5 Steps To Choosing Quality Child Care

5 Steps To Choosing Quality Child Care Start EarlyStart looking as far in advance as you can. No matter what type of care you are considering - achild carecenter or home based care - finding the rightchild careoption can take some time. Make a CallBegin your search by calling your local experts - yourchild careresource andreferral(CCR&R) center. CCR&Rs can give you the facts aboutchild care, and a list ofchild careoptions in your area that may meet your needs. What are the licensing requirements in my area? How can I get information about complaints and licensing violations? Are there anychild carefinancial assistanceprograms that my family qualifies for? Visit and Ask QuestionsMake sure you visit thechild careoptions you are considering. Find out about these key indicators of quality: Adult to Child Ratio:Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention. The younger your child, the more important this is. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants), while four-year-olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children). Group Size:Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more like a family? CaregiverQualifications:Ask about the caregivers' training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops? Turnover:Check how long caregivers have been at the center or providing care in their homes. It's best if children stay with the samecaregiverat least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things. Accreditation:Find out if thechild careproviderhas been accredited by a national organization. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards forchild carethat are higher than most state licensing requirements.The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for FamilyChild Care(NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accreditchild careprograms. Make a ChoiceThink about what you saw at each visit, and make the best choice for your child and family. Stay InvolvedThe work isn't over when you find good care for your child. You and your child'scaregiverare partners now. Here are some ways to be involved: Have parent-caregiver meetings regularly, and ask questions. Offer to volunteer time when needed, like participating in clean up days, fixing broken toys. Be there for your child's birthday party. Visit your child atchild careand read a book aloud. Join in special events, like field trips, Career Day, Black History Month, or other holidays. Even if you can't get time off from work during the day, you can still check in at drop-off and pick-up times. Ask thecaregiverhow things are going, and how your child is doing. Visiting and participating in events at your child'sprovidersends a strong message. It tells your child and your child'scaregiverthat you think what your child is doing and learning is important. Find out more about efforts in your community to improve the quality ofchild care. Is yourcaregiverinvolved in these activities? How can you get involved? For more information, contact yourlocal child care resource and referral agency, or callChild CareAware at1-800-424-2246.