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Finding quality child care is very important. Often the
task can be puzzling. This brochure will help you identify
factors that comprise a good early childhood center. After
evaluating two or three programs, choose one carefully,
keeping in mind what is best for your child and your family.
Programs
Available
- Child Care Centers
are for children age two to six years (many serve infants,
toddlers and school-agers also). Most centers operate
11 hours a day, year around.
- Nursery Schools/preschool programs,
for children age three to five, usually operate half-day
sessions during the school year. The number of days per
week varies.
- Cooperative Schools
serve children of various ages from infancy through five
years. The schools are sponsored, planned and taught by
parents of the children attending, usually with a qualified
director in charge.
Consider. Licensing by the State of Ohio or Kentucky
is required for child care centers and nursery schools.
However, licensing does not guarantee quality for your child.
Call. Talk to several centers or schools to find
out hours and days in session, ages of children served,
and cost of each program. Consider location and transportation
needs. Then make appointments with those that sound most
promising.
Visit and Evaluate. Try to spend at least one hour
at each center when the children are there. Evaluate the
program. Below are characteristics of a good program. Place
a check for every yes answer.
Staff
- Experts recommend one adult caregiver for every 10
children
- Adults working at child's eye-level
- Adults encouraging new skills
- Adults sharing news with parents about a child's day-good
and bad
- Staff work as a team
- Parents comfortable talking with the staff
- Director and head teacher have early childhood training
Program
- Daily schedule of activities
- Variety of toys
- Art materials creatively used
- Water and sand play
- Car, truck and block play
- Dress-up clothes and role-playing toys and materials
- Boys and girls together
- Several activities going on at the same time
- Children make music and/or listen to music
- Children sing and laugh
- Teachers meet regularly to plan and evaluate the program
- Center makes use of resources and services offered by
the community
Environment
- A book center with good picture books
- A parent information board
- Good lighting
- Child-size toilets and sinks
- Sturdy, child-size furniture
- Windows low enough for a child to look outside
- Special nooks for child's own possessions
- A smoke free environment for children
- A safe outdoor play area
- A variety of outdoor equipment
- Parents actively participate at the center (or involved
in other ways)
Policies
- Up-to-date state license
- Written policies for giving any medication to children
- A written policy eliminating spanking, shaking, or hurting
a child in any way (ask to see it)
- Frequent messages to parents about their children's
successes and about activities at the center
- A posted menu for nutritious meals or snacks
Guidance
and Feelings
- Adults help a sad or angry child feel better
- Adults offering positive guidance when a child misbehaves
- You feel welcome
- Staff enjoy working with the children
- Adults really listen to the children
- Individual needs of children are being met
- Happy and interested children
- Smiles and happy play
- Special greetings to each child upon arrival
- Use of child's name in conversations
- Words of sincere praise and encouragement
Warning
Signals
- The center does not encourage parents to observe.
- The children move about without any guidance or involvement
for 30 minutes or more.
- The staff spend most of their time scolding or ordering
the children.
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