Steps to Choosing Quality Child Care

1. Call Child Care Resources’ Child Care Search.
   This free and confidential child care resource and referral service is for parents and families who are looking for early care and education and school-age child care programs.  Call and receive referrals to programs that meet your famiy's needs and preferences.
2. Understand your options.
3. Learn about the Star Rated License and Accreditation.
4. Call child care programs.
   Call each program on your Child Care Search referral list to confirm its information and find out whether the program has a vacancy for your child.
   
   Questions to ask each program you contact include:
• How many children are in my child's age group?
• Can you describe a typical day?     
• How many children are currently in your program? 
• How many children are in the class which my child will attend?        
• Is there a waiting list? If so, is there a fee to be on it?
• How many adults are there per child?
5. Visit programs.
   Visit at least three of the programs on your Child Care Search referral list and look for clues that show each program's quality. Tour the programs and observe the children and the staff. Ask questions -- about the staff and children, about safety and health issues, and about the setting and programming. Use the Quality Child Care Checklist to track important information about programs you visit.
6. Compare and decide.
   Review the checklist after your visits and compare each program to determine which is best for your family. Because your child may stay with a program for many years, consider how your child will progress through the program as he or she grows.

Carefully consider the program's star rated license. Programs are rated on a scale of one to five stars (with five being the highest.) If a program has a low rating, find out why and how and when it plans to achieve a higher rating.

Get references from other parents using that program.  Ask if their children enjoy the program and what they like most and least about the program. Ask if they would use the program again.
Above all, think about what is best for your child, use your instincts, and know that choosing quality is an important responsibility that will ensure they receive the type of care in which they and their brains can learn, grow, and thrive.