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HOW TO FIND QUALITY CHILDCARE

Regan Sommer, Lydia Carter, Kaitlyn Orwell, Brynne Kessler

Nothing you do for children is ever wasted

Garrison Keillor

QUALITY CHILDCARE CHECKLIST

Asking questions when looking into childcare is crucial for your child.  

Lou Sipolt from LowaLive discusses a checklist that parents can follow when looking into childcare options.  

Daycare Center

Different Types of Childcare

Family Child Care Homes

  •  Providers care for small groups of children in residential spaces

  • Fewer children

  • Home-like environment is appealing to many families

  • More flexible hours of operation compared to other options

  • Certified or Registered child care home

​

Child Care Centers

  • Operated out of commercial buildings

  • Larger with more children

  • Director and numerous staff members

  • Classroom-like environment

  • more adults

  • Variety of activities

  • Regulations & inspections for health and safety standards

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Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care

  • Legally exempt from regulations (health, safety, and training) 

  • Comfortability and trust

  • Flexibility in hours and transportation 

  • Typically the least expensive option

CHOOSING A CHILDCARE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/choosing-quality-childcare

  • Getting started: Simple Steps for Finding and Choosing Child Care

  • Look, Listen, and Ask: Choosing Quality Child Care Tip Sheets 

  • Understanding Child Care Quality Ratings 

  • Your Responsibilities Once You Find Care

  • If You Can't Find Care

https://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/​​

  • Quality child care that is affordable 

  • Types of child care

Why is Child Care So Important? 

"Research shows quality education and care early in life leads to better health, education and employment outcomes later in life. The early years are critical for establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn. Quality education and care shapes every child’s future and lays the foundation for development and learning"

Why is Early Childhood Education at Childcare so important? | Kids College

"The period from birth to eight years old is one of remarkable brain development for children and represents a crucial window of opportunity for education. When children are healthy, safe and learning well in their early years, they are better able to reach their full developmental potential as adults and participate effectively in economic, social, and civic life. Providing ECCE is regarded as a means of promoting equity and social justice, inclusive economic growth and advancing sustainable development".

Why early childhood care and education matters | UNESCO

High-quality child care keeps children safe and healthy. In addition, it helps children develop skills they will need for success in school and in their lives outside of school:

  • Social, emotional and communication skills

  • Pre-literacy and basic mathematical skills and concepts

  • An awareness of their environment and the roles of the people in it

Why is child care and early education so important? | Division of Early Childhood (marylandpublicschools.org)

- Early childhood care has an important role in children’s development
- Positive childcare experiences enhances later educational opportunities
- Benefits that flow on to families and the wider community
 

What are the obstacles to ensuring access to quality ECCE?
Why early childhood care and education matters | UNESCO

Policy fragmentation

In many countries, ECCE policies and services are fragmented and do not leverage whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to addressing the holistic needs and rights of families and their young children. This is particularly challenging for national governments with limited resources, low institutional capacities and weak governance

​Lack of public provision

Non-state provision of ECCE continues to grow in many contexts, and the role of non-state actors in influencing policy development and implementation is evident. Non-state actors provide a large proportion of places in pre-primary education. In 2000, 28.5% of pre-primary aged children were enrolled in private institutions, and this rose to 37% in 2019, a figure higher than for primary (19%) or secondary (27%) education. 

Insufficient regulation of the sector

Briefly describe your degree and any other highlights about your studies you want to share. Be sure to include relevant skills you gained, accomplishments you achieved or milestones you reached during your education.

Chronic underfunding

An average of 6.6% of education budgets at national and subnational levels were allocated to pre-primary education. Low-income countries, on average, invest 2% of education budgets in pre-primary education, which is far below the target of 10% by 2030 suggested by UNICEF. In terms of international aid, pre-primary education remains the least funded sector.

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What to Look For in High Quality ChildCare

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Art Class
Caring Child

How to Find the Best Day Care (thebump.com)

  • Where to start looking: ask around family and friends 

  • What features are most important: Not only do you want a daycare that you are comfortable with, you want one that will encourage your child's development

What Does a High-Quality Preschool Program Look Like? | NAEYC

  • Goal: to create a caring community of Learners

  • Develop positive relationships with peers and educators

  • Teaching to support children's learning and development

  • Adapting and planning curriculum

5 Resources to Help You Find Child Care (parents.com)


 

  • App Winnie

    • ​Marketplace for daycare and preschool options near by

  • Sittercity

  • Urban Sitter

  • Care.com

Warning Signs

  • Space is not organized

  • Children wander around

    • Low involvement in activities

    • Teachers control all activities so children aren't ever free to explore materials or play.

  • The teacher controls all the activities

    • Little free time to explore materials or play

  • Surplus of worksheets or toys that can be used just one way​

  • Weak teacher involvement in activities

    • Absence of asking questions/ making suggestions to further knowledge

  • No clear limits for children's behavior

  • Teachers rarely share information about children's progress with families

European Restaurant

Sources

Types of Child Care. Child Care Aware® of America. (2022, May 25). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.childcareaware.org/families/types-child-care/ 

What Does a High-Quality Preschool Program Look Like? NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/what-does-high-quality-program-for-preschool-look-like 

Brown, M. (2022, November 20). How to Find Child Care Near You: 5 Resources That Make Parents' Lives Easier. Parents. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.parents.com/baby/childcare/how-to-find-child-care-near-you-child-care-resources-for-parents/

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