Take these steps to select the right child care program for your family
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You should start your child care search sooner than you think! It takes a considerable amount of time to research your options, make comparisons, and visit providers. Early learning and care programs are in demand which may require you joining a waitlist for new children at one or more programs.
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Call the Quality Rated Family Support Call Center at 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (1-877-255-4254) or visit QualityRated.org to identify child care programs based on your location, your financial needs, and other factors. After you have receive your list, call each child care provider to check details such as availability, hours, fees, and to schedule a visit.
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Before visiting potential child care providers, make sure to download the Quality Rated child care checklist available below. The checklist will help you identify indicators of high-quality care to consider during your visit.
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When you visit child care programs, observe how the educators interact with the children, parents and each other. This is the time to ask the questions from the Quality Rated checklist and any others you may have added.
For instance:
How many children are with each adult? [See the child care checklist for ratios.]
What are the training and education equirements for staff?
Are general emergency procedures in place in the event of inclement weather? If so, what are they?
How long have staff been employed with the provider?
What is the policy for sick children and for emergency closures?
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At this point, you have dedicated a significant amount of time to gathering information and developing opinions about different child care programs during your search. It's now time to review your options, assess them, reach out to providers for any remaining questions, and ultimately choose the best program for your family.
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Once your child is enrolled in your chosen child care program , your job is not done!
It’s important to stay engaged in your child’s early learning program by communicating regularly with the staff about your child, visiting your child’s learning environment, and volunteering when you can.
No matter the age of your child, remember that children benefit from caregivers who are involved in their lives. Children who see their parents take interest in their education are more likely to be interested in their own learning.
“It’s gratifying when we can help parents find child care that meets their needs. A recent parent who had never used formal child care services before and did not know where to start let us know that we alleviated “so much stress from her shoulders” by providing her with information on nearby facilities that met her price range and guided her through the process of searching for affordable child care options.”