Typically in a double-income home, the parents must both choose to return to work at some point. Studies from the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies show that 62 percent of American mothers with children under 5 years of age are currently in the workforce. Increasingly, therefore, child care centers are becoming an essential part of a child's development, and intrinsic for many families in raising a child.
The following are some tips to enable you to narrow down your exploration of child care. If it is such a priority, it is also a choice that needs to be made carefully.
Where to Look
Begin by trying to collect references from other parents in your neighborhood. This works both to find some good centers or daycare homes in your area, and to eliminate options. Another place to look is the Child Care Resource and Referral Center, which is an organization that helps parents to choose what is best for their child care needs, and includes a listing of some of the best child care centers in your area.
Research
Gather pertinent information on the centers before visiting them. This includes exploring whether or not the centers are adequately licensed by the state, and what information the state has on the center. Most states have clear laws concerning the requirements of the child care worker, as well as factors such as cleanliness in the center, quality of food provided, and proper safety procedures. The state should also be able to provide for you any violations the centers have had. Again, the local CCRR can provide you this information.
Visit
Take time to visit and to ask questions - as many you need to feel comfortable making a good decision. For example: what is the ratio of employees to children? What is a typical group size? What are the qualifications of the employees? Is this center accredited? What is the employee turnover rate? What are the safety procedures?
Read the Contract
Discuss anything that concerns you or seems to be missing.
Observe the Children
This is an excellent indicator of the quality of the child care. Do the children show respect to the caregiver? Are they generally happy? What is a typical schedule for the children?
Call References
Previous clients can give an excellent perspective.
Stay Involved
Once you decide on a caregiver, remain involved in the process of caring for your child. Request updates on your child as often as possible. Also, consider volunteering for special outings if possible.
Here are a few terms that are helpful to know before you start your search:
Accreditation: a recognition of a care center for voluntarily abiding by certain standards.
Age groupings: infants are birth to 12 months, toddlers are 13 to 36 months, preschoolers are three to five years, school aged are first grade to 15 years, mixed ages are care groups with children that are least one year apart in age.
Babysitting: in-home care give on a temporary or occasional basis, primarily for safety over learning
Caregiver: an employee who takes care of children.
CCR&R: an organization that provides resources to parents about child care, and helps with financial assistance, provides referrals, and information on licensing requirements.
Child Development Associate: an employee who has finished a CDA course and has been given a CDA credential.
Corporate: child care financed partially or wholly by a parent's employer.
Family: care provided in a provider's own residence.
In-home: care provided in the home of the child's parents.
Informal: care provided by friends are relatives that is not regulated as a child care provider is.
Licensing requirements: state or local standards which providers are required to meet to continue in business.
Non-traditional child care: care provided during non-traditional working hours such as weekends, early hours, or late hours.
Sherilyn Fry is a mother, teacher, and child care provider in Walnut Creek, CA. She runs a walnut creek preschool [sherilynshomepreschool.com] for young kids, encouraging fun learning experiences, creativity, social skills, self esteem, science including cooking projects, reading and math skills and more. To schedule an appointment to visit, please call Sherilyn at 925-938-1174.
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