Quality Child Care
Choosing Quality Child Care
When it comes to looking for child care, you want the best for your child. Research shows that high quality child care can have a positive impact on a child’s overall development. Finding high quality child care is very important for your child's well-being.
Here are some things to consider when looking for child care:
Caregiver education -- Training in child development is very important. The caregiver should understand how children develop, their stages of growth and their behavior at various ages. Although specialized training is a key indicator of quality, it's best to look for a provider who has both training and experience.
Accreditation -- Some child care programs have met national standards of quality that are more rigorous than licensing/registration rules. They are then considered to be accredited. These programs/providers take extra training and pass tests to receive national recognition.
Group size -- Children benefit from the individual attention possible in smaller groups. State licensing rules set standards for how many children of various ages may be cared for by one adult. If a program chooses to have a smaller group size than what is required by the regulations this is an indicator of quality care.
Ratios -- Children do better with individual attention which is possible when there is a smaller ratio of adults to children. State licensing rules set the ratio of the number of adults to children in each group. When a program has a smaller ratio of adults to children in any group than what the state rules, it is an indicator of quality care.
Family involvement -- A high quality program is responsive to each child. A system is in place for the caregiver to share information about the child's day. The caregiver meets with parents at least once a year to share child's physical, social, intellectual, and emotional growth.
Consistent care -- Consistent care from a sensitive, responsive caregiver is the foundation for healthy development, building the child's security, confidence and a sense of well-being. The presence of a regular caregiver and minimal turnover in staff are essential elements of high quality child care.
Health and safety -- Children's healthy development depends on safe and positive experiences during the first few years of life. Working during the first few years of a child life can be a tough choice to make, however choosing quality child care that focuses on health and safety can help ease that anxiety. Indicators of quality care: How often do adults and children wash their hands, Are diaper changing surfaces cleaned and disinfected after each use, Are first aid kits readily available, Is the outdoor play area a safe place for children to play, Is there a plan for responding to emergencies or disasters, Has a satisfactory criminal history background check been completed on each adult present also has a check of the State Central Registry for child abuse and maltreatment been successively completed.
When you call for a referral we will send you information on these topics so you will have it when you meet with potential providers. We will be happy to send you any additional information upon request. Along with supplying written information, we also offer onsite seminars at schools, libraries, churches, work facilities and other places where parents are. Please contact us to get more information.
