JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Video from a daycare in Vicksburg, is causing outrage among parents across the state. The video shows a 9-year-old boy physically abusing smaller children. He hits, bites, chokes and even kicks. Every time an adult turns their back, it happens again.
For many parents, outrage is turning to worry for their own children and concerns of how to go about choosing the right daycare center.
"I think as a parent and as a care giver it's very difficult because you want very specific things for your child. You want them to be the only one that is pretty much in the room," said Shelley Ezelle, with the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network and Project Manager for Allies Quality Care.
Ezelle says parents need to pay attention.
"As a parent you do want to feel comfortable and safe when you take your child in to the childcare center," said Ezelle.
Ezelle says an important factor is the staff to children ratio. For infants and toddlers Ezelle says it should be about 1 to 4 and for four years olds it should be about 1 to 10.
"All daycare providers are different," said Gracie Daniel, 20 year owner and director of Toddler Land Educational Center in Vicksburg.
As a child care provider she says parents need to look for environments of love, care and safety.
"All these things, you have to really search until you find the right daycare," said Daniel.
Mississippi has no mandatory rating system for daycares but there is a quality rating system, although it's through voluntary participation. Overall, Ezelle says don't be afraid to ask questions and find out as much information as you can.
"You want that director to show you the center and let you feel comfortable enough so that if you want to come eat lunch with your child or just drop in and see how she is, that you can do that," said Ezelle. "As you're visiting, you kind of have that gut feeling as a parent and I suggest stick with that gut feeling."
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