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Four
Steps
to Choosing Quality Child Care
#1 Interview Caregiver
Call first and ask:
In a Home Setting....
 | Are there others living in the home? |
| Who and what age are they? |
| Who, besides the provider, may be caring for my child? |
| Will my child be taken out of the home while in your care? |
| Are there pets or smoking in the home? Visit and look for... |
| Positive interactions between caregiver and children. |
| Children getting lots of attention. |
| Children who are happy and comfortable with their caregiver. |
| Clean, safe, and healthy indoor and outdoor spaces. |
| Safety features such as gates on stairs, caps on electrical
outlets, and a locked cabinet for medicine, poisons and cleaning
products. |
| A variety of toys and learning materials, such as books, puzzles,
blocks, and climbing equipment, that your child will find
interesting. |
Ask the Provider...
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Can I visit at any time? |
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How do you handle discipline? |
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What do you do if my child gets sick? |
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How do you handle an emergency? |
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Do you have a back- up caregiver? |
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Where do children take naps? |
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Do caregivers have up-to-date CPR and First Aid
training? |
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Do caregivers have training in child care? |
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May I see a copy of your license? |
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May I have a list of parents (current and former)
who have used your care? |
#2 Check References
Ask other parents
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Was the caregiver reliable? |
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How did the caregiver discipline your child? |
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How did you get along with the caregiver? |
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Was the caregiver respectful of your values and
culture? |
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Would you recommend the caregiver? |
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If your child is no longer with the caregiver, why
did you leave? |
#3 Choose Quality Care
Ask yourself, from what you have learned...
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Is there a balance of free play and routines? |
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Can the caregiver meet the special needs of my
child? |
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Which caregiver should I choose so that my child
will be happy and grow? |
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Is the child care affordable? |
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Do I feel good about my decision? |
#4 Stay Involved
Ask yourself...
How can I work my schedule so that I can...
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talk to my caregiver? |
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talk to my child about how the day went? |
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visit my child in care? |
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work with my caregiver to discuss problems that
arise? |
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help my child grow? |
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meet with the other parents? |
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| This information is taken with permission from the brochure
created by the State of Michigan Department of Human Services and
Michigan 4C Association.
What
is Child Development and Care (CDC) Services?
A Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) program that helps
with child day care costs. Check here to find out more:
http://www.michigan.gov/fia/0,1607,7-124-5453_5529---,00.html
What is MICHILD? MICHILD
is a health insurance program. It is for uninsured children
of Michigan's working families. MICHILD srvices are provided
by many HMOS and other health care plans throughout Michigan
Call 1-888-988-6300 for more information or click here: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/1,1607,7-132-2943_4845_4931---,00.html
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