A Grapevine Parent’s Guide to Finding a Safe Daycare Center

1. Is the Daycare Center Licensed and Compliant with Texas Childcare Laws?

Before you even check out online reviews, this should be your non-negotiable starting point. All licensed daycare centers in Texas are required to keep children safe by complying with strict operational guidelines outlined in the minimum standards.

You can easily verify this online via the Texas Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Care database. You can search specifically for daycare centers in Grapevine and view their inspection histories for the last few years. Don’t just look for “Pass/Fail.” Look for repeated citations like:

• Hiring unqualified caregivers
• Lack of supervision
• Unsafe playground equipment

A single error might be a one-time mistake, but a pattern of safety violations at a daycare center signals a culture of negligence. Learn more about how to verify if a Grapevine daycare center is licensed or has a poor safety record here.

2. Does the Grapevine Daycare Center Maintain Safe Child-to-Caregiver Ratios?

Lack of supervision is one of the leading causes of preventable daycare injuries, and the root cause is overcrowded classrooms. When a caregiver at a Grapevine daycare center is overwhelmed and their duties spread them too thin, that is when incidents happen. The minimum standards mandate specific classroom ratios based on the children’s age group. For example, one caregiver cannot safely watch 15 toddlers alone.

On a tour of the daycare center in Grapevine, we recommend asking if the center follows the state minimums or if they aim for lower ratios for improved child safety. You can also ask about how the daycare center handles lunch breaks or caregiver absences. It is important that the center does not allow the ratios to drop. 

3. What Is the Daycare Center’s Policy for Hiring Caregivers and Watching Out for Red Flag Behaviors?

We have helped families with heartbreaking cases in Grapevine, including a case where a daycare center ignored clear warning signs about predatory caregivers. (Watch this WFAA story.) A safe daycare center desperate for workers should never just hire a warm body; all caregivers and employees should be properly vetted—from teachers in classrooms to van drivers and janitors.

Per the minimum standards, caregivers in Grapevine must do the following before being placed with children at any daycare center:

• Complete a notarized licensing affidavit swearing to their criminal background history.
• Pass comprehensive background checks, including checks on criminal history, sex offender registries, and child abuse or neglect case findings.
• Meet certain education and experience qualifications determined by the state.

In addition, daycare centers should provide ongoing training to ensure that staff are knowledgeable about abuse prevention and can easily recognize any signs of abuse and grooming techniques, and know how to respond in the event of an emergency.  

Lastly, all caregivers and staff members at a Grapevine daycare center are mandatory reporters. This means if they see anything that could be deemed inappropriate with a child, it needs to be reported and escalated to the Grapevine Police Department right away. It is vital that local daycare centers cover this with all employees. 

4. Does the Daycare Center Have Transparent Communication with Parents?

In our experience helping local families, transparency is the enemy of negligent daycare centers. Seek out a center that has an open-door policy for all parents.

Ask the director at a Grapevine center if visiting your child in their classroom at any time during the day is allowed. If they are hesitant to let you drop by unannounced, eliminate that center as an option from your list.

Some Grapevine daycare centers use smartphone apps to communicate with parents about their child’s daily activities, such as feeding and nap schedules, and keep them informed of any milestones their child reached while they’re at work. Some apps even allow caregivers to capture and send photos and videos to parents for a visual update.

While it is not required by law, you can also ask if the daycare center is outfitted with surveillance cameras with livestream capabilities that allow you to check in on your child from work throughout the day. Not only will this provide peace of mind, but you can quickly intervene if you notice any safety red flags or hazards in your child’s classroom.

5. Are the Classrooms and Playground Areas Safe?

It’s no secret that children are curious by nature. And a safe daycare center in Grapevine anticipates this. On a tour of the center, look down at the child’s level and see if you observe:

• Door alarms installed on any exterior doors leading to the parking lot or a busy street to prevent any wandering incidents. (Yes, these incidents sadly happen more often than any parent would like to think because of doors being left unmonitored and caregivers being overwhelmed.)
• Heavy furniture pieces like bookshelves are properly anchored to the walls to prevent tipping incidents.
• Playground equipment is age-appropriate and well-maintained. (It is a red flag if you see any rust or loose/squeaky pieces or screws that jut out.) Also, monitor the surrounding fencing to ensure there are no large gaps or holes that your child could fit through.
• Water safety precautions such as a gate with a lock on it if the Grapevine daycare center has a swimming pool or splash pad.  

You can also check for cleanliness on a tour. This will give you some insight into how safe of an environment the daycare center provides for children in Grapevine.

More Free Resources to Find a Safe Daycare Center in Grapevine

We know that the right daycare center can make a positive difference in a family’s life, giving parents peace of mind and allowing a child to learn and thrive. That’s why we encourage parents in Grapevine to explore these additional free resources to find a safe daycare center for your child:

• 10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare Center Guide
• How to Check If a Daycare Center Is Licensed
• Important Daycare Rules and Regulations Texas Parents Should Know
• What Tools and Guides Can Help Me Find a Safe Daycare Center?  

Contact The Button Law Firm After a Daycare Injury in Grapevine

When your child is seriously hurt at a daycare center in Grapevine, you shouldn’t have to figure everything out on your own. Our experienced and compassionate team of daycare injury lawyers understands the minimum standards and is aware of the safety shortcuts that many centers take. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.