Choosing Child Care

Going back to school or work may mean sending your child to child care.
 
What do you look for in choosing child care? Currrently our state is moving toward establishing a rating scale, referred to as the Louisiana Quality Rating System (LA QRS), to indicate quality child care. This star rating will be helpful to you as a parent and consumer by correlating the number of stars assigned to a program to the degree that the program meets the environmental rating scale used to determine a quality environment. The star rating goes from 1 to 5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest star rating for a child care program.  But participation in the Quality Rating System will be voluntary. So it will be up to you to "shop" for quality child care and know what to look for and whether your child is receiving it.

Quality child care is not just about having someone babysit your child. It is about creating the environment that can help prepare your child for school.

A quality early childhood program must provide three basic compomenents for children to grow and succeed. In addition to considering issues such as availability and affordability parents should look for programs that provide:

• Protection of children's health and safety
• Positive relationships
• Opportunities for stimulation and learning from experiences

Visit possible centers or family child-care facilities, and use this list to guide you as you observe programs for quality.

Program Structure

Is the program Class A or Class B?
Is the program accredited or working towards accreditation?
What ages are accepted?
Does the program have space available?
Does it have a waiting list?
What are the fees associated with the program?
Are there discounts for multiple children?
Is there a charge when children are sick or absent?
Does the program have a positive discipline policy?
Does the program have an opne-door policy that welcomes bisitors at any time during the day?
Does the teacher/child ratio meet or exceed state requirements?    

• Infants - 1 teacher for each 5 children
• Toddlers - 1 teacher for each 7 children
• Twos - 1 teacher for each 11 children
• Threes - 1 teacher for each 13 children
• Fours - 1 teacher for each 15 children

Were you given a tour of the facility by the director?
Did the director introduce you to the teachers during the tour?
Are the following items posted?

• Transportation policy
• Schedule
• Menu
• Discipline policy
• Open door policy
• License

Does the center feel like a comfortable place to spend time?

Schedule

What are the program's hours of operation?
When is the center closed for holidays or training?
Does the program provide a consistent routine that children and adults can understand and follow?
Are all children taken outdoors to play at least twice daily, weather permitting?
What type of schedule do infants follow?
Does the schedule allow for a mix of active and less active play?

Space and Furnishings

Are the indoor and outdoor environments designed for all children, including those with special needs?
Is there enough space for children to play?
Is furniture the appropriate size for the children in the room?
Are the indoor and outdoor environments designed for all children, including those with special needs?
Is there enough space for children to play?
Is furniture rthe appropriate size for the children in the room?
Does the furntiure allow for children to move about the room easiliy?
Is the furniture in good repair?

Personal Care Routines/Health

Are the meals included in the program costs that you pay?
Does the program include baby food and formula for infants?
Will the program substitute meals for children with special dietary needs?
Do staff members and children wash their hands often?
Do staff members sanitize the following throughout the day?

• Tables
• Diaper changing ares
• Rest mats
• Toilets
• Sinks

Is the center cleaned daily?
Are the floors mopped and vacuumed daily?
Will the program dispense medication?
Are infants held when they are fed?

Safety

Is medication kept in a locked place?
Does the center use safety gates?
Are there smoke detectors and first-aid kits in each room?
Are security policies and procedures impelmented, monitored and evaluated regularly?
Are emergency procedures and evacuation route established, posted and practiced regularly? (For example, do they have regular fire drills?)
Are the indoor and outdoor environments free from hazards at all times and surveyed daily for safety?
Are all electrical outlets, both indoors and outdoors, kept coverd when not in use?

Language-Reasoning

Do caregivers sing songs and perform finger plays?
Do caregivers talk to children frequently?
Do caregivers ask question and listen attentively?
Do you see evidence that all children have access to books?
Are children read to daily?

Activities

Are field trips and enrichment activities provided?
Are materials and supplies in good repair?
Do yo see children's projects or artwork displayed throughout the center?
Are there learning centers in each classroom?
Do you see the following items or activities?

• Toys children enjoy
• Songs and finger plays
• Pretend play
• Reading
• Blovcks
• Puzzles
• Art activities
• Musical instruments
• Cultural diversity

Do you see natural, everyday, home-like materials for children to explore?
Do infants have access to appropriate toys and materials?

Interaction/Supervision

Do the children seem happy and engaged in activities?
Do children have opportunities for whole-group and individual activities?
Are children grouped with a primary teacher/caregiver?
Are children supervised at all times?
Do you see caregivers:

• Working with children individually?
• Using calm voices?
• Being flexible?
• Showing patience?
• Touching children gently?
• Showing a sense of humor?
• Respecting everyone?
• Supervising?

Do you see infants receiving interactive, one-on-one responsive care?
Are infants held?
Do staff members interact wiht the children in caring, respectful and positive ways?
Do infants spend tiime on the floor?

Parents and Staff

Is there a bulletin board with information for parents?
Is parental or family involvement encouraged?
Are there opportunities for daily communication between parents and staff members? Is it written (a newsletter or bulletin)/ If so, were you provided with a sample?
Do paernts have access to center-based resources pertaining to child development and parenting?
Are parents given a family handbook that contains program information?
Is there a family resource area?
Are families allowed to evaluate the program?
Are the results of evaluations made available to all families?
Is the staff open and responsive to questions?
What is the educational level of the staff?
Are teachers involved in continuing education programs?
Do teachers have access to educational resources?
Do teachers have training and certification in CPR, first aid, infection control, health and safety and the administration of medications?
How long have  various teachers been at the center?
Are teachers involved in performance evaluations and goal-setting experiences?
Is there an opportunity for staff members to communicate through a formal survey?
Do the teacher sseem to work well togther?
Do you feel like you and the center staff will be partners in raising your child?

Note: The Cooperative Extension Service has a mission to deliver research-based information to the public. Extension is an educational entity, not a regulatory agency. For more information about child-care licensure, please contact the licensing office in your area. Child-care resource and referral agencies are also a good source of information on locating and selecting child-care services. To find out about the child-care resource and referral agency nearest you, contact the National Child Care Aware Hotline at 800-424-2246.