Selecting A Provider

The following information was prepared by the Wisconsin State Office of Child Care. We hope it helps you to understand child care, regulations and expectations. Also, view Four Steps to Selecting A Child Care Provider which outlines typical questions to ask potential caregivers. As always, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact the UW Office of Child Care and Family Resources for assistance.

Visit the Provider/Center

Begin by visiting several child care homes or centers. On each visit, think about your first impression. But don't stop there. Does the place look safe for your child? Do the caregivers/teachers who will care for your child enjoy talking and playing with children? Do they talk with each child at the child's eye level? Are there plenty of toys and learning materials within a child's reach?

You should always visit a home or center more than once. Stay as long as possible so you can get a good feel for what the care will be like for your child. Continue to visit from time to time.

The Caregiver

The caregiver (sometimes called a teacher, or family child care provider, or assistant teacher) is the most important person in a child care setting.

• This person should know how to talk with infants and young children and respect them, and you.
• They should like being with children.
• They should understand how children grow.
• They should be able to plan activities that are fun and match the children's interest and learning levels.
• Above all, you should be able to trust the caregiver.

A licensed caregiver must meet the following:

• Training and experience in child care
• Child care training updates every year
• Clear criminal record background check (in family child care, every adult in the household must pass this)
• No corporal or any abusive punishment

Licensed child care programs and providers should:

• Show you a copy of their policies
• Post the child care license, and the date and results of the last inspection
• Welcome you to visit at any time
• Communicate with you regularly

About fees

There are no rules about the amount of fees a licensed caregiver may charge. To many families, the cost of child care is very large. Do not simply add up the number of children in a licensed center or home, and assume that the caregiver is making a lot of money because of your fees. It is not unusual for a child care center to spend 75 percent of fee income on staff wages and benefits(on campus an average of 90% of the center's budget is spent on personal costs). It is important to the center to pay good wages, in order to attract caring, trained, competent teachers. Family child care providers spend their fee income on food, toys, changes in their homes to care for children, and training.

Do your part by paying fees on time. Learn about all the tax credits or government subsidies you might get to help you pay for child care. Consider giving bonuses or recognition to the caregivers from time to time. Child care costs are one of the largest family expenses, so you should make sure you are receiving value for your money. You should also understand that caregivers offer this services as an occupation and deserve good pay. Caregivers are your partners helping children grow and develop.

The Place

The safety of children in child care is the basic reason for child care licensing. The place should be comfortable and safe. It should be inviting to children and safe. It should welcome children's play and exploration and be safe. When you visit a child care site, look to see if the children are actively involved in age appropriate activities.

Safety

Licensing rules require that:

• Play areas be clean and large enough so children can move freely and safely
• The playground be supervised by an adult at all times
• Cleaning fluids, medications, and firearms are stored away from children
• Fire drills are practiced.
• Bathrooms are clean and sanitary
• The child care place has a fire alarm or smoke detectors
• All caregivers report suspected child abuse or neglect right away

Nutrition and Health

Good food and balanced meals help children develop their brains, as well as their bones and muscles. You also know that young children can easily become ill. The place you choose for child care should pay attention to making sure caregivers follow good nutrition and promote healthy habits. When you choose a licensed program or provider, you will need to complete your child's immunizations and fill out health and enrollment forms.

Licensing rules require that:

• Meals and snacks are served often and are well balanced
• The staff and children wash hands before fixing food and eating
• Areas where food is fixed are clean and sanitary
• The staff wash hands before and after diapering or wiping body fluids
• There is a policy on ill children (children with certain illnesses may need to stay home)
• All staff understand health habits for young children

Infants and Toddlers

Because infants need loving, responsive care, it is important to find caregivers who truly understand their needs. Infants need cuddling, holding, and attention. They need people to talk with them and look them in the eyes. They need food often. They need safe diapering and sleeping areas.

• The child care place is baby proofed, with gates on stairways, caps on electrical outlets, and safe cribs
• Infants have a safe, quiet place to sleep
• Children's diapers are changed on an easily cleanable and disinfected surface
• Hand washing is done before and after diapering

School Age Children

Older children also attend licensed programs, before and after school and in the summer. Sometimes families can find licensed school age programs, and sometimes families choose a pre-school program that has a special part-time program for older children.

Licensing rules require that:

• School age children have varied activities
• Activities allow for rest and quiet time
• School age children have freedom to select their own activities

The Program

Child care helps children grow in healthy ways and helps their minds develop. A good child care program offers a balance of adult directed and child selected activities. Licensed programs and providers must limit television viewing.

Licensing rules tell the provider to:

• Plan activities for different ages and levels of development
• Plan indoor and outdoor activities
• Plan for naps and quiet time
• Let children choose between different activities

A child care program should demonstrate care and concern for all types of families and children. Look at the pictures on the walls and see if they represent diverse families and children. Can the program tell you about its inclusion of children with disabilities? Do they welcome every child?

Staff-to child ratios

One way to assure the protection, health and safety of young children is to require a certain number of staff/caregivers to children. Research on children's ages and stages show that the younger the child, the smaller the group should be. So both staff-to-child ratios and group size are important. In licensed family child care, the caregiver may have no more than eight children, including the provider's own children under the age of seven. When only infants or one-year-olds are in care, the provider may not care for more than four children. Licensed group center programs should be able to tell you the exact number of children and the exact number of staff in your child's group at any one time.

Quality

Here's what research tells us about quality child care:

• Quality child care is primarily related to higher staff-to-child ratios, staff education and the administrator's prior experience. In addition, teachers' wages, education and specialized training were the most important characteristics that distinguished poor, mediocre and good -quality centers.
• Centers that meet more demanding licensing and accreditation standards provider higher quality services.
• Higher quality centers have access to extra resources that are used to improve quality. In general, children's cognitive and social development are positively related to the quality of their child care experience.
• The quality of child care is associated with developmental outcomes for all children across all levels of mother's education and in some cases is even more important for at-risk children.
• Children in higher quality settings show more social skills than children in lower quality settings, show more positive attitudes towards their child care experiences and experience warmer relationships with their teachers than children in lower quality settings.

Addressing concerns

Quality child care for your child depends on both you and the caregiver. Share information with the caregiver about your child's needs, interests, problems, personality and anything else that will help the caregiver provide the best care. If the caregiver has concerns about your child, listen openly and be willing to talk it over. Communicate with the caregiver regularly, ask questions, voice concerns and express appreciation for your caregiver when appropriate-expect the same in return.

Licensing specialists inspect programs and family child care homes and will respond to complaints from the public if there are alleged violations. Be sure to let someone else know if you have concerns about what you see in a licensed program. You may report concerns without giving your name. In Madison, write or call the Southern Office of the Division of Children and Family Services (Child Care Licensing) at 3601 Memorial Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53704-1105. (608) 243-2400.

Items to consider when selecting a child care provider:

• Allow enough time for a careful, detailed selection.
• Be clear with potential providers about your child care needs, such as hours, days, ages of children and costs.
• Try to find at least two providers to visit. Spend enough time to observe awake, active children in these care settings.
• Discuss what you want for your child such as meals, naps, activities, desired form of discipline, etc.
• If possible, visit a second time with your child so the child can meet the future caregiver.
• Ask for and check references from parents who have used the provider.
• Eliminate any program or provider that is unwilling to answer your questions or have you visit.
• Carefully consider what you've observed before making a final decision.
• Check with the regulatory agency for complaints. Check with 4-C's (608-271-9181) to receive the appropriate phone numbers.