Title: Identify criteria for selecting and evaluating childcare services.
Course: Child Development and Parenting (19255-36)

Identification should include examination and assessment of aspects of the childcare organization such as

- ages of children in their care
- location and hours
- fees (including policy about childcare subsidies)
- recommendations from other parents, based on experiences
- accreditation (e.g., NAEYC, NAFCC)
- licensing compliance (VDOE)
- Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5) rating
- caregiver’s philosophy, goals, and qualifications (e.g., education, experience, continuing training)
- caregiver’s characteristics (e.g., nurturing, energetic, sensitive, confidential)
- adult-to-child ratio and level of caregivers’ attention to each child
- consistency of caregivers, rate of employee turnover
- physical environment (space, ambiance, condition and maintenance of facilities, equipment, and materials)
- emotional and social climate
- health and safety practices for children and caregivers
- policies on transportation of children
- feeding practices, including provision of nutritious meals and snacks
- diapering and toileting procedures
- guidance, boundaries, and behavior management practices
- group structures (infants, toddlers, mixed-ages)
- developmentally appropriate program of activities
- developmentally appropriate use of equipment, materials, electronic technology (e.g., TV, Internet)
- classroom transition practices (e.g., arrival and departure, changing classroom activities) and programmatic transition practices (e.g., entering/ and leaving the program, moving to new location, changing caregivers, moving to kindergarten, attendance policy)
- administration of the organization
- encouragement of parental involvement, including ongoing, effective communication with parents

Teacher Resources:

- Child Care VA, VDOE
- Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5), VDOE
- Overview of Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Observations in VQB5, VDOE
- VQB5 Quality Profiles, VDOE

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- Why should parents be vigilant in their evaluation of childcare services?
- How important is accreditation to a child day center program?
- What are the benefits and disadvantages of government licensing of child day centers?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a stay-at-home parent?

Communication

- What are the primary qualities of a good child day center program?
- How are the qualities of a good child day center and a good in-home provider similar? How are they different?
- What questions should one ask a child day center administrator or provider?
- Why is continual communication between caregivers and parents important?
- What type of communication should occur between parents and caregivers?

Leadership

- What factors determine the suitability of a child day center program for a particular child?
- What would an ideal child day center look like? How would it operate?

Management

- What information do parents need to evaluate childcare options?
- What steps should parents take to find out the qualifications of childcare providers?
- How important are references when parents are considering childcare options?
- What opportunities are available for parents to serve in an advisory capacity to child day centers?