The following list will give you some hints to help you make a good choice.

Interview Caregivers  

      Call first and ask ....

• Is there an opening for my child?
• What hours and days are you open?
• Where are you located?
• How much do you charge?
• When is payment due?
• Do you charge for holidays, absences due to vacations or illness, or late pickups?
• How many children do you care for?
• How much child care experience and education do you have?
• How many adults care for the children?
• What ages do you serve?
• Must a child be toilet trained?

      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...

• Can I visit at any time?
• How do you handle discipline?
• What do you do if my child is sick?
• How do you handle an emergency?
• Do you have a back-up caregiver?
• Where do children take naps?
• Do caregivers have up-to-date CPR and First Aid training?
• Do caregivers have training in child care?
• May I see a copy of your license?
• Are you accredited?
• May I have a list of parents (current and former) who have used your care?

Check References  

        Ask other parents...

• Was the caregiver reliable?
• How did the caregiver discipline your child?
• How did you get along with the caregiver?
• Was the caregiver respectful of your values and culture?
• Would you recommend the caregiver?
• If your child is no longer with the caregiver, why did you leave?

Make the Decision for Quality Care

      Ask yourself, from what you have learned...

• Is there a balance of free play and routines?
• Can the caregiver meet the special needs of my child?
• Which caregiver should I choose so that my child will be happy and grow?
• Is the child care affordable?
• Do I feel good about my decision?

Stay Involved

      Ask yourself...

      How can I work my schedule so that I can...

• Talk to my caregiver?
• Talk to my child about how the day went?
• Visit my child in care?
• Work with my caregiver to discuss problems that arise?
• Help my child grow?
• Meet with other parents?

CHILD CARE CHOICES

• Child Care Centers - Includes centers, preschools, nursery schools, before and after school programs and Head Start Programs. Centers must be licensed.
• Group Child Care Homes - Homes in which two or more adults provide care for up to 12 children. Group homes must be licensed.
• Family Child Care Homes - Homes where an adult cares for one to six children. Family homes must be registered.
• Unlicensed Child Care Providers - An adult who is 18 years or older and enrolled by DHS to provide care for up to 4 children at a time, or 6 children, if all children are siblings or live at the same address, either provides the care where the child lives or provides care in their own home, not the home of the child, and is related by blood, marriage, or adoption as a grandparent/great-grandparent, aunt/great-aunt, uncle/great-uncle, or adult sibling.

A good child care setting: respects children, parents, and caregivers; has open and on-going communication; and a shared plan for the well-being of children.