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:
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Listen carefully to references from other parents—compare their likes and dislikes.
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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.
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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?
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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:
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Have increased socialization skills because of frequent peer and adult-child interactions;
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Exhibit superior problem-solving skills because of hands-on learning experiences;
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Are physically, emotionally, and cognitively well-rounded because of developmentally appropriate “whole-child” centered programs;
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Have increased confidence in social and academic situations because of early exposure;
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Enjoy frequent experiences in language and literature, mathematics, nature and science, art, music and social studies;
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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:
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Is the center/school licensed by the state?
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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?
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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?
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What are the safety procedures of the center/school? Does it seem safe? Are teachers trained in pediatric CPR and First Aid?
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How does the center/school communicate with you regarding your child’s progress, daily events, or special information such as
accidents or illness?
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Does the center/school appear to be clean and well maintained?
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Are toys and equipment age-appropriate and easily accessible to the children?
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Is the center/school attractively decorated with children’s work and learning materials that are on their level?
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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?
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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:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Still
have questions or need information?
Contact
the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado 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.