Should Parents Trust Daycare Center Ratings?

What Are Green Flags to Look for When Researching Reviews of Daycare Centers?

Daycare centers may encourage parents to post positive reviews on websites, but our team has identified that a parent with a good experience doesn’t need to be encouraged, that they’re happy to write a review of their child’s daycare center without prompting. When analyzing reviews, look for feedback from other parents that indicate the daycare center is safe. Key signs may include comments about: 

• Good Communication
• Caring Staff
• Balanced Curriculum
• Clean Classrooms and Facility

What Are Red Flags in Reviews of Daycare Centers?

In only a few words, a review can tell a bigger story about the daycare center you’re considering for your little one. A parent having a great experience may write a review, but a parent having a bad experience is more likely to write a review—and provide the truth. Reading one-star reviews on a daycare center’s page on Yelp or Google can give you an idea of the concerns parents have about that specific center. We have identified some of the top red flags that parents could find in a daycare center review:

• “High Turnover Rate” Is Mentioned: If a review mentions a daycare center having a high staff turnover rate, this is a bad sign. This means management is not doing a good job of keeping talent and is likely hiring unqualified, careless caregivers to replace the ones who leave.
• Classrooms Are Not “In Ratio”: The state of Texas has child-to-caregiver ratios—that is, a maximum number of children that can be under the care of a single daycare center employee, and the number depends on the children’s age. If a review says that classrooms are “out of ratio,” this means that there were too many children in a classroom. Daycare center injuries often happen when caregivers are not properly supervising the children in their care; if they are overseeing too many kids, the risk of injury increases.
• Daycare Center’s Response: Look out for how a daycare center responds to both positive and negative reviews. This can give you an indication of the management style of the daycare center and its staff’s professionalism. A good daycare center will see a bad review and thank a parent for bringing it to their attention and make plans to amend it. A bad daycare center may respond in a defensive manner, putting blame on someone other than their employees and not taking accountability for their own actions.

How Can I Choose the Best Daycare Center for My Child?

When you’re looking for the best daycare center for your child, touring the center is your best bet. Seeing in person how a daycare center runs will give you a better idea of whether or not you can trust your little one’s safety there. Our top 3 things to look for in your daycare center tour are happy, healthy children; employees who know and understand Texas daycare laws (known as minimum standards); and a management team that is happy to answer any questions you may have. To see a complete list of our recommendations, check out this guide.

Has Your Family Experienced a Bad Daycare Center? Contact The Button Law Firm.

If your child suffered an injury at a daycare center anywhere in Texas, contact our experienced daycare and child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. With lawyers in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.