SECTION 2
What Are My Child Care Options?
For parents of infants and toddlers, New York City offers a variety of day care, nursery school, and pre-school programs. Oftentimes, finding affordable and quality childcare can be a nightmare. What type of amenities should you look for? What questions should you ask? Among the myriad child care facilities that abound in the City, which are the ones most suited to your schedule and needs?
Hopefully, this section should make answering those questions easier. First we compiled a list of questions to ask when finding a childcare provider. Next, after you have picked a program, our checklist provides you with questions to ask about the facilities, teacher to student ratio, and academic content of the childcare program. Finally, we have included information about some childcare programs in our neighborhood that span a range of academic settings and tuition prices to meet your varying needs (see below for link).
The most important thing to do is to talk to other parents and the childcare providers themselves about your child's unique needs. Make sure that you give your child enough time to acclimate to his/her new setting before you make plans to return to work or school. For more tips, check out our list of websites and books about childcare and parenting at the end of this section.
Questions to Consider
- Begin to think about the different childcare options (daycare, nanny care, part-time or full-time care) and which one is best suited to your needs.
- Apply for childcare as far ahead of time as possible, even up to a year in advance.
- Check to make sure that the Board of Health licenses the childcare center.
- Plan an interview over the phone and cut down on all the visits.
- Visit the programs you are considering more than one time and visit at different times of the day. Dismissal, snack time and outdoor playtime can be stressful times and it is informative to see how the teachers handle these varied situations.
- Try to have an idea of what you are looking for before you visit. The setting and curriculum should be appropriate for the age and developmental level of the children. This means that there will be variation in what the children do and how the day is structured depending on their age.
- Make a checklist before visiting to help guide you through your tour. We have included a checklist at the end of this guide to help you begin your search.
Checklist
When selecting a childcare setting, the main considerations (other than your own preferences) are availability, affordability, and quality. The following list can be used when visiting potential childcare providers. These questions cover a range of issues, and may be helpful in selecting an appropriate provider for your child.
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION:
1. Do you have space available?
2. When do you begin accepting applications?
3. Is your center licensed?
4. What are the backgrounds and training of the staff members?
5. How long have the teachers (caregivers) been at this center?
DURING THE VISIT
Facility:
1. Is the center clean and tidy?
2. Are the toys and furniture in good shape?
3. Are there a variety of play areas available?
Adults:
1. Is the staff friendly?
2. Do you like how the caregivers speak to the children?
3. How many adults are there per child?
Children and Activities:
1. Do the children seem happy?
2. Do the children have a variety of choice activities?
3. Are the activities age appropriate?
4. Is there a daily routine?
Additional questions that you may consider when visiting the facility:
- Are children encouraged to feel good about themselves?
- Is independence encouraged?
- Are children allowed to make choices?
- Do adults set reasonable limits with consistent reinforcement?
- Are positive guidance techniques used?
- Do activities support children's natural curiosity?
- Are children allowed to explore?
- Is there a variety and range of play materials?
- Is there flexibility in the schedule?
- Is time allowed for activities based on each child's individual pace?
The checklist and questions were reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. DeBord, K. (1996). *Selecting child care ... a checklist*. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.