While child care programs may look great on paper, the only true way to gauge if a provider is a good fit for your family is to visit them in person. What works for one family may not work for another, so it’s important to check out a few different programs if you can.
The first step is to call the providers you’re interested in and schedule a visit. When you call, make sure you ask some of these essential questions that will help determine whether or not you want to consider this provider:
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- Does the provider have space for your child?
- What are the provider’s hours?
- Is the location convenient to your home or work address?
- What are the program costs? Are there any discounts or scholarships?
- Does the provider participate in child care assistance?
What to Look for During Your Tour
During the tour, you’ll get to see the program in action, observe how staff interact with children, and get a feel for the overall atmosphere. Bring our Choosing Quality Child Care Checklist with you to make sure you cover all the important points.
Consider bringing your child with you to the tour. See how they react to the facility and how the staff interact with them. This can provide valuable insights into whether this provider is a good match for your child.
Quality Indicators
Quality Indicators are specific signs or characteristics that show a program is providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your children. During your tour, look for these quality indicators:
Low Ratios and Group Sizes
Adult-to-child ratio refers to the number of adults present in the child care setting in relation to the number of children. Low adult-to-child ratios and small group sizes help ensure that your child gets enough one-on-one attention from an adult who is available to take care of each child’s unique needs. Family Day Homes care for mixed-age groups, so they follow a point system rather than a ratio system.
**Play and Learning
An effective curriculum should be age-appropriate, offer diverse materials and toys, and promote development in all areas. Play should be emphasized and incorporated into the children’s daily schedule.
**Health and Safety
There is nothing as important as the health and safety of your child. A quality child care program prioritizes health and safety. This means finding a center that has strict safety protocols in place, such as safe health practices, background checks for staff, secure entrances, and emergency preparedness plans.
**Caregiver Qualifications and Training
Well-trained educators are more likely to engage in positive interactions, plan developmentally appropriate activities, and use feedback to build relationships. Staff should hold relevant certifications in topics such as safe sleep, breastfeeding-friendly practices, trauma-informed care, emergency preparedness, recognizing child abuse, and medication administration.
**Relationships and Interactions
Quality care includes a nurturing and responsive environment that promotes confidence and consistency. Skilled providers engage each child with appropriate language, respond to the needs of the children, and maintain respectful relationships with families.
Tips from Child Care Aware of America
Child Care Aware of America created this excellent graphic for quick reference of what to look for during your tour.
Choosing Quality Child Care on Short Notice
While it’s always recommended that you visit any child care provider or program you’re considering, sometimes a visit is just not possible. If you need child care right away and don’t have time to take a tour, use Child Care Aware of America’s Choosing Quality Care on Short Notice checklist, which has questions to ask over the phone before making your decision.
Resources to Guide Your Search