Family, Consumer Sciences, Nutrition
Choosing the Best Child Care
from Partners in Parenting
For various reasons, whether it is going back to work or school after having a baby, re-entering the job market, being a single parent or parents of dual income household, many parents are faced with looking for someone other than themselves to care for their children. Options for childcare range from care in your own home, care in a provider's home or care in a center. Costs vary depending on the location and the type of childcare you wish to use. When choosing the best childcare, you should start out by asking your friends and relatives for any advice and recommendations. It is important to give yourself enough time to find the very best for your child.
Different types of childcare to research are:
1. Au pair
2. Babysitters
3. Childminders
4. Family
5.
Nanny
6. Nursery/Daycare Center
When researching your choices:
LOOK - at how safe the setting is for your child.
-at how the caregiver interacts
LISTEN - to the setting and what is sounds like.
-to whether or not the children sound content and happy.
-to the way the teachers/caregivers sound
(Are they patient and happy?).
-to the activity going on-
(too quiet may indicate little activity
and too much noise may
indicate a setting which may be out of control).
COUNT - how many children are in the group.
-how many staff members are on site.
ASK- questions related to the experience
and background of the caregiver, center or staff.
1. Ask a caregiver's opinions and comments are valuable. At times they spend more time with your child than you are able to. And although you know your child best, they are there to offer you helpful information.
2. Stick to the rules. This helps your caregiver in reinforcing the same rules consistently day after day.
Questions to ask yourself and the Childcare Provider:
-Does the provider have a current childcare provider license?
-What are the hours of operation?
-Are meals USDA-approved?
-Will the provider offer overtime care?
-What are the provider's discipline policies?
-What activities are available for various age groups?
-How much television will the children be watching?
-What supplies will be needed from home?
-What are the policies when the child is ill?
-What safety precautions does the caregiver offer?
-What is the nap and quiet-time schedule?
-Will field trips be offered?
-What type of transportation will be used when the child travels away from the center?
-Does the provider hold membership in professional childcare organizations?
**Always have emergency cash stashed away. When needed, the caregiver can take from the petty cash and leave behind receipts for documentation. Don't make them worry about expenses when your children are their first concern!
**Be considerate of their time.
Be on time and give the caregiver enough notice when your plans change.
Adapted from: Dana Nadel Foley, “What Your Caregiver Wishes You Knew,” www.parenting .com
For More Valuable information on Child Care, go to the
Partners in Parenting Website:
www.coopext.colostate.edu/PIP
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Page Updated: November 21, 2008
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