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Choosing a Child Care Provider
Choosing a place where your child will be cared for is a very important decision.
Your child's future is at stake. Be selective.
Begin looking well in advance of when you need the day care.
Take your time in making your decision.
Visit the program.
Involve your child in making the decision.
Allow for a trial period.
Plan for backup caregivers.
You can contact your local Michigan 4-C to get additional information.
You can also do a web search of the State of Michigan Database
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FAMILY DAY CARE HOME
Quality family day care is the friendly and warm environment provided by a family day care parent. Good child care provides the necessary ingredients for a child's healthy growth and development: intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.
This checklist may serve as a guide in making your decision about a particular family day care home.
DOES THE FAMILY DAY CARE PARENT:
Appear to be warm and friendly
Seem calm and gentle
Treat each child as an individual with a different personality
Accept and respect your family and cultural values
Read and talk to the children
Encourage the children to express themselves
Have previous experience working with children
Have specialized training in child development
Have attitudes and methods of guiding and controlling behavior which you agree with
Serve nutritious meals and snacks
Take time to discuss your children with you regularly
Seem to have a sense of pride in the important job of caring for children
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO:
Be a part of a family
Make friends with other children
Receive individual attention
Visit nearby places of interest like the park, library, museum, fire house
Use books, creative materials, games and toys regularly
Study and do homework
Play actively and quietly both in and out-of-doors
DOES THE DAY CARE HOME HAVE:
A license from the Department of Consumer and Industry Services
A clean and comfortable look
A "children are welcome" look
Space for all the day care children
Adequate space for each child to take a nap
Safety caps on electrical outlets
A locked cabinet for the storage of medicine, household cleaners, and poisons
An alternate exit in case of fire
Adequate heat, light and ventilation
A safe outdoor play area
DO YOU FEEL THAT:
Being in this day care home will be a fun and happy experience for your children
You can develop a relaxed, sharing relationship with this family day care parent.
You will want to visit with more than one family day care parent. If possible, take your children with you or visit when other children are in the home. Be sure to discuss:
Total fees to be paid
Name, address and phone number of parent at home/at work
A plan for an emergency or a child's illness
Who will provide food for meals and snacks, and the number of meals to be served
Arrangements for children to be taken to and picked up from the day care home and by whom
Any special arrangements for holidays or vacations
The time that children will arrive and leave the day care home, and any arrangement if this changes
Any special characteristic of your child such as food likes, habits, allergies, special medical needs
How to Choose a Good School-Age Child Care Program
Unsupervised elementary school-aged children who are responsible for their own care before and after school are often called "latchkey" children. Good child care provides the necessary ingredients for a child's healthy growth and development: socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically. The following checklist will provide some guidelines for helping you choose wisely.
THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Assess the appropriateness of the program for your child
Communicate with your child and the care provider
Help the child make a smooth transition from home to school and school to home
Understand the operating policies of the program
Provide Emergency Information
THE CHILD'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Talk with your parents and your care provider
Provide information about what you are interested in doing and complete the activities you have chosen
Understand the rules for the activities and for getting along with others. Know the consequences of inappropriate behavior
Be responsible for your own behavior and your own belongings
Respect and take care of the provided materials and equipment
THE PROGRAM'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide written policies and procedures including emergency procedures and financial policies
Provide opportunities for communication among the care providers, the child, the parent, the teacher and school personnel
Provide a comfortable, fun, relaxing environment that is purposefully different from academically-oriented activities
Provide for leisure time as defined by the child
Provide time for diverse activities such as homework, recreation, physical development, socialization and the development of friendship, leisure and outdoor play
Respect and promote the spontaneity and serendipity of childhood
Provide equipment and learning/play materials that are age-appropriate and encourage diverse choices
Provide a well organized program with a predictable daily routine
Provide a place for each child's individual belongings
Provide an accessible drop-off and pick-up arrangement including a place for parents to wait while the child completes a activity
Provide nutritious snacks
GET ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS:
Is this program licensed?
What are the hours and days the program is open? Holidays?
What are the fees? When must they be paid?
How are parents involved? Are parents welcome at any time?
Who makes major policy decisions?
What is the discipline policy?
Is transportation provided?
Are the children grouped by age, interest area or ability?
Who is the main person responsible?
How many children is each care provider responsible for (adult/child ratio)?
Child Care is a Service - You Are the Consumer
You have a right to question or discuss
Rule violations
Unsafe practices that affect, or might affect, your child
What happens when you are not there
Anything that upsets your child
You have a right to expect
Compliance with the rules
Safe, nurturing, good care
You have a responsibility to encourage
Open communication
Positive happenings
Parent involvement
You have a responsibility to respect the provider's
Time - be on time to pick up your child
Policies - know when child care payments are due
Opinions - they've usually had plenty of experience
Warning Signals That Parents Should Be Alert To
The caregiver/center does not permit or encourage parents to observe or visit while children are in care
Children are left in care without the immediate and direct supervision of an adult
The caregiver spends much of the time scolding, ordering, and belittling children
screaming, yelling, or swearing at the children
making fun of the children, or a specific child
ridiculing or threatening a child
criticizing a child
Caregiver(s) are physically rough and abusive with the children
The home or center is filthy and/or unsafe
Complaints from your child about the care, or your child starts to act nervous or distressed about the day care. Investigate immediately!
A child repeatedly gets bruises or injuries; the presence of a bruise or injury is unexplainable
Talk with your children about the day care home or center
Ask very specific questions about your child's day and the events of that day
Listen to what your child is saying
Visit your child's day care at unexpected times of the day
Speak with your provider about any concerns or questions you have
(This page was copied from http://www.cis.state.mi.us/brs/cdc/lookfor.htm and was produced by the State of Michigan)
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