child care? In short, it is the eagerness to constantly better ourselves. It is constantly updating training and skills, building new skills, and learning and sharing with fellow child care professionals. Professionalism is constantly refreshing ourselves to offer our best!