Colorado Childcare Licensing and Regulations

There is nothing more precious in life than your child. Whether you are a parent or guardian, the safety and well-being of the child you have been entrusted with taking care of is undoubtedly one of your greatest concerns in life. The state of Colorado has gone to great lengths to ensure childcare is available to all parents and guardians, going so far as to set up a state-wide initiative that guarantees licensed childcare provision for low-income families.

Types of Child Care Providers and Licensing Criteria

The Division of Childcare at Colorado’s Office of Early Childhood provides licensure options to five different type of childcare providers in the state. There are nearly 9,000 licensed facilities scattered across Colorado, and each facility is encouraged to create and maintain a child-safe environment centered around Child Care Quality Initiatives. The initiatives are three part and are meant to ensure a strong sense of community while simultaneously building a strong educational foundation for each child enrolled in a licensed childcare facility (in-home and otherwise). The first initiative is foundational practices. These practices include management, businesses practices, and leadership, as well as workforce qualifications and professional development. The second initiative supported by the division is daily practices. These practices include family partnerships and curriculum development. Finally, the third initiative is comprehensive practices, which includes mental health consultations and general health screenings. According to the Division of Childcare, early learning centers and care providers that facilitate these practices will be more apt to offer high quality care to children. The Quality Initiatives program provides resources such as technical assistance and professional development to create and maintain a measurable improvement in quality of care for Colorado’s children.

The Colorado Department of Human Services certifies various childcare providers within the state include the following: childcare centers (including preschools), school-age centers, family child care homes, child placement agencies, camps, and residential facilities. According to the Office of Early Childhood, the state requires a childcare center be licensed if five children are taken care of within the facility. Also, family childcare homes must be licensed if more than two unrelated children are looked after at any one time. Family child care homes that provide less than twenty-four hours of care for related children do not have to be licensed by the state. Additionally, facilities that incorporate more than 75% of religious activities into their enrollees’ day are not required to be certified by the state. Individual, privately-hired “nannies” and “babysitters” are exempt from the licensure requirement; however, individual employers may request their employees go through the same process required by the state for licensure (ie. fingerprinting, background checks, etc.).

How to Become a Licensed Provider

The state of Colorado has made the licensure and certification process as simple as possible for all proposed childcare providers. For those interested in opening their homes to children or those who are about to establish a new childcare facility outside of their homes, all they must do is click on the link below.

For those interested in opening their homes to children:
http://www.coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.com/#!family-child-care-homes/cak5

For those interested in establishing a childcare facility outside of their home: http://www.coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.com/#!child-care-centers/c1dos

In addition to filling out the forms found at the above-listed links, those seeking licensure must also submit to a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and any other additional testing required by the state of Colorado. The Quality Initiatives Program provides much of the required training for certification and licensure. Otherwise, all required forms can be found above. The department will send a specialist out to your location of proposed childcare in order to inspect it for quality and safety. All forms must be sent to the office 90 days prior to opening your home or your facility to childcare.


How to Check If Your Provider is Licensed

For those seeking licensed childcare, the state of Colorado has provided a plethora of resources available at your fingertips.

Parents and guardians can contact the Resource and Referral Agency directly:
http://www.qualistar.org/ccrr.html
This website searches through individual counties; it finds licensed providers in or near your area.

Parents can also conduct a search on the Office of Early Childhood’s website:
http://www.colorado.gov/apps/jboss/cdhs/childcare/lookup/index.jsf
This website is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Human Services and guarantees childcare providers endorsed through the search engine are licensed and certified by the state of Colorado.

Additionally, the Office of Early Childhood’s website provides a list of tips for parents and guardians seeking certified childcare provider:
http://www.coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.com/#!tips-for-choosing-childcare/caxp
The tips provided are endorsed by the Division of Childcare, a division at the Colorado Department of Human Services.

For working individuals who want to ensure their children are provided for, it is important to acquire dependable, safe childcare. Fortunately for Colorado residents, doing so has become one of the easier tasks of being a parent.

Virginia Child Care Guide for Parents

Child Care plays a very crucial role in the child’s well-being. Since this is the child’s growing up years, his experiences has great impact in his development as a person. Hence, parents do everything they can in order to avail of the best Child Care facility that fits their child’s need and meets their budget. They need to find a place where to entrust their kids. Fortunately, the Virginia Department of Social Services has guided parents in choosing the type of Child Care that suits their needs.

But before we discuss on the different types of Child Care, parents should consider the following factors:

(source: Virginia Child Care Guide)

  • Provider has training in child development and experience in the group care of children;

  • Environment is safe, clean and designed to promote learning and growth;

  • Provider is nurturing and encourages a variety of learning experiences that are age- and stage-appropriate;

  • Health practices are implemented and nutritious meals and snacks are served;

  • Program is responsive to the children’s and families’ needs;

  • Program solicits family involvement.

Armed with the above guide, you may now follow the suggested steps to start your Child Care hunting journey:

  • Check for the List of Child Care providers identified by Virginia Department of Social Services. To check the list, click this site: www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi.
  • Based on the list, conduct environmental scanning on your initial choices. Call and visit the place to assess their facility.
  • Evaluate/verify if the staff are trained to handle/facilitate the needs and activities of the children.
  • If the first three steps are positively met, bring your child to the place as many times as possible and ask your child if he is comfortable with the place. Even ask the provider/facilitator to talk to your child to check if your child feels at peace with them. Otherwise, go back to step number 2 and try your other choices.

To narrow down your choice, let me give you the different types of Child Care (source – www.dss.virginia.gov/family/child_care.html):

Child Day Center

Child day centers are child day programs offered to (1) two or more children under the age of 13 years in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (2) 13 or more children at any location. During the absence of a parent or guardian, the operator of the child day center has agreed to assume responsibility for the supervision, protection and well-being of children under the age of 13 years for less than a 24-hour period.

Family Day Home
Family day homes provide care for six to 12 children (exclusive of the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home). The care may be offered for less than 24 hours in the home of the provider or in the home of any of the children in care.

Short-Term Child Day Center

Short-term child day centers are child day centers that operate for part of the year only.

Certified Pre-School
Certified preschools are those operated by private schools that are accredited by any statewide accrediting organization recognized by the Board of Education or a private school or preschool that offers to preschool-aged children a program accredited by organizations as listed in the Code and recognized by the Board of Education to be exempt from licensure. They must meet certain requirements specified in the Code of Virginia.

The information provided by Virginia Department of Social Services on the different types of Child Care only serves as the parents’ guide in their decision. At the end of the day, it all boils down to the child’s well-being and development without compromising his happiness and safety.

Virginia Licensing and Regulation for Child Care Providers

Starting a Child Care business entails a lot of hardwork, dedication, perseverance and above all professionalism. Like any other business venture, it requires a lot of preparation and documentation. Fortunately, the Virginia Department of Social Services has provided the Virginians the needed guidance in successfully opening up this type of business. To give you an idea, below are major points a Child Care provider should consider:

  • Training Needs – Child Care providers need to show their capability through trainings they and their staff have attended. You need to immerse your staff into the Professional Child Care Training Programs and acquaint them with the needed Emergency Training Programs in cases where the kids encounter problems/hazards (refer to this link: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc/professionals_resources.cgi).

  • Financial Capability – You need to be financially liquid to be able to provide the needed structures/fixtures fit for the type of Child Care facility you will choose. Salaries and wages of your staff is also one of the prime considerations.

  • Licensing – Application for Licensing is an important part of a Child Care business. Otherwise, you may end up folding before you could even start. For the application forms, you may refer to this link (http://www.dss.virginia.gov/form/index.cgi).

Below are some regulations to be considered for the different types of Child care facility:

Center-Based Child Day Center

Licensed programs must meet the standards promulgated by the State Board of Social Services. The Virginia Department of Social Services enforces these standards by inspecting centers at least twice a year and investigating complaints.

Religious Exempt Child Day Center

Child care centers operated by religious institutions may be exempt from licensure, per § 63.2-1716 of the Code of Virginia, if the religious institutions submit certain documents to the Virginia Department of Social Services prior to opening the child day center and then annually prior to the expiration date of their exemption.

The Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing, may send inspectors to these facilities only to confirm that they are in compliance with Code requirements and to investigate complaints.

Certified Preschools

Section 63.2-1717 of the Code of Virginia allows preschool programs operated by private schools that are accredited by a statewide accrediting organization (or another accrediting organization recognized by the Board of Education) to be exempt from licensure.

  • Home-based Family Day Homes

The Code of Virginia mandates the licensure of family day homes that provide care for six to twelve children (exclusive of the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home). The care may be offered in the home of the provider or in the home of any of the children in care.

Licensing standards, which are proposed by the State Board of Social Services and enforced by the Division of Licensing Programs, ensure that the activities, services, and facilities of the family day home are conducive to the welfare of the children in care.

For more clarification on these regulations, refer to this link: (http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc/index.cgi).

These are just the initial steps in order for a Child Care provider to start a Child Care business. The real challenge is in the actual handling of the business – where Child Care providers face actual scenarios/problems. As long as there is an open communication between the Child Care providers and the parents, no amount of challenges can break their commitment to provide the utmost care the child needs. At the end of the day, the reward for these type of business is in seeing the children develop their potential with a smile in their faces and a thumbs up from the grateful parents.

Kansas Childcare Licensing and Regulations

There are a number of different child care groups that can be found in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment have established may laws and regulations on licensing that is required to perform certain services. The first law to be passed in Kansas was in the year 1919. This license requirement was established to maintain safe and effective environments for children in the childcare setting. The number and type of licenses today require greatly on the number of children in the facility. All facilities no matter what type are required to hold a license of some kind no matter what.

The different types of child care in the state of Kansas today include:

  • Licensed day care homes: These centers can have a maximum amount of 10 children who are under the age of 16. This type of center must obtain a license for the home. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18 and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history and inspection is required to obtain the license as well.

  • Group day care homes: This type of center can have a total of 12 children under the age of 16. This type of center must obtain a license for the home. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18 and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history and inspection is required to obtain the license as well. The facility must also be approved for fire safety through the Fire Department.

  • Child care centers: This type of center can have 13 or more children from ages two weeks to age 13. They provide education as well as childcare. They can have childcare services for a child for 3 to 24 hours at a time. This type of center must obtain a license for the center. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18. All employees in the establishment must undergo training for recognition of illness, neglect and child abuse and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history is required for all employees and inspection of the building is required to obtain the license as well. The facility must also be approved for fire safety through the Fire Department.

  • Preschools: This type of facility must have a director employed who has undergone qualified training such as a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. They provide care for up to 13 children and cares for children from 30 months to 6th grade. This type of facility has all the requirements as child care centers pertaining to the license and employees.

  • Head start centers: Head start programs have the same requirements as a preschools and care for children from 2 weeks to age 16.

  • School age programs: These types of facilities also require the same as the preschool and offer services to all school age children.

Obtaining a license

There are a number of steps one must go through to obtain a license for a childcare service of any kind. All forms require a license. The cost and procedures are determined on the type of facility that is to be established. Training can be done at any university or college. The training required for CPR and first aid can be obtained through the hospital and most college institutions as well. Prospective owners can go to http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/ to apply for a license and to download a checklist of requirements needed. Owners can also go to http://www.dccda.org/regs.shtml on ratio requirements for child care establishments.

How to Find Childcare Facilities License Information

Parents can go to http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/ and click on “Search for Child Care Facility Compliance Information” to find out about licenses and obligation that has been obtained for their local child care facilities including inspection scoring. All child care facilities in the state of Kansas must be regulated and licensed. Serious charges can be resulted for noncompliance including jail time.

 

Alabama Child Care Licensing and Regulations

There are different laws and regulations regarding child-care in all states, even some states may have different regulations for different countries or cities in it. Throughout Alabama, lawfully functioning child-care centers are either licensed or work without licensure. The authority responsible for licensing is DHR (Alabama Department of Human Resources). Before issuing the license, child-care center is inspected by Department of Human Resources, fire department and health department. The validity of these licenses is 2 years and they must be displayed in the child-care centers.

The purpose of licensure is just to stipulate regulation yardsticks for child-care institutes; however, it does not provide any promise of good quality child-care. It is the responsibility of parents to visits these care centers during their working hours and confirm whether their children are being provided with the level of care as it should be.

Types of Child-care that Need Licensure:

Child-care licensure is a form of administrative activity by which a group or an individual is granted permission by governmentto start and run a child-care service.In Alabama, the county or state offices of ‘Department of Human Resources’arein charge of issuing/revoking license, providing claim/appeal systems, and monitoring the conformity of child-care centers with established standards.

Following types of child-care in Alabama need to be licensed:

Child-care Centers: Any Full-time or part-time child-care facility in non-residential venue managing thirteen children or more. This category of child-care includes preschools, nursery schools, and prekindergarten working more than four hours per day.
Group child-care Homes: Full-time or part-time child-care in a home for about seven to twelve children – The children who are not yet of official school-age are also included in it.
Family Child-care Homes: Full-time or part-time child-care in a home for about six children or less than that. The children who are not yet of official school-age are also included in it.

Types of Child-care that Don’t Need Licensure:

Alabama State exempts some child-care facilities from the requirement of proper licensure. As this type child-care centers are not checked or monitored by any regulatory body, so it is parents’ responsibility to conduct proper investigation about care provider’s experience and background before entrusting their child to them.

Following types of child-care in Alabama need not to be licensed:

  • Child-care given at child’s own home or if provider is child’s relatives
  • Play school or Kindergarten that don’t operate more than 4 hours
  • Activity courses aimed at school-age children run by government, charitable groups or civic society
  • Religiously associated child-care facilities that have been given a formal exemption
  • Projects run by universities or colleges

When child-care projects are operated by government elementary schools, its regulation is responsibility of the ‘Department of Education’.Other state agencies also play their regulatory role.

How to become a licensed child-care provider in Alabama?
If you’re going to start a child-care or day-care center in Alabama, you’ll first have to acquaint yourself with all the regulations and policies set up by Alabama’s Department of Human Resources. There are certain licensure requirements in Alabama that must be first fulfilled in order to evolve as an authorized and certified child-care provider, otherwise regulatory bodies will not issue you a working license in this state. Below is given an overview of the information and links that you will have to follow for beginning child-care licensing procedure in Alabama.
Before applying for an Alabama child-care licensure, you’ll have to go through the least criterions for starting a child-care center – Review all the procedures and regulations specified by Alabama’s State Department of Human Resources. This instruction manual can be availed in paper format from any Department of Human Resources (DHR) office or via online portal of DHR.
This instruction manual is to inform the aspirants of establishing a child-care about licensing and its application procedure. The content also includes facility prerequisites, child-care programs, staff obligations, administration, transportation, and snack/meal patterns etc.
Application Process:
Once you’ve thoroughly studied these least standards for child-care centers in the state of Alabama you’ll then have to start the license application procedure. All forthcoming Alabama child-care applicants need to fill in Application Form provided by DHR and then include its required attachments.
This license application needs a photocopy of the child-care operating procedures, photocopy of rules for regulatory and service charges, phone number/address/name of the Head or Key Operator of child-care facility- On top of all other requirements, applicant should enclose with its application a formal report of the inspection conducted by fire and health departments verifying his center safe for the children. You’ll also have to obtain a food permit from state health department if need be. Last of all, the application needs a written declaration from a local zoning department stating that your center is compliant with present zoning requisites.
After you’ve completed your license application, you’ll also have to fill-in the attachment file of application. This attachment needs to contain the signatures of every proprietor, center executive or board participant; nevertheless, it might not be required if there’s just one prospective owner.
Child Neglect/Abuse Clearance:
Along with your child-care license application, you also need to submit a child abuse clearance request to DHR. This clearance request application is also to be filled and signed by all prospective owners.
Background Inspection:
All prospective board participants or owners of Alabama child-care centers are required to submit their criminal background inspection report before they are issued a child-care license.

Medical Assessment:
The owner or director of child-care center is needed to undertake a complete medical checkup in order to ensure that she/he has good health condition. The medical checkup report should also contain a tuberculosis test.
Educational Prerequisites:
There are also certain educational prerequisites specified for prospective child-care directors or owners; thus, applicants must also have required educational profile so as to get licensed as a owner of child-care center in Alabama. In minimum requirement, owner is needed to have GED or high school degree/diploma, no less than one year working experience in any child-care center, and 120-hour child-care training.
On the other hand, the applicant might have a degree in ‘Child Development Associate’ (CDA) from the ‘National Child Care Association’ in addition to 12-month working experience or a degree in ‘Child Development Associate’ along with 9-month working experience. A child-care owner might also have a bachelor degree in ‘Child Development’ with a minimum of 6-month working experience in any child-care facility.

How to ensure if child-care provider is licensed in Alabama?
For parents, it is a big concern to find the best child-care center for their children on their budget. For some it is really stressful to decide on a quality child-care facility available in their locality. To this end, some community organizations provide referrals to help parents select the best possible child-care option. However, the most authentic resource is ‘Child Care Services Division’ of ‘Alabama Department of Human Resources’ – these authorities offer information about child-care licensing and also guide about selecting a reliable facility. The detailed information can be found at DHR official website (find the link below).
If you want to find out the licensing state of a child-care center in Alabama, you can help yourself by following a ‘Self-Assessment Guide’. This guide will let you know the list of licensure requirements that must be met by all child-care centers in the state.You can avail these guides in various languages for your understanding.Moreover, you can take help from county office or child-care regional office in your locality and request them to review the file of licensee’s facility. This file contains the records of all investigations and evaluations of specified child-care facility conducted by licensing authorities and all the complaints against that facility corroborated by state department.

Documents that you must see displayed in a Licensed Child-Care Center:

Most current license and approval/permit from DHR
Forms for Public notices
Most current licensing valuation form
Most current deficiency information (if applicable)
Adverse or corrective action plan notices (if applicable)
Most current fire assessment report
Most current inspection written reports and food license from state health unit
Snacks/meal menu
Emergency numbers for medical aid, fire unit, law enforcement, poison control center and substitute help
Emergency measures

Questions that you must inquire from a Child-Care Center

Are you a licensed child-care or exempted from this requirement?
How many children will be accommodated in our child’s group?
How experienced your teachers are?
What is the training and educational criteria for the teachers at your center?
How do you familiarize the new children with your ambience?
How can parents inquire about their children’s day at center?
How weather, fire, and medical emergencies are handled in your facility?
Are parents allowed to visit the center any time?
What is your action plan when teacher of my child is either on vacation or sick?
What children safety precautions are adopted by you when you take children on a trip or transport them by van or bus?
What is your service fees and when it is due?

Sources:
http://www.dhr.alabama.gov
Official website of Department of Human Resources, Alabama State

dhr.alabama.gov/services/child_care…/Licensing_Overview.aspx
DHR Standards for child-care centers – Procedures and Regulations

http://www.dhr.state.al.us/page.asp?pageid=648
DHR: Licensing Information

http://www.dhr.state.al.us/large_docs/INFOSUB-11-02.pdf
DHR Information for child-care licensing application

Oklahoma Childcare Licensing and Regulations

Whether you are a parent looking for a child care facility for your children, or an individual planning on setting up a child care facility in Oklahoma, there are a number of licensing requirements and regulations that are setup for your guidance as regards your specific concerns.

To begin with, there are a number of childcare centers in Oklahoma for your consideration. There are the Child Care Centers; which are the facilities providing child care and supervision for children in a drop-in basis, Part-Day Children’s Programs which provides pre-school education on along with supervision, and the School Age Programs and Summer Day Camps, which provides summer camps, summer parks, and before and after school programs.

There are also child care facilities that offer their services in the family home such as the Family Child Care Homes and Large Child Care Homes. Finally, there is the Child Placing Agency which aids in the placement of children in foster family homes; and the Residential Child Care Facility and Children’s Center which provides for homes for children who are in need of temporary emergency care. These various child care facilities are subject to accreditation by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and are constantly required to comply with the continuing requirements as set by the same department as well.

Child care services provider intending to become a licensed provide will have to obtain the application forms from http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/cc/prvdrs/lic/docs/requirements.htm. Upon successful download of the document and completion of the same, the application form will then be submitted for consideration to the department. Depending on the child care facility you intend to put up, other requirements may be required of you. To name some, there is proof of ownership or sponsorship, child care staff summary, documentation that the director has met all the necessary credentials, criminal background check, and many others.

On top of the qualifications required of your employees, your physical facility will be submitted for determination of its fitness for the purpose. For instance, you will have to possess a documentation of fire approval within 12 months, and a documentation of health approval for the same period of time. Since the setting up of your own child care center is not a right but a mere privilege regulated by the Department, you will have to comply with a number of continuing requirements even after your application for the same has been approved.

Parents who are looking for licensed child care facility in Oklahoma may also take heed in the listing found on http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/cc/prnts/default.htm. On the same link will you find some other useful information in your search for qualified child care facility. It is immensely important to check on the list of accredited child care service providers before you commit your child to the same. It is likewise important to visit the child care facility beforehand, and personally ascertaining the fitness of the organization to take care of your child. Among many others, your child’s welfare should be your topmost priority, and trusting only the licensed child care facility is the first step.

Child Care Options for Your Kids

Child care is an absolute thing. No matter how technologically advanced and virtual the world may be, caring for children always goes back to basics- warm bodies that protects them and personally attend to their needs. Since there are times that parents who cannot physically attend to their children, they need to find a place where their kids can be well taken cared of. Fortunately, parents need not worry where/who to entrust their children in times when they leave the house. However, to achieve quality child care, you need to carefully evaluate and study what specific child care will meet your family’s needs, lifestyle, affordability.

Choosing a child care option that fits your need is truly a challenging thing. Let me walk you through all of these child care options as your guide in making the right decision. But before introducing you to various types of care option, you need to narrow down your priorities by answering the following questions:

  • What type of child care provider do you need – part-time or full-time? Does family members work the regular 8:00am to 5:00pm work time or on a flexible time schedule? If on a flexible time, does the family need caregivers on a consistent time of are they only needed on an irregular time basis?
  • What is the family’s affordability status? Before anything else, available budget for hiring a specific child care should first be determined. To illustrate this, if your budget is limited, you can already narrow your choice from choosing a daycare center instead of hiring a nanny.
  • What is your child’s special needs or conditions? If your child happens to have special needs or conditions, you should consider what specific child care fits your child’s needs. Parents are the first caregiver of their children hence, they know what specific child care they need. Other kids may need smaller child care environment while others enjoy with being in a bigger crowd.
  • What is your preference level in selecting a child care provider based on your kids’ age? Different type of child care provider has also their different rules in accepting kids based on age. Hence, this aspect should be carefully be taken into consideration. There are child care providers who specifically identifies the age range they are accepting. You can already narrow down your choice if they specify age limits.

After answering the questions, we will now discuss the different child care options.

  • First, we will focus on Daycare Centers. Of all types of care option, Daycare is probably the most preferred by parents because of its affordability and convenience. Aside from that, Daycare has longer operating hours which give the parents ample time to finish their job without necessarily being bothered by their kids’ pick-up time.
  • Next stop is the Family Home Providers. The greatest advantage of this type of care option is its attractiveness to the kids. Children are accorded with a feel-at-home type of care. Hence, children feel comfortable and relaxed. However, since these type of care only caters to small number of kids, they cannot improve their socialization skills. It is therefore incumbent for parents to assess if their kids can be left in this type of option as many times as they deemed it. Further, the number of hours are limited. Hence, parents need to have their work done before closing hours of the Family Home. Otherwise, you may encounter problems with the Family Home Administrators.
  • Third on the list is by hiring a Professional Care Provider (Nannies) in your own home. This type of care option is by far a dream come true for parents. It offers the convenience or comfort of having the kids taken cared of in their own homes. However, this type of care option is usually the most expensive. Further, these are people who are trained to provide the care your kids need. The amount you pay for the professional caregiver should commensurate the number of hours she has worked. Hence, the longer she has worked, the higher is your expense. o hire one, then it would be a win-win choice for both the kids and their parents.
  • Next is on Babysitters and other Occasional Care Options. For this type of option, parents can either hire teenage babysitters or even count on family members or friends on occasion while allowing the child to enjoy the comforts of their own home. However, family members and friends cannot be counted on all the time. Their availability depends on their vacant schedules. Further, there are some family members or friends who may have practices/beliefs contradictory to yours that may influence your kids. Unlike other type of child care, this option is more on a personal level. You may not be aware of it but kids are like sponge in absorbing what others taught them. It is therefore advisable that parents carefully consider who to entrust in this type of child care.
  • Another option is the Camps and Advancement Child Care. This is the type of option that needs the kids’ evaluation prior to their acceptance in the camp. They need to undergo medical evaluation to check if they are physically fit to join the camp. When accepted, the kids in this type of care option is being entrusted to highly skilled people to help develop their potential. Parents who are concerned to enrich their kids’ talents/skills prefer this type of care. However, one gray area in this option is on the facilitators’ capability to truly watch after and care for your kids. Their being highly skilled does not automatically mean they are good care providers. Parents should therefore meticulously scrutinize what type of camp their kids are joining and evaluate the facilitators’ track record in successfully handling this activity thereby allowing their kids to enjoy, learn something and most of all, be safe.

All being said, all these child care options mentioned has its own advantages and disadvantages. What really matters is that the decision you make is the choice that best fits your family’s needs. Good luck parents!

Child Care Resources