Child Care – How to Choose?
Choosing the right child care provider may be one of the most important decisions you can make for your child’s health, happiness and safety. If your infant, toddler or preschooler needs full-time child care, she or he will spend many hours a day with the provider.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a provider carefully.
A few general rules:
Visit First
Visit the programs you think will best meet your needs.
Observe the environment, the caregivers or teachers, and the children.
Ask questions about the program and get references.
Inform the provider of your child’s needs and interests. Be aware of events and activities in your child’s day.
Expect quality care and early childhood programming.
If you have a concern, New York State offers the opportunity to report child care concerns through the CHILD CARE COMPLAINT LINE. Call (800) 732-5207 to register a complaint, or call our offices with any questions or concerns regarding a day care program.
* There are different types of credentials and accreditations that registered and licensed programs may obtain to show parents that they are operating with the quality standards set forth by different professional organizations including NACCRRA, NAEYC, NFCCA and others. Parents should inquire as to whether a program/provider has any credentials or accreditations. Ask questions about caregiver education and staff turnover.
* Staff should be knowlegable about the age(s) of the children that they are caring for and should have education and training that is relevant to children and their care. Low staff turnover indicates that the staff like what they do and provides a stable environment for children.
* Look for indicators that health and safety practices are followed. For example are fire drills completed on a regular basis, do providers wash their hands often, are gloves worn during diaper changes, are individual bottles and cups marked with the children’s names, are correct ratios followed, are there barriers to unsafe areas, are the caregivers directly supervising all children, etc.
If you would like a brochure of things to look for and questions to ask when considering a child care provider, click here.
The brochure is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic.
Child Care Connections can help you find child care providers, and provide resources for making a wise choice. Contact us for help in finding the right child care solution for your family.