no. 10.204 |
Selecting a Child-Care Facility
by A. Bruce 1 (4/09)Quick Facts...
- Know available options in your area.
- Determine your needs: hours, days, transportation, location to work and home, cost, special attention, and type of care desired.
- Begin the search for possible care options through friends, other parents, licensing agency, doctors' offices, resource and referral agencies, social services offices, newspapers, and community groups.
- Inquire about facility licensing.
- After selecting the child care arrangement of your choice, make periodic random visits to see if your child's needs are met.
Today more than ever, children spend a large number of their waking hours with adults other than their parents. A growing concern facing working parents is how to select the child-care arrangement that meets their needs and the needs of the child, and corresponds to their value system.
Child care choices are based on many factors: cost, convenience, quality and benefits to the child. The primary options for child care are in-home, day care homes and day care centers.
Start looking as far in advance as you can. Whether you are considering a child care center or care in someone else’s home- finding the right child care option can take time.
Making child-care arrangements is often time consuming and many centers and home have waiting lists. It is a good idea to make child-care arrangements three to six months in advance. Give yourself enough time to explore available options and weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunate errors can result from quick decisions with little investigation.
One of the most important considerations is to select a licensed day-care home or child-care center. Question potential providers about their license (if one is not posted), activities for children, daily schedule, menu selections, disciplinary practices, frequency of household visitors, nature of visits, personal habits (i.e. smoking, drinking), and drivers who transport children. In addition, ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the childeren for each adult, the better for your child. Babies an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for 4 infants), while 4-year olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for 10 children).
Observe facilities for health and safety concerns that are important to you. Talk to present and past customers (parents). Find out if they are, or were, satisfied.
The time spent searching for and choosing arrangements will pay off in peace of mind to be experienced later. Regardless of the child care you decide on, remember to make sure the caregiver loves and enjoys children and understands how they learn and grow.
Make a Call
Begin your search by calling your local experts- your child care resource and referral (CCR&R) center. CCR&R’s can give you the facts about child care, and a list of child care options in your area that may meet your needs.
Some questions to ask include:
- What are licensing requirements in my area?
- How can I get information about complaints and licensing violations?
- Are there any child care financial assistance programs that my family qualifies for?
| Type of Care | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| In-Home Care | Child remains in familiar environment | Expensive |
| Child receives individual attention | Child can be deprived on peer socialization | |
| Provider available if child is ill | May have no substitute if provider is ill | |
| Reduced exposure to illness | Provider may leave with short notice | |
| Hours can match needs | Parents are responsible for background checks | |
| Child does not have to be transported | Provider may have no training in child development | |
| Convenient for parents and child | May be required to pay social security and medicare taxes and federal unemployment taxes for employee | |
| Licensed Child Care | Usually less expensive than in-home | Quality varies greatly |
| Usually more flexible hours than centers | Operating times/days may change | |
| Smaller group of children than centers | Home may be open to visitors while children are on premises | |
| Usually one constant caregiver | Illness or vacation may cause shutdown | |
| More places to choose | Children may not have playmates of same age | |
| Some day-dare homes offer developmentally-appropriate educational activities | May not take sick children | |
| May take infants and toddlers along with older siblings | test | |
| Not subject to paying social security, etc. | test | |
| Center-Based | Developmentally-appropriate educational programs | Hours/days may not match parents' needs |
| Age-appropriate games, toys and other equipment | May not care for mildly ill children | |
| Providers often trained in child development | May not take infants and toddlers | |
| More staff ensures greater dependability | May require toilet training before admittance | |
| Centers regulated and inspected to meet health and safety standards | Usually more costly than family day care | |
| Special services and events may be offered | text |
1Colorado State University Extension human development and family studies specialist, human development and family studies. Reviewed by A. Bruce, Extension specialist, human development and family studies. 6/98. Revised 4/09.
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Updated Friday, April 19, 2013