Friday, May 09, 2008
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The Right Path to Quality Child Care
How Parents Can Make Informed Decisions on Early Childhood Care and Education Centers


FINDING QUALITY CHILD CARE
As a parent, you are bound to experience a wide range of emotions in your search for quality child care. The National Child Care Association (NCCA) and its member state associations are pleased to provide this publication. It is our hope that it will better enable you to recognize and understand high quality early care and education programs and appreciate their value, environments and advantages.

Choosing your child’s first out-of-home care and education experience is an extremely important decision. You must feel confident in both your own feeling of security and your child’s happiness.

NCCA and its member state associations recommend that parents make the search for quality early care and education a top priority. Here are some hints for the first steps to take you on the right path:

  • Listen carefully to references from other parents—compare their likes and dislikes.
  • Phone several schools/centers that are convenient to your home or work. Centers will be very pleased to set up an appointment for you and your child to visit.
  • Visit the school/center and encourage your child to become involved in his or her prospective classroom while you discuss the program with the director. Spend some time sitting in your child’s potential classroom to listen and watch. Do the care givers interact with each child? Do they speak to children on their level? Are the caregivers attentive and nurturing?
  • Be sure to have a list of questions prepared to discuss with the center/school director. Don’t forget questions about the program and school policies regarding holidays and late fees, staff stability, training and education of teachers (particularly in your child’s classroom) and fees.

THE COST OF QUALITY PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
Parents are called on to make important decisions for their children. Conscientious parents not only have to look at quality, but at the cost of that quality as they evaluate an appropriate child care setting.

We know that quality child care is viewed as expensive. In fact, however, when seen on a cost-per-hour basis, child care is likely to be one of the least expensive services you can buy today. Tuition varies greatly according to location, staff/child ratios, your child’s age, schedules and services provided.

Make certain that you understand the purpose of the fees charged. Ask whether the center/school has a fund-raising program or parent volunteer group that will help keep tuition costs down. Find out how you can actively participate.

A 1995 study, Cost, Quality and Child Outcomes in Child Care Centers, gave the following breakdown for the cost of quality center care:

QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND CARE ARE SOLID INVESTMENTS
Various studies have indicated that children enrolled in quality early childhood settings:

  • Have increased socialization skills because of frequent peer and adult-child interactions;
  • Exhibit superior problem-solving skills because of hands-on learning experiences;
  • Are physically, emotionally, and cognitively well-rounded because of developmentally appropriate “whole-child” centered programs;
  • Have increased confidence in social and academic situations because of early exposure;
  • Enjoy frequent experiences in language and literature, mathematics, nature and science, art, music and social studies;
  • Enter school ready and willing to learn because of positive, nurturing, appropriate early learning experiences.

CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY
When visiting an early childhood care and education center, seek answers to the following questions:

  • Is the center/school licensed by the state?
  • Are you and your child given a leisurely tour of the entire center/school, and is your child invited to join in the appropriate age group?
  • Do you see a mix of active and quiet play, a variety of activities for children to choose, and frequent staff/child interactions? Is there a schedule or daily routine posted for each group?
  • What are the safety procedures of the center/school? Does it seem safe? Are teachers trained in pediatric CPR and First Aid?
  • How does the center/school communicate with you regarding your child’s progress, daily events, or special information such as
    accidents or illness?
  • Does the center/school appear to be clean and well maintained?
  • Are toys and equipment age-appropriate and easily accessible to the children?
  • Is the center/school attractively decorated with children’s work and learning materials that are on their level?
  • Are the staff and director well qualified? Do they regularly attend ongoing training? Does the center/school have a national accreditation? Does the staff have the appropriate credentials?
  • Do you and your child like the center/school and feel comfortable?

Once you have answers to these questions for each center you visit, create the following lists:

THINGS I LIKED:
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THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
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Still have questions or need information?
Contact the Colorado Child Care Association at 1-800-870-7174 or the National Child Care Association at 1-800-543-7161.

Information provided above is from the National Child Care Association’s publication, “The Right Path to Quality Child Care,” Rev. 8/00, and is reprinted here with the permission of NCCA, 1016 Rosser Street, Conyers, GA 30012.

 
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