Thursday, May 29, 2008
I often get asked about how to go about choosing a child care facility. It's scary to think of the impact that child care can have on young children in the first five years of their lives. So I think that there needs to be great care and consideration in choosing care for your child.
1. Plan ahead, and do research.
As soon as you become pregnant, begin looking for child care. Spots for infants are often full. And, by looking early, you'll have time to find the provider that fits your needs. Start your search by talking to other parents who use child care, or by calling your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency of providers in your area. For a first visit with a provider, call for an appointment. Once you've narrowed your options, make a couple of drop-in visits and watch how adults and children interact. Good interaction includes staff reading to children and encouraging children to try new skills. Finding toddlers in playpens or bouncing seats would be a sign that they aren't getting enough stimulation. You also want to hear staff talking to children in calm, warm tones. If you bring your child, realize that any nervousness he or she exhibits may simply be from being in an unfamiliar place and does not necessarily reflect how well the child would do there long-term. At the end of your visit, ask for references.
2. Be Aware that Costs vary.
Each licensed home or facility sets its own prices. One business may charge considerably more because it offer more services, has more staff, or because it has more overhead, equipment and lease costs. Though not always the case, sometimes cheapest isn'w always the best... sometimes you get what you pay for.
3. Consider language and culture.
Most parents look for facilities that reflect their language and culture. Finding the right cultural atmosphere will require more investigative work on the parents' part. They should talk to providers about their views on religion, discipline and lifestyle. Some cultures, for example, consider it rude if a child looks an adult in the eye. Parents of that culture would find it hard for their child to be in an environment where caregivers urge a child to do so.
4. Look for A Licensed Facility
Businesses licensed by the state must post their license from the state Department of Health & Human Services. Child-care facilities must also post staff CPR-, first-aid-, and HIV-training documentation. They also must post an emergency escape-route floor plan, along with 911 and emergency numbers for poison control and Child Protective Services.
5. Be open-minded about business types.
You may think you want only a home environment, or only a large-facility environment, but try to put aside preconceived notions and visit several of both types. People often think that their children won't get much personal attention in a large facility, but in many cases they get just as much. And people often think their child will be in a situation more like home in an in-home facility, but keep in mind that a family-home provider may have up to 12 children under her care. Each child-care facility is unique in its offering; it is vital that parents research their choice.
Most important is to find a caregiver that you can connect with and can trust. This is a huge responsibility and you want to be able to communicate freely about your child.