Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

When can I enroll my child at Dr. Day Care?

Anytime!  Enrollment at all locations is ongoing 52 weeks a year, as long as space is available.

How do I enroll my child?

First, set up a tour of the location you are interested in to speak with an Administrator.

What forms or paperwork do I need to provide to enroll my child?

Please visit our Enrollment page for all of the forms that we require to start your child at one of our locations.

Where can I find the Dr. Day Care guidelines and information I may need about my child care center?

Our Family Handbook has information about Dr. Day Care’s  policies, procedures, and philosophies.

Visit Us

Where are your learning centers located?

Our Locations page shows all our Dr. Day Care Learning Center locations on a map.  If you need help choosing the center that is most convenient for your family, please contact us for assistance.

What days and times are you open?

We are open Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hours can vary from center-to-center, please ask the Administrator about specific hours for your center.

Can I take a tour of the child care center during hours of operation?

Dr. Day Care recommends calling to book an appointment or scheduling a tour online so the Administrator can plan time to spend with you and your family and have no other appointments booked. However, we have an open door policy, so you may also choose to stop by any time.

Can I see your classrooms before I visit?

If you cannot schedule an in-person tour, connect with the location you are interested in to set up a Virtual Tour to take a video walk-through of the center. Or you can visit the location’s page for photos.

Tuition & Attendance

How many days can my child attend?  Is there a minimum or maximum number of days per week my child can attend?

There is a 2 day minimum, up to 5 days per week. Parents are asked to choose a drop off and pick up time so that we can best prepare for your child’s arrival and departure.  Please choose 10 hours or less per day, up to 50 hours per week.

How much is child care tuition?

Our rates vary by location and your child’s age.  We have weekly and daily rates for Infant, Toddler, Preschool/PreK, and School Age.  Please contact us and we will be happy to go over the options with you or you can schedule a tour at your preferred location.

Waitlists

What should I do next if there is no space available for my child?

To keep staff to child ratios low, we have a limited number of spots in each classroom.  To put your child’s name on the waitlist, please contact your preferred center’s Administrator and provide them with your child’s Enrollment Packet and registration fee.  In the meantime, you may want to enroll in one of our other locations and transfer to your preferred location as a spot becomes available.  Our site Administrators can help you with this process.

Learn more about Dr. Day Care Waitlists at drdaycare.com/waitlist

Weather

Is the center open during inclement weather?

Dr. Day Care Learning Center will remain open unless the Governor declares a State of Emergency, we receive a state mandate, or ­unforeseen circumstances that compromise the safety of our children, staff, and families. Parents will be alerted to any closures through the Rhode Island Broadcast System and our Facebook page.  Sign up to receive alerts on center closures.

Will my child have the opportunity to play outside every day?

Dr. Day Care believes children should have the opportunity to play outside, every day. Outside play provides children with many different learning experiences.

Proven Quality

Is the center licensed?

All child care facilities must be licensed in RI by DHS (Department of Human Services). All of Dr. Day Care centers are licensed, insured, nationally accredited, smoke free, and drug free.

Is Dr. Day Care nationally accredited?

Yes!  Dr. Day Care Learning Centers are nationally accredited by National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA). To receive national accreditation, centers must meet and maintain high standards for program and staff in safety, health, education, and more to prove best practices. Dr. Day Care Learning Center complete an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the NECPA standards. These standards assess quality in the areas of adult and child interaction, staff qualifications, health and safety, physical environment, administration, and parent and community relationships. Every three years the program must be re-evaluated in order to become reaccredited. Nationally accredited programs show a commitment to going above and beyond to provide the best care possible.

Teachers

Who can I expect to see interacting with my child?

All Dr. Day Care teachers have a high school diploma, up to a Master’s degree.  Staff must be 18 years or older, pass a background check and criminal record check, and have experience working with children.

How often is staff training provided?

All staff members are required to complete professional development. All Dr. Day Care staff must complete 30 hours of training per year, more than the 20 hours required by the state.  Trainings are offered monthly on important topics such as CPR and First Aid, communication, learning through play, helping children with special needs, and more, based on the needs and interest of our staff.

Is there a nurse on staff?

Yes, a child care health consultant (RN) is on staff and is on call for all Dr. Day Care centers.

Daily Activities

What learning opportunities are available throughout the day?

Experiences are provided that meet children’s needs and stimulate learning in all developmental areas.  The curriculum and teacher interactions are responsive to individual needs of the child and abilities and interests.  See infant, toddler, preschool, and school age information and daily schedules here.

What type of curriculum is offered?

Dr. Day Care’s Vice President of Education works with a team of teachers to create a monthly curriculum, which is guided by our Educational Framework and the Rhode Island Early Learning & Development Standards (RIELDS) to ensure each child is meeting developmental milestones.  These milestones are tracked by Cognitive ToyBox assessments and Parent Teacher Conferences.

How do you teach children positive, appropriate behaviors?

We follow the Conscious Discipline approach. This is a social-emotional program, designed by Dr. Becky Bailey. Conscious Discipline teaches adults and children how to regulate and manage emotions. Conscious Discipline provides a transformational, whole-school solution for social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation. Teachers spend less time policing behavior and more time teaching vital life skills. Conscious Discipline is a proven, comprehensive approach that empowers teachers with skills that create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment.

The focus of Conscious Discipline is on building connections, rather than punishment. By teaching adults to understand our feelings, we can then model behaviors for children. Being mindful of how we respond to stressful situations or feelings of upset, we can then be conscious as adults on what we are saying to children and the behaviors we are modeling.
Conscious Discipline creates a compassionate culture and facilitates an intentional shift in adult understanding of behavior. This highly effective approach is proven to increase self-regulation, sense of safety, connection, empathy and intrinsic motivation in both children and adults.

What is the nap and rest time policy for children at the center?

Rest time allows children to rest, sleep, and/or relax their bodies. While a child is resting on his/her personal cot he/she can read books and listen to relaxing music. Children are encouraged to use quiet voices so they and their peers can rest.

Are meals included in tuition?

Dr. Day Care provides free nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack for all children in our program. Our centers follow the CACFP (Child Adult Care Food Program) for your child’s optimum nutrition.  By eating meals with friends and teachers, meal times provide enriched social experiences.  We often find that children are willing to try new foods while seated with their peers.

Communication

How will I be informed about my child’s day at Dr. Day Care?

Communication is very important at Dr. Day Care.  Our teachers will communicate with each parent at the end of every day.  Classroom logs are kept daily for each child. We use the Procare Child Care Mobile App to provide updates on your child's day-to-day activities – from tracking developmental milestones to sharing photos and videos.

Security & Safety

Will my child be safe at Dr. Day Care?

We take many steps to ensure the safety of your child. Doors are securely locked and the building can only be accessed through a biometric fingerprint scanner or coded password. Fire drills are conducted throughout the year so that our children, staff, and teachers are prepared in the event of an emergency.  Each center has an emergency evacuation plan and a safe location to evacuate to if needed.

Enrichments & Involvement

Do you have field trips, enrichments, or special guests?

We invite special guests to our center such as community helpers, book mobiles, magicians, etc. Our Enriching Curriculum provides opportunities for our children to discover new experiences in cooking, foreign languages, gardening, sports, and more. Students ages 4+ attend quarterly field trips, some past field trips have included Adams Farm, Mystic Aquarium, Pea Poddery studio, and more. Our School Age summer camp students have field trips / scheduled on-site visitors each week!

How can I get involved in center activities?

Parent involvement is very important to Dr. Day Care. Parent/Teacher Advisory groups meet quarterly to discuss upcoming upcoming events, curriculum, fundraising, parent networking, and more.  Check with your center Administration for more information on how to join.  Center events occur regularly – keep on the lookout for information.  We also welcome parents as volunteers and chaperones.    Speak to your center Administration about volunteering your time, either in the classroom or at events.  We love having parents share a story at circle time, join in during events, and just spending time in our classrooms!

Questions?

Is there someone always available to answer questions?

Yes, you can call our home office at 401-475-7707 or contact us any time.