Points to Consider

CHOOSING QUALITY CHILD CARE

Points to Consider During the Decision-Making Process Curriculum & Programming:

• Values learning through play • Prioritizes clear educational and social-emotional learning goals • Creates an environment where children learn words and pre-reading skills through books, songs, and two-way conversations • Encourages children to become deeply engaged in play and allows them to make choices throughout the day • Offers a robust selection of books, blocks, puzzles, art, music and dramatic play activities • Regularly offers sand and water play • Limits screen time • Provides space and equipment for indoor and outdoor gross motor (large muscle) play • Monitors a children’s development in a valid, reliable way using research-based tools

Staff Background and Training:

• Licensed and/or accredited facility (see page 7 for more information) • Low staff turnover • Director ideally holds a college degree in a child-related field. • Conducts background checks for all caregivers • Staff participates in professional development programs • Staff is trained to recognize and report suspected child abuse

Health:

• Promotes cleanliness; equipment and play materials are regularly disinfected • Requires current immunizations for staff and children • Emphasizes proper hand-washing rules for staff and children • Maintains clean diapering and toilet training areas • Staff is certified in first aid and CPR • Has policies in place for giving out medication and caring for sick children

• Welcoming to children and families • Engaging for children • Respectful of each child’s individual cultural, ethnic and/or religious background • Encourages positive, meaningful interactions between staff and children • Maintains consistency in caregivers • Welcomes parents to drop in at anytime • Supports discipline policies that are fair, positive, and consistent • Offers clear and ongoing communications between the center, teachers and families though newsletters, conferences and events

Safety:

• States and follows stringent sanitation procedures • Provides adult supervision at all times • Follows “safe sleep” practices • Keeps playground equipment fenced in, in good repair and securely anchored • Offers safe and age-appropriate toys and play equipment • Regularly checks for safety recalls of toys, cribs, and playground equipment • Locks away all potentially poisonous substances including medications and cleaning supplies • Has clear emergency procedures for accidents, missing children, custody situations, fires and other serious issues

Nutrition:

• Serves healthy and appetizing snacks and meals • Mindfully handles food allergies, dietary restrictions and ethnic preferences • Posts and shares current breakfast and lunch menus • Allows for flexibility in eating patterns, whether children leave food on their plates or ask for seconds