Do You Know What Your Provider Knows?

January 21, 2009

While looking for the perfect child care provider there are many things to think about. Some of these things include the surroundings your child will be in, the hours of operation, and how your budget may be affected. Two other items to pay close attention to are your provider's training and education.

It is important to be aware of your child care provider's background. This may offer you insight as to how he/she will conduct his/her business.

If you're not sure what to look for while checking into your provider's background, here are some things to keep in mind. These tips may be used for both center-based and family child care settings:

Education: Providers with training in early childhood are likely to offer higher quality care. Understanding early childhood will help your provider identify your growing child's needs. Providers might learn about connecting with your child at his/her level, planning age-appropriate activities, and better preparing your child for school.

Training: Training is a key piece of high-quality child care. When providers are offered continued opportunities, they are able to keep current with child care trends. Trainings may include promoting child development, understanding health and safety issues, or working with children with special needs. They can also cover issues such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Ask if your provider has gone through child abuse prevention training. Staff should know how to report suspected abuse.

In child care centers, ask if all staff are offered training opportunities. If they are not able to attend off-site trainings, ask if there are any trainings offered on-site. Check with your state licensing agency or CCR&R to determine training requirements for providers in your area.

CPR & First Aid: It is important that anyone caring for your child is trained in CPR & First Aid. In the event of an emergency, you need to know that your child's caregiver will be able to handle the situation correctly. Make sure there is always someone working who is trained in both areas.

Background Check: Not all states require a background check. Ask if your child's caregiver has completed a criminal background check.

For More Information

« Previous | All Articles | Next »