Day Care

Day care is a reality in many American homes. The economy has made it more difficult for a parent to remain home with young children, job opportunities have improved for women in the workforce, and more and more women are choosing to remain working after becoming mothers. When deciding if a child care center is an option for you, it helps to understand some basic information.

There are generally two types of out-of-home child care for parents to choose from if their child will not be home with a parent or family member:

The day care facility is usually a privately run organization that offers child care for babies and preschool aged children. Usually children are grouped by age and are assigned to one specific caregiver. Many parents prefer the child care center because their child is always under the watchful eye of many different adults and less likely to be neglected or abused due to the highly controlled atmosphere. When considering a child care center, ask how many children are in each group. The lower the number is the better. Also find out what the child-to-adult ratio is. This is how many children each care provider is responsible for. This number should be low as well to assure your child receives more individual attention.

In this option, children are looked after by a child care provider at her own home. This option is often more affordable than a child care center but does not offer the same highly controlled environment. When considering this option, look for a provider who is licensed and accredited, who has a low number of children enrolled, and who has an updated criminal records check and child abuse and neglect clearance. Some parents prefer the family child care provider because there is often a high turnover of employees in day care centers and this option assures the child will remain with the same caregiver longer. It also offers a home environment which some parents prefer to the more institutional environment of a center.

Regulations and requirements for child care licensing is state controlled and vary from state to state. The goal of every state is to protect the health, safety, and general well being of young children, to control the standards of child care programs, and to improve child care options for parents. Always choose a provider who is licensed by the state. Family child care providers are required to be licensed in most states if they care for four or more children. Contact your state’s child care regulations department to find out what your state requires for licensing and for a list of licensed providers. You can access your state licensing information at Child Care Aware.

Many child care providers offer an accredited program. This means they have voluntarily agreed to meet standards set by a child care association such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Association for Family Child Care. Such associations set professional standards, conduct independent assessments of programs, and offer parents help in choosing quality out-of-home child care. Providers who choose to be accredited are often required to attend continuing child development education.

There are many different options parents need to consider if both parents choose to work before their children are of school age. If there is no family member to care for young children, parents can consider day care. Parents need to consider the pros and cons of a child care center and family child care providers. Understanding licensing and accreditation makes finding child care easier. Parents should choose a program that puts a child in a small group and has a low child-to-adult ratio.

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