Selecting quality child care (1089)

Quality child care for your child depends on you and the caregiver. Because your child may be in child care all day, your child care choice is an important consumer decision.

When you choose new child care or evaluate the care you're using now, follow the same steps you use when making any consumer purchase. Gather all information together before you choose and comparison shop. Don't assume every program is alike and continue to evaluate the child care after you've enrolled your child.

There is more to choosing a program than the cost, location or program hours. Although these are important factors--remember what is at stake-your child's happiness and well-being and your peace of mind.

Child care quality comes back to the person providing it. Ask yourself these questions about the caregivers when shopping around:

- Do the caregivers enjoy working with young children?

- Are they warm, loving people?

- Do they talk with you, the parent, openly about their policies?

- Do they have training and experience in child care?

- Do they receive regular, on going additional training related to their job?

- Do the caregivers get along with each other?

- Do caregivers get down to child's eye level when talking or listening to children?

- Do they encourage children to express their feelings verbally?

- Do caregivers respect individual differences among the children?

- Do they discipline with words, tone of voice and actions that show respect for children?

- Are the children comfortable in coming up to talk to the caregivers?

Visit the facility during different times of the day and take note of the activities and physical environment. Ask yourself:

- Are the activities geared for different age and developmental levels?

- Is time provided for both physical and quiet play?

- Are the play areas clean?

- Is the playground supervised?

- Is the facility licensed and following state guidelines?

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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