Quality Matters-Choosing the Right Care for Your Child

By Sherri Edwards, Director, Dubuque County Empowerment

Are you a parent looking for infant child care or seeking a better place for your older children while you are at work? Parents have many options when considering child care settings. In Dubuque County, some children go to relatives or neighbors for care while others are at home providers or in centers.

The right place for your child may depend on his or her age, the location of the care, your work schedule, affordability, or many other factors. Whichever child care setting you choose, first ask some basic questions to determine the type of care. Quality does matter. In a quality setting, children succeed staying healthy and becoming ready to learn when they enter school.

According to the national Parents as Teachers organization, here are some questions to help you make the best choice for your child:

•Is the care provider licensed or registered according to the State of Iowa?
•Are the adult-to-child ratios and staff turnover rates both low?
•Is the care provider trained in first aid for infants/children and in CPR?
•Is the care provider trained in early childhood and do they continue their training by completing regular continuing education?
•Will the care provider give references from other parents and complete a criminal background check?
•Is the child care setting clean, safe, and relaxed? Can you see your child being happy there? Is it in a convenient location?
•Does the care provider have policies on child development, such as playtime, television viewing, discipline, adjustment issues, inappropriate behavior, and toilet training? Do you agree with these?
•Is there enough room to play both inside and outside with age-appropriate toys, books, equipment, etc.? Is there a balance of unstructured playtime and educational/recreational activities?
•Does the care provider have a friendly, loving, and responsive personality?
•Will the routine of the child care setting be flexible to meet your needs and those of your child?
•Can you visit at any time and how will the care provider keep you as the parent involved?

It is your right to ask questions and a quality care provider will welcome the opportunity to discuss these and any other concerns. Speak up now on behalf of your child and you will go to work comfortable that you have made the best choice.