There usually comes a time when one or both parents have to return to their pre-parent duties and responsibilities and find a childcare resource outside of their immediate family.  The search for professional quality child care to supplement parental love and attention can create some anxious moments. It’s naturally unsettling to have to think about turning your infant over to someone akin to a stranger. But, with some advance research and planning you can replace those uneasy feelings with some confidence and self-assurance that you have “done your homework” and your kiddo will be in good hands.

 

Follow these 5 steps to help set you on a path for success in your mission! 

 

Step 1. Licensure: Whether looking at a private home or center, search for licensure. Every state has an agency, usually within health and human services, that is responsible for licensing homes and centers. Licensure establishes basic standards of safety, staffing, nutrition, and cleanliness. Licenses are required to be posted in the home or facility in an easily accessible location. If you have a home or center in mind, ask for the license number and the telephone number of the licensing agency and make a call to them. The licensing agency can provide a history and whether there are any current and or past deficiencies. Some states have a rating system that will allow you to compare homes and centers. If the home or center is unlicensed this should be a red flag to you!

 

Step 2. Accreditation: Ask whether the home or center participates in any accreditations.  Accreditations are voluntary and demonstrate that the home or center strives for a higher level of quality established by an accrediting agency. There are several national accrediting organizations for child care programs. Getting accredited usually involves an intensive self-assessment as well as an outside observation. The accreditation process does not impact a  home’s or program’s license or state rating. The web sites for the four national accrediting organizations lists programs that are currently accredited. They can be accessed at:

 

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) -- for child care centers
• National Care Child Association (NCCA)-- for child care centers
• National AfterSchool Association-- for school age programs. The NAA has given the responsibility of accreditation to theCouncil on Accreditation.
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) -- for family child care homes

 

Step 3. Personal Visits: Schedule a visit with the owner or administrator of the home or center and take a copy of the licensure report you have reviewed. Ask for a complete tour of the inside and outside of the place including play areas, quiet areas, kitchen, bathrooms, and staff areas. If you have any questions about the licensure report take some time during the tour to cover this to your satisfaction.  In addition, make a checklist of questions that are reflective of what is important to you, centered on the needs and desires for your infant, toddler or child. Some questions to consider for the checklist, apart from what is reviewed by the licensing authority, can include:

 

• Is your initial reaction upon entering the child care home positive?
• Is there space for active play and other space available where quiet play may take place?
• Does the provider smoke?
• Are the toys and materials age appropriate, clean, safe and accessible to children?
• Are the child care providers smiling, engaged and open to your questions?
• How do they handle issues of discipline, conflicts between children and nap times?
• Do they post a food menu, have snacks?
• Is the day unstructured or structured? 
• How do communications flow from providers to the parent?
• Do they use “volunteers” and do they complete CRCs (criminal background checks) on them?
• Does staff have education in child care development and requirements for ongoing training?

 

Ask the owner or provider if you can drop by in the near future.  Most providers will agree to allow you to drop by for a few minutes to observe the staff and operations. If they refuse, be concerned. If possible, drop in at different times of the day so you can observe the change in routines and schedules.

 

Step 4. References: Ask for 3-4 names of parents you can contact that have had children in the home or center. The goal here is to explore their impressions around how scheduling, billing and other administrative issues were handled. Also you can get their overall impressions of the provider and their customer relations.

 

Step 5. Engagement: After you have selected your child care provider, stay connected.  There will always be a few bumps in the road as the parent and kiddo transition to a new schedule, new faces and new routine.  Keep talking with the childcare provider and work to find flexible, responsive solutions to fitting this new experience into your lifestyle.  With time, talk and temperance, it can all work out!