Your Child and Daycare: Finding the Perfect Match

By Susan Solomon Yem

Your Child and Daycare: Finding the Perfect Match

In this article:
Family or Group Care?
Resources and Referrals
Observations and Evaluations
A Cooperative Effort

You want childcare to be a happy, healthy experience for your child. Get tips for finding the best, most appropriate daycare for your little one.

Not every daycare setting is appropriate for every child. To find the perfect match, parents should carefully evaluate all the options.

"Each decision a family makes about childcare needs to be weighed by the family dynamic and the personality of the child," says Developmental Pediatrician Joseph Holahan, Medical Director of the Child Development Center at the Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's in Paterson, New Jersey.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 41.3 percent of children of working parents, are cared for by relatives. The alternatives include enrollment in a group childcare facility, family daycare in the home of a provider, and in-home care. Determining which of these is best for your child is the challenge. "There are a number of factors to consider," offers Holahan, "not the least of which is the child's age and temperament.

"Young children, infants and toddlers, benefit most from a consistent, nurturing provider," Holahan says. "For preschoolers, social and group experiences are more important."

Family or Group Care?

Is your daughter outgoing and gregarious or does she prefer to spend time in quiet pursuits? Does your son need to develop stronger socialization skills? The answers to these questions will help you to choose group or family daycare.

Will your child enjoy commuting? For those who do, on-site daycare or a location closer to work may be the best choice. If not, a facility near home or in-home daycare may be better.

If you are not confident that you know your child well enough to answer these questions, consult your pediatrician. Your child's doctor can add valuable input to your daycare decision.

Resources and Referrals

There are over 1,750 licensed childcare centers serving some 100,000 children in New Jersey. By law publicly and privately operated childcare centers which serve six or more children below six years of age must be licensed by the Division of Youth and Family Services. The law allows a maximum of six children in a family daycare setting, but this figure does not include the provider's own kids.

To access information on licensed daycare throughout your state, contact the Child Care Aware Resource Referral Line (1-800-424-2246). This nationwide hotline provides access to a database of all local daycare options. Detailed information, including licensing and accreditation, is available on each.

Parents should always visit daycare centers in person before enrolling a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes the free brochure, "Child Care: What's Best for Your Family, Guidelines for Parents" which includes a detailed checklist for assessing each facility. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 'Child Care Brochure,' The American Academy of Pediatrics, Dept. C, P.O. Box 927, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60009-0927. Take the checklist with you on each visit to help in the evaluation process.