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High Quality Child Care
Research shows that the following six conditions are generally necessary for child care accommodations to be considered high quality:
- Small groups of children — to ensure individualized attention, no more than 6-8 babies, 6-10 toddlers, or 16-20 preschoolers, always with at least two adults in each group.
- Consistent caregivers — infants and toddlers, especially, need nurturing from consistent caregivers to build their self-esteem and sense of security.
- Adequate staff compensation — when staff are paid well, they tend to stay in their positions longer, which in turn, ensures consistency in caregiving.
- Active parents — involved parents help ensure trust, communication and consistency between home and child care.
- Education and training — a staff well trained in child development is critical to high quality child care, as is a clean, safe and stimulating environment.
From the book Understanding Children.
Parent Concerns
In addition to the hours and location, the top three concerns of parents with young children in child care are:
- Providers' training and credentials
- Number of children under the care of each adult
- Educational activities planned for children
From the survey What Grown-Ups Understand About Child Development. |
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Tips for Choosing the Best Child Care Option for You
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| 1. |
Can you or your spouse afford to stay home with your child? Make sure you consider what you'd both be happiest doing. |
| 2. |
Do you have relatives who can help? Since relatives are familiar and trusted faces, many parents prefer relative care, especially for infants. |
| 3. |
How much can you afford to pay? Nannies usually cost the most, in-home care the least. |
| 4. |
How flexible is your schedule? Child care center and preschools usually have set drop off and pick up times. |
| 5. |
Does your company offer a child care center, allow you to bring your baby to work with you, or let you work at home? These benefits allow you to work and still be near your child. |
| 6. |
Would your child benefit the most from group play or individualized attention? During the first year individualized attention is often best. After that, look for an environment that provides a mix. |
| 7. |
Does your child have health issues or needs that require special attention? Discuss with your child's pediatrician your child's needs and what child care situation will best be able to address them. |
| 8. |
Do you prefer structured play and activities for your child or are you comfortable with a more free-form environment? Child care settings vary in the amount of structure provided. A balance is often best. |
Remember: Finding a compatible child care situation takes time. Begin investigating about 6 months before you need it, if possible.
From the book Understanding Children.
What questions would you ask?
Your ideas could appear on our site. Send them to Civitas.
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Choosing a caregiver for a child is one of the most important and difficult decisions a parent must make. Our downloadable caregiver checklist will help you ask all the right questions about: |
| o | Caregiver style — how does the caregiver interact with and relate to children? |
| o | Safety and cleanliness — are practices in place to ensure a safe, clean environment? |
| o | Age appropriateness — is the program structured to suit the child's age? |
| o | Caregiver qualifications — does the provider have the appropriate background, training and experience? |
| From the Civitas book Understanding Children. |
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