Are Daycare Centers Open?

The COVID-19 pandemic changed families’ lives — quickly. Daily routines were upended, and care arrangements fell through without a reliable replacement.

When the world went into lockdown, though, not everyone got to stay home. Frontline workers and essential employees still had to go to work. But with schools and many child care facilities closed, these workers faced critical child care gaps — finding daycare or another care arrangement became their top priority.

Some child care programs were able to remain open through it all; many were not. You might be wondering, “Are daycare centers open now? How are they keeping children safe?” We’ve got answers below.

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Are Daycare Centers Open Now?

If you’re headed back to the office — returning from maternity leave or switching back to in-person work instead of working from home — finding daycare is probably at the top of your to-do list. 

So, are daycare centers open now? Yes! How are they keeping families healthy and safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19? The CDC’s guidance typically plays a big role in daycare centers’ policies; read on to find out how daycare centers open now might be operating differently than they were before the pandemic.

Are Daycare Centers Open — and What Are Their Policies?

Here’s what to expect at a daycare right now — and some of the most important health and safety policies to look for.

Daily Health Screenings

Every child care center is different, but high-quality programs should implement daily health screenings as part of their new norm. That means everyone — staff, children, and parents — should be screened (either in person or via an online questionnaire) before they enter the building. If someone is experiencing concerning symptoms, such as a cough or a fever of 100.4 or higher, they should not be allowed inside.

COVID Testing Policies

What are the next steps for someone who’s experiencing symptoms? How long do they have to stay away from the center? Do they have to get tested for COVID-19 and provide a negative result before they can come back, or can they choose to remain out of the center for a set number of days? 

Disinfecting & Sanitizing 

This should’ve been a priority pre-pandemic; now, there should be an extra level of care put into disinfecting and sanitizing. Check to make sure the child care centers you’re considering are actually putting in that extra work. How frequently are they disinfecting play and dining areas? What’s being used as a disinfectant — can babies and toddlers safely use the items after they’ve been cleaned?

Visits Policies

What are the center policies regarding visits — do potential new families tour virtually? Can parents come in during the day? And, if so, is there a limit to how long they can stay — and are they required to wear masks? How is the center handling parent/teacher conferences — are they virtual or in-person? Asking these questions will help you gauge how many “outside” people will be in and out of the center throughout the day. 

ARE DAYCARE CENTERS OPEN?

A child care provider is a babysitter, nanny, au pair, early learning center, daycare, or child care center — anyone who cares for a child. Friends and family members — grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc. — can also be considered child care providers.

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Bright Horizons is a United States–based child-care provider and is the largest provider of employer-sponsored child care. Employees looking to become a child care teacher are offered the opportunity to earn an early education degree for free as part of their corporate benefits. Search by zip to find a child care center near you. Bright Horizons Global Headquarters are in Newton, Massachusetts, USA.