Timing: When
To Start Looking
Many
child care programs have waiting lists for interested families, so you
should begin your search well in advance of the time you will need
care. Infant and toddler care can be especially difficult to find due
to high demand and small group sizes, so you may need to begin your
search for infant care from the time you learn you are pregnant or
scheduled for an adoption. To find out about the availability of care
in your area, call or email us.
Many family child care providers do not have a waiting list, and fill openings
as they arise, so it is a good idea to start your visits four to six months
before you need care. Depending on availability, you might have to wait longer
than you had planned, so having a back-up child care arrangement to cover you
until a slot opens is important.
Here are some questions to consider and ask during your visit:
- Does the program have a waiting list?
- How many children are on the waiting list for your child's age group?
How often is the list updated?
- Many centers have a sibling-preference policy; how many siblings are on
the list and how will this affect your chances of getting a slot?
- How does the enrollment process work? Is it open or rolling enrollment,
or is enrollment done only once a year?
- Is there an application fee for getting on the waiting list?
- If you are considering a family child care home, will the provider keep
in touch with you as openings occur?
Your Family Situation and
Your Child's Needs
To narrow down your choices of child care settings, think carefully about your
child's needs and how they would best be satisfied in various environments.
Keep all these
factors in mind as you look at a variety of child care situations:
- Does she do best in a small group, or in a larger group with a lot of activity
and contact with other children?
- Does your child have special scheduling needs, is she toilet trained, does
she need lots of room to run around?
- Does your child bond with others easily, or handle separations well?
- Would your child benefit from having one provider vs. a group of teachers
in her daily life?
Your choice of child care will depend not only upon the age and developmental
stage of your child, but also on your needs as a family. Think about your schedule,
your financial constraints, and the location of your workplace. If you need
early drop-off times or late pickups, make sure you ask about the program's
hours and late fees.
If Your Child Has Special Needs
The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees children with disabilities
the opportunity to participate in all activities of community life, including
attending child care. But just because child care programs are available to
your child doesn't mean that all child care settings will work for you.
You need to look for a setting that suits your child's individual needs,
and a provider with whom you are comfortable. Contact us to get a list of providers
that have experience caring for children with various disabilities.
If your child has significant medical needs, you should look closely at the
setting. Will they take the time necessary to work
with your child? If your child has sensory issues, make sure the environment
isn't overly stimulating for him. Check into the discipline policy and make sure the center is willing to
work within a special behavioral plan, if your child needs one. Ask about the
center's rate of staff turnover. If your child requires a consistent routine
or has trouble with transitions, you need a center with a stable staff.
If there is a child with special needs in the class, go to the center to
observe how the child is included in activities. Bring your child in and see
how she is accepted by the other children and the staff. The most important
thing is to find a teacher who is willing to learn about your child's needs
and is open to making adaptations, if necessary.
What to Look for in a Provider
There are many factors involved in choosing the right child care situation
-- and a lot of it is subjective. After all, one family's dream situation is
another family's biggest challenge.
Some factors, though, are objective; they're the characteristics that mark
a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment for your child.
It is very important for parents to visit potential child care programs before
making a decision about child care. Programs vary widely in quality, environment,
and how they handle children's developmental needs. You should see the
program for yourself, and meet the person(s) who will be caring for your child
before you choose care.
While visiting the program, find out about these key indicators of quality:
- Adult to Child Ratio - Child care programs must comply with South Carolina DSS's licensing ratios.
Adult/Child Ratios for ALL Licensed Child Care Centers
| Age of Child |
DSS Licensed for 2009 |
| Birth - 1 Year |
1:5 |
| 1 - 2 Years |
1:6 |
| 2 - 3 Years |
1:7 |
| 3 - 4 Years |
1:11 |
| 4 - 5 Years |
1:16 |
| 5 - 6 Years |
1:19 |
| 6 - 12 Years |
1:23 |
- Group Size - South
Carolina child care licensing does not require group size. However,
you should look for programs with smaller group sizes with adequate
staffing.
- Caregiver/Teacher Qualifications - Look for caregivers/teachers that have a masters, bachelors, or
associate degree in education or have received their Child Development
Associates (CDA) as well as past experience working with young children.
- Turnover - Look for programs with low staff turnover. Consistency in a child care program is an important factor in quality.
- Accreditation - Programs that have met accreditation status have exceeding state
licensing standards. Child Care Centers/Preschools can be accredited
through the National Association of Education of the Young Child
(NAEYC) www.naeyc.org. Family Child Care Providers can be accredited through the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC) www.nafcc.org.
- Health and Safety
- Basic health and safety practices are a SC regulatory requirement.
You should look for a program that is clean and bright, that teachers
and children follow hand washing guidelines, the diaper area is clean
and sanitized, first aid kits are available, the playground has safe,
sturdy equipment, toys are cleaned and sanitized, etc.
Before You Visit: Interview By Phone
During the telephone interview, try to gather basic information about a program.
Ask if it is a good time for the director, teacher, or provider to talk. If
you feel comfortable with the responses and the basics of the program, set
up an appointment to visit. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Are there vacancies for when you need care to begin?
- What is the total number of children attending the program?
- What is the general philosophy of the program?
- How is discipline handled? How are conflicts between children handled?
- What snacks or meals are provided, if any, and what kinds of foods are
offered? If parents provide snacks or meals, what are the guidelines?
- How long has the program been in business?
- What are the fees? What do the fees include, and when is payment due?
- What are the hours of operation?
- Are there scholarships (subsidies or voucher programs) available?
- What kind of training do the providers have in first aid and CPR?
Center-specific questions:
- Does the center keep a waiting list? Is there a fee to get on it?
- How are the children divided into age groups? Which group would your child
be in?
- What is the teacher-to-child ratio for your child's age group?
- Do children need to be toilet trained before entering the program (if applicable)?
Family Child Care Home-specific questions:
- What is the adult-to-child ratio? Who are the other people who might provide
care to your child (e.g., aides)?
- What are the ages of the children currently in care in this program?
- Does the provider have children of her own as part of the group, either
during the day or after school?
- What kind of training has the provider received in child development and/or
early childhood education? Is she receiving ongoing training?
- What happens if the caregiver gets sick? Does she have alternate providers
who can care for your child, or is it your responsibility to find back-up
care?
- Are there pets in the home? What kind and how many? Are the children in
contact with the animals?
- Does anyone in the home smoke?
- Are any firearms kept in the home? If so, how are they stored?
- Are there teens or other adults who will be present when your child is
in the home? Who are they and when will they be present?
- What is the vacation and holiday policy?
- Is transportation provided?
School Age Program-specific questions:
- What are the hours of operation?
- Is transportation provided?
- Does the program keep a waiting list?
- What is the adult-to-child ratio?
- How many children are enrolled in the program?
- How are the children divided into groups? What group would your child be
in?
- What types of activities are offered?
- How is discipline handled?
Summer Camp-specific questions:
- How long has the camp been in business?
- What are the hours of operation?
- Is it a boys, girls, or coed camp?
- What is the total number of campers attending during the summer?
- What is the ratio of counselors to campers?
- What type of training do counselors receive?
- What are the ages of the campers?
- What sessions are offered during the summer?
- Is transportation provided?
- Do they children travel on field trips? How are they transported?
Child Care Checklist
- Be licensed or registered by the state.
- Let you visit whenever you want.
- Care for children in small groups.
- Use positive discipline methods (time-out, redirection, no spanking)
- Serve nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.
- Hold babies while bottle feeding.
- Let one- and two-year-olds crawl and walk on carpet throughout the day,
watching them carefully.
- Let two- to five-year-olds play dress-up or "pretend" and
give them things like old clothes, empty cereal boxes and books to play with.
- Plan activities that use blocks, measuring cups, dolls, trucks, art materials,
and other creative toys.
- Encourage children to play together and share.
- Allow children to play alone some of the time.
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