Elements of quality to consider when looking for child care
Try the following approach to help refine your child care search
1. Interview and observe potential providers with the child.
a) Explore why the individual providers want to care for children.
b) How do they feel about this work?
c) Are individual providers warm, caring, attentive, and responsive to the child who will be in this early learning setting?
2. Ask potential providers:
a) What do they like to do with children?
b) What are their feelings about discipline?
c) How do they handle naps, eating, toilet training?
d) How would they handle an emergency?
3. Ask a lot of “what if” questions, for example:
a) What if my child cries all day?
b) What if my child refuses to eat?
c) What if my child refuses to nap?
4. Check references, work history, and licensing information.
Visit California’s Department of Social Services Child Care Licensing Program
5. Trust your instincts! Hire someone you like and feel safe and comfortable with.
You know what is right for your child! Trust yourself if your decision.
6. Communicate with your provider.
Once you have found a good provider, be sure to communicate regularly and openly about how the child care arrangement is working.
a) Explore why the individual providers want to care for children.
b) How do they feel about this work?
c) Are individual providers warm, caring, attentive, and responsive to the child who will be in this early learning setting?
2. Ask potential providers:
a) What do they like to do with children?
b) What are their feelings about discipline?
c) How do they handle naps, eating, toilet training?
d) How would they handle an emergency?
3. Ask a lot of “what if” questions, for example:
a) What if my child cries all day?
b) What if my child refuses to eat?
c) What if my child refuses to nap?
4. Check references, work history, and licensing information.
Visit California’s Department of Social Services Child Care Licensing Program
5. Trust your instincts! Hire someone you like and feel safe and comfortable with.
You know what is right for your child! Trust yourself if your decision.
6. Communicate with your provider.
Once you have found a good provider, be sure to communicate regularly and openly about how the child care arrangement is working.
Adapted from: https://qualitycountsca.net/families/how-to-choose/