How to Find Quality Child Care (From a teacher with 5 Decades of Experience Who Is Also a Mom)

I'm sorry that the path to high-quality early care and education has to be so difficult. As an advocate for systematic change for over 5 decades, I hoped to see more progress. Some of us still have several positive child care options, while too many do not. Or if high-quality care and education is available, most can't access it due to affordability issues.

I want to be clear that my intention is to help and uplift parents and providers, not to make them feel less capable in any way.

It's not just "affordable" child care we need right now. It's high-quality care and support that's accessible and available to everyone, everywhere!

I made a chart listing things to look for in quality care and education settings. You can use it as you wish or not at all.

I tried to make it inclusive of what most parents would want for their children in child care. If it's not realistic, at least it's telling of the situation parents and educators are facing.

step one

I suggest you make a chart like this one. Include the things that are most important to you.

The term "ratios" refers to how many children one adult is allowed to care for and how many children of a particular age group can be in a room together.

You can copy the chart I made on Canva here, or make your own. It's OK to just use a notepad to keep all your notes and observations in one place. It's also OK to use your intuition when making your final decision!

step two

Gather Information.

Talk to everyone you know who has children or knows child care. Then take a look at the internet. Find a child care resource and referral agency in your area. Learn about licensing and other forms of ratings or accreditation. Your resource and referral agency should be able to help. You can find an agency in your area by searching here.

step three

Calls

Make as many calls as you can. Fill in as much of the chart as possible. Include not-for-profit programs, center programs, and/or regulated family child care programs. Don't worry about filling in all the blank spaces. You can do that after your in-person visit.

step four

Visits

You'll need to do two. One without your child present and one with your child present. Be observant.

Do the first visit without your child present. Gather any information you haven't gotten already. Plan to spend time asking questions.

Be sure to ask;

• Where and when children sleep

• What food is available, and what is the feeding philosophy

• How teachers communicate with parents

• Hours of operation

• Daily schedule

• When the center is closed, and how parents are informed

Also, spend some quiet time observing. Ask yourself:

How does this place make you feel? If you had the time, could you spend all day here?

Choose a child with a similar temperament to your child. See how they get treated and what their experiences are like.

Add any information you gather to your chart.

Visit one more time with your child and watch their reaction to the situation. It's best not to let them make the child care decisions, though. That's your job.

I realize that a call and 2 visits may seem like a lot of work for someone who has very little time. I get that. I also know that avoiding the anguish of making a choice that you regret later is worth any extra effort you make before your child is enrolled.

One last tip:

Use your chart and your heart to make your final decision.

And later, when your work is done, you can enjoy knowing that you did your best for your child.

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At Early Childhood Rocks, a non-profit organization, we believe that all parents and children deserve high-quality options for care, support, and education.

Join our community of parents and providers dedicated to quality early care and education, and immediately get our Baby Brain Toolkit/Curriculum. It's free!

Nanci J Bradley is an early childhood and family educator, parent, grandparent, author, teacher, family aerobics instructor, and an all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, healthy eating, lifelong learning, and most of all, PLAY!  She studied early childhood education at Triton College and received her BS in education in 1986 from NIU. She received her MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in

2010. She's presented at national and state early childhood conferences. She lives and teaches in Madison WI.