Making a Quality Childcare Choice

Finding and keeping quality child care can be challenging. Where do you start?

What is Quality Child Care?

Child care should support a child's emotional, social, intellectual and physical well-being. Quality child-care is not babysitting.

Caregivers are key to quality child care. They should:

Understand how children learn
Be affectionate and responsive, open and informative
Provide a stable and stimulating environment
Seek out community resources and support
Be willing to develop common goals

Quality child care settings have common characteristics:

Clean, safe and secure
A caring and learning environment
A small number of children with each adult
Space for quiet and active times, indoor and outdoor play
A balance of interesting activities
Flexibe, yet predicatable routines
A variety of easily available toys and equipment
Nutritionial meals and snacks

How do You Find Quality Care?

First, identify your needs and priorities.

Consider the childs age
Do you have more than one child requiring care?
Are you eligible for a government or other subsidy?
What fee can you afford?
Do you preference centre or homebased, regulated or unregulated care?
What hours?
In what location -- near your child's school, your home, your work?

Community information services can be invaluable. It is also helpful to talk to neighbours and friends who use child care. Just give yourself plenty of time and find care that suits you and your child.

Once you have a list of caregivers and day care centres, it's time to start telephone interviews. Jot down the questions yu want to ask.

Visiting potential centres and family day care homes is the next step.

Look around
Is this a quality child care setting?
Listen
Would you feel good about your child spending time here?

The relationship between you and the careguver is extremely important.

It should be one of nutual respect, trust and cooperation
The interview is the time to ask plenty of questions
Don't forget to discuss hours, fees, discipline, sickness, vacations and the involvement of the parents

Check references before you make a final decision. And write a contract or letter of agreement -- it can save unneccesary misunderstandings in the future.

Being an Effective Child Care Parent

A parents responsibility does not end with finding child care.

The three way relationship between the parent, caregiver and child requires an ongoing commitment
Communication is vital
Take the time to hear about your child's day
Agree on mutual expectations
Voice concerns
Express appreciation
Live up to the agreement

From Working Mom to SAHMTelecommuting

Information from the Canadian Child Care Federation, Ottawa Ontario, Canada

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