"Choosing a child care arrangement for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, because you are actually choosing a partner in the growth and development of your child and your family."

GETTING STARTED

First, assess your need for child care:

• How often and for how long do you need or want care?
• Would you prefer that your care be near home? work? school?
• Are there any special needs that must be considered? diet? disability?

TYPES OF CARE AVAILABLE

• Family Child Care Homes: licensed homes in which small groups of children are cared for by an individual. Providers may choose to care for children from birth through 12 years of age. The maximuum group size allowed is 12 children. with atleast two adults.
• Child Day Care Centers: licensed facilities which typically provide care for larger groups of children. Caregivers are required to have training in Early Childhood Education.
• Play Groups and Parent Co-ops: situations in which groups of parents rotate the responsibility of caring for a group of each others children. These programs may be exempt from licensure and are usually only available a few hours a week.
• In-Home Care: situations in which an individual cares for your child in your home. There is no required training or licensure for this type of care.
• Out-of-Home Baby-sitters: an individual who may care for the children of one family (other than her own) without requiring a license or any formal training.

LOCATING PROVIDERS AND PROGRAMS

One source of assistance is through the Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Projects (R&Rs).
The R&R for this area is:

The California State Licensing Agency can provide information about licensed programs in the area:

NAEYC provides information about accredited centers in the area:

VISITING PROGRAMS

Once you have comprised a list of programs in your area, you should call to discuss the services they provide to be sure that the center is able to meet your needs.

Beyond the general criteria such as location, hours and cost of a program are the indicators of quality care and a well-suited philosophy. The enclosed checklist may be helpful to you in prioritizing your expectations of a program for your child.

Choose a few programs which seem best for you and your child and arrange to visit. It is best to bring your child along so that you can see his or her reaction to the program as well.

CHOOSING A PROGRAMS

Your child's personal, social, physical and edu- cational development will be nurtured in a well- planned, quality program.

Some aspects of the programs that should be considered are:

• CENTER PHILOSOPHY

  A child care program should have a clear written policy of philosophy and goals. The philosphy should reflect the nature of the program, and will help you to see what the center feels is important for children and their families.

• STAFF

  Regardless of the type of care, the competencies and attitudes of the providers will have a great impact on the quality of the program. Teachers should be nurturing and enjoy being with young children. Everyone in a quality program should be friendly and considerate. Teachers should also be well-trained and knowledgable in the field.

• COMMUNICATION & FAMILY SUPPORT

  PARENTS SHOULD BE WELCOME TO OBSERVE, DISCUSS POLICIES, MAKE SUGGESTIONS and participate in the program. Written information about policies and other program considerations should be clear and available to parents. Staff members should be aware of family matters which may affect the child, and should maintain effective communication with parents at all times.

• ENVIRONMENT

  All spaces used by children should be safe and free of health hazards. Buildings and grounds should be well lighted. Play equipment and supplies should be readily available, appropriate and sufficient. Each child should have a space to store personal items. Surfaces and areas around climbers and swings should be cushioned with a material such as sand, carpet or wood chips to lessen the impact of a fall.

• RATIOS & CLASS SIZE

  Adult to child ratios should be low enough allow the caregivers to work with a group and to meet the individual needs of each child. Class size should be limited to less than 20.

• CURRICULUM

  A quality curriculum revolves around the needs and interests of the children. Activities should be developmentally appropriate and flexible. The children should be allowed to make choices about their activities. There should be support, stim- ulation and guidance from staff rather than constant directions and pressures. Language skills should be developed by asking and answering open ended questions, and describing feelings and experiences. Children should be encouraged to discover their own answers and solve their own problems.

• PROGRAMS & DAILY SCHEDULES

  Schedules should be flexible and allow children to change activities at their own pace. There should be opportunities for individual as well as group experiences. There should be a balance between outdoor gross motor activities and quiet indoor activites. Transition times should be pleasant and unrushed.

• SEPARATION POLICY

  Centers which focus on the child and the parent's need to feel safe and comfortable, are the most desirable. Every parent and every child adjust differently to new situations. In a quality program parents can depend on staff to help with this important transistion. The first few days of separation of a child from the parent is almost always the most traumatic and the most difficult. Staff should help the child to feel safe and comfortable in their new environment by holding their hand or picking the child up to say good-bye. It is important for children to have contact with a caregiver before they are left in the center, this helps them to feel a part of the new place and reassures them that they will be cared for while their parents are away.

Child Care Checklist

Name of Center: __________________________________________________

License Number: __________________________________________________