Six Steps to Choosing Child Care

The search to find a child care provider that suits your family’s needs can be overwhelming, time consuming, and frustrating. Here are six steps to choosing child care that we’ve compiled to ease the process:1.  Start Early!Whether you are a first time parent or have been down the road before, finding the right child care for your family can take some time. It is never too early to start thinking and asking about your options, searching for information, and meeting with potential care providers. The further in advance you start looking, the greater chance that you will find a provider you trust that still has spots available.  Infant care options tend to fill up very quickly, particularly in centers, as do many after school programs. Get a jump on the search so you can get on a waiting list as early as possible if necessary. Family or friend recommendations can be a good place to start, but keep in mind that your family’s needs may be slightly different than others. What works for them may not be the right fit for you.2.  Make the CallWhy not ask the experts? Calling your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) is the best next step towards finding your ideal child care. The parent specialists at Family Connections of Lane and Douglas Counties will be able to answer any questions you might have when starting your child care search. They can also get details about your family and children’s specific child care needs and match you to possible care providers in your area. While they do not make recommendations or guarantee the quality of these providers, it is a great place to learn more and get an idea of what specific providers may work for you.  Call 541-463-3300 or search info and providers online at the Family Connections website.3.  Visit and Ask QuestionsIt is important to visit each child care facility you are considering and to interview the care provider who will be working with your children. Regular daily routines are extremely important for young children, so ask what a typical day might look like for your child at that facility. Other useful questions to ask are things like: What child care training and/or education do you have? May I see your license/certifications? What heath /illness precautions do you take? How do you handle emergencies? Do you charge hourly or monthly? Do you have a list of references? Etc. The more information you can get on the daily environment and the caregivers, the better you can assess the quality of the care and decide on the best option for your child.  It is also important to make sure that a child care provider is abiding by all staff to child ratio rules, health and safety laws, and Office of Child Care regulations (if registered or licensed.) To file a complaint on a child care facility for not meeting appropriate standards, call Family Connections at 541-463-3300. 4.  Evaluate Your OptionsAfter spending time with each of your possible child care providers, it is time to think critically about the various environments and child care styles you have seen at different locations. Was it the group size you’re looking for? How well do you feel that the caregiver (s) connects emotionally with children?  Do you feel that your child will be encouraged to learn and explore? Consider the details such as staff qualifications, turnover ratio, cost, and discipline policies, but what’s most important is the bigger picture: Will this environment positively influence my child and ensure that they are happy, healthy, and preparing for school?5.  Make Your DecisionYou should now have a good idea of what is most important to you in to a child care provider, and should be able to narrow it down to a few options that made a good impression during your visits. At this point, there may be one obvious choice that jumps out at you as the winner, and in that case this step is easy. However, if you still can’t make that final decision, try bringing your child back to each of the facilities to get a feel for his/her reaction to the different environments. If he/she seems comfortable, excited, or even silently in-awe at one place more than the others, it just may be the winner. Don’t stress out about making a final decision, since it really is not final at all. It is important to remember that you can always change your mind, switch your provider, and try again with a new caregiver if your initial choice doesn’t work out. Check to make sure accredited child care providers have no history of complaints by searching online through the state here.6.       Stay Involved Your job is not over once you have found the right child care option for your family.  Your child care provider is your new partner and it is important to stay informed and get involved in your child’s care. Make time for regular meetings with your provider to check-in and discuss your child’s progress. Volunteer at or attend special events like field trips, cultural celebrations, career days or reading days. Take the opportunity to visit your child while in care and to be there for birthdays. Visiting your child and staying engaged in his/her care sends the message to your child and your care provider that you believe in the importance of what your child is doing and learning.For more guidelines and resources about choosing child care and evaluating providers, please visit the Child Care Aware website.This is Part 2 of a three part series LaneKids is producing in partnership with Family Connections of Lane and Douglas Counties to provide parents information about selecting quality child care. For more information about local child care options, please contact the Family Connections Parent Specialist at 541-463-3954 or email dreilingd@lanecc.edu.