Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Finding and Investigating Day Care Alternatives
For preliminary information about child care options,
providers, and vacancies, consider:
- State Department of Social Services, Human Services, or
Health (list of licensed day care homes)
- United Way (information and referral services)
- YMCA/YWCA
- Religious organizations
- Child development departments of local colleges
- School counselor (before and after school care)
- Your employer
- Telephone book ("Day Nurseries and Child Care")
- Junior League
- PTA
- Local child care council
- Pediatrician
- Newspaper/bulletin board ads
- Word-of-mouth (friends, relatives, other parents)
Check out a number of different child care arrangements and
facilities by:
- Telephoning and asking about openings and admission
requirements
- Meeting with the directors and staff or caregiver to
discuss your expectations
- Spending an hour or two observing active and quiet
activities at all facilities you are seriously
considering (see the evaluation questions which follow)
- Talking with other parents from the facilities
- Above all, trusting your instincts
Conduct thorough interviews. There are a number of
questions you can ask when considering different kinds of
day care. Not all questions will apply to your child or day
care situation. Most questions can be asked (or answered by
observation) before you hire a child care provider; other
questions will need to be evaluated after your child is in a
particular day care arrangement for a while.
If possible, both parents should participate in the day care
selection process. Your child should be present for at
least some of the time during the interviews as well.
For lists of suggested questions to ask, see
Questions to Ask When You Are Seeking Day Care.
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