The "Leave It to Beaver" days of Mom staying home all day, cleaning the house in high heels and pearls and having dinner on the table when the family comes home from work and school are over.

In today’s economy, both Mom and Dad must work to make ends meet. But what’s to come of Wally and the Beave?

For most American families of the 21st century, the solution is daycare.

Few people are as invested as parents are in making sure their children are well taken care of. It’s hard to turn on the television or open up a newspaper without hearing a horror story about children who were supposed to be cared for but were, instead, victimized by their caregivers.

There are a number of things parents can do to make the most informed decision before handing over their most precious resources to the care of strangers.

While it’s important to get recommendations from friends, relatives and neighbors, the best thing is to take yourself to the center and look around. Does there appear to be a routine and some semblance of order. How do the children interact with their caregivers? Do the children seem happy?

Does the center have indoor and outdoor environments that will provide the children with safe and nurturing activities.

Will your child be safe in this environment? What levels of cleanliness and safety protocols are visible during your visit?

Find out what the center’s policy is for sick children, early or late drop-offs or pickups, etc.

Because children do not always behave, sometimes it is necessary for caregivers to discipline them. Ask how this is done and clearly state your preferences for your child.

What is the turnover rate at the center? Will your child be able to bond with a caregiver who has been there for a while and plans to stay, or will the child have to constantly get to know knew people.

In addition to affecting the child’s sense of security, too high a turnover rate could signal a problem at the center that isn’t obvious on first look.

Once you’ve made the decision and selected a daycare center for your child, try it out. Take a clue from your child whether it is a good match or not. It’s not unusual for small children to cling to parents while being left in a new environment.

But if the child is still clingy after an expected adjustment period, or runs to the parent as if the hounds of hell were on his or her tail at the end of the day, it might warrant another look.

Tennessee parents have an extra tool in their arsenal in the battle for finding reliable, safe and affordable daycare.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services, which regulates family daycare homes, group daycare homes and child care centers, has instituted the Star-Quality Child Care Program. A Report Card system offers help to parents looking for daycare in the state.

The Report Card not only gives parents vital information needed to understand how to look for quality child care, but also allows parents to compare different available child care programs.

Once providers meet the minimum licensing requirements with the state, they are eligible to receive one, two or three stars and join the Star Quality Program, which ranks centers based on director qualifications, professional development, compliance history, parent/family involvement, ration and group size, staff compensation and program assessment. Family and group homes are evaluated based on compliance history, parent/family involvement, program assessment, professional development and business management.

The program is voluntary and providers who participate must place the report card in a place where it can be easily seen.

The DCS also offers a workbook to help parents do their homework in making one of the most important decisions they can make for their child.

The workbook explains the licensing procedures, outlines the Star-Quality Child Care Program and gives parents a checklist to take with them when visiting daycare centers.

For more information about child care and child care services in Tennessee, visit www.state.tn.us/humanserv/childcare.htm.