Child Care

How do you choose the best place to leave your children?  It can be one of the hardest and most important decisions you will ever make.  The following information can help you determine the best child care for your needs.   7 Steps to Choosing Child Care   What Parents Should Do for the Child Care Provider   What to Do if You Can't Find A Provider   Things to Watch For When Your Child is In Care   Is it Child Care or is it Babysitting?

7 Steps to Choosing Child Care
1.	Read Read over a list of day care homes or centers that you get from the Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) in your area.  Try to find a child care provider who is close to your home, work, or school.
2.	Call Call the providers you have selected from your list. Ask the questions listed below.  Make sure you take notes, so that you can keep the different providers straight in your mind. A good telephone opening statement is: "Hello.  My name is _________.  I am trying to find child care for my (age) child.  If you have a few minutes, I'd like to ask you a few questions. What time do you open and close? Do you serve meals or do I need to bring my child's own food?  Is there an extra charge for meals? When I have the time, can I stay and watch my child play? I would like to come and visit your home (or center).  What day and time would be best?
3.	Visit Visit the homes or centers that you have called. When you go, look at the children and the adults who work with the children.  Below you will find a list of things to check.   Look at the Area Does it look clean and safe? Is there enough space inside and out so all the children have room to play? Are there enough toys and materials for all the children? Can the children reach the toys easily? Is there time each day for both quiet and active play? Is the provider licensed or registered?   Look at the Caregiver Does the caregiver seem happy to see your child? Does the caregiver use a calm voice and talk to the children on their level? How does the caregiver deal with a child who does something that he or she shouldn't do? Does the caregiver seem happy and cheerful and to enjoy the children? Do you feel good about leaving your child with this person? Are children being comforted when necessary? Does the caregiver seem to be knowledgeable?   Look at the Children Do the children look happy? Are they playing nicely? Are they given a chance to make choices? Can you picture your child playing happily here? Are the children too quiet? Are the children too noisy?
4.	Ask Ask the caregiver if you may talk with other parents who use that home or center.  Get several names and phone numbers and call these parents.  Have some questions to ask:   Are you happy with your child's care? Does your child enjoy going there? What do you like most about this child care? What are some of the things that you don't like?
5.	Decide Decide which provider seems best for you and your child.  Go over your notes.  If you feel unsure about a program, visit again.
6.	Act Act on the tips below. It will help you to feel good about the care you have chosen.   Sign a contract before you start care. This helps you and the caregiver avoid surprises.  Include the following: the hours the program is open, the days the program will be closed, the items you need to provide (diapers, formula, special foods, etc.), the child care rate charged per hour, day, or week, and any extra fees or costs connected with child care (registration fees, etc.). Get involved. It is the best way to feel comfortable with a new child care.  Some larger centers have parent groups that meet on a regular basis. Or, you can help with arts and crafts projects, bring in snacks for parties and get to know the caregiver and the other parents. You can make this new experience a happy one for you and your child. If you have a complaint about a caregiver or a program, please call Child Care Services at 1-800-227-3020, or let your caseworker know.
7.	Get Help Help is just a phone call away!  Child Care Services is here to help and wants you to be happy with your child care provider and the assistance you receive.  If you have any questions or concerns, contact CCS at 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD  57501, call us at 1-800-227-3020 or email us ccs@state.sd.us

Things to Watch For When Your Child is in Care Even if you have been careful in your selection of a child care provider, you may still wonder if you have made the right choice. Here are some things you should watch for as you monitor your child care provider.   Does your child: Respond to the caretaker warmly? Ask to stay to finish play? Settle into play easily with a favorite toy or friend? Show you or tell you about the day’s activities?   Do you as a parent: Feel comfortable spending time at the child care setting? Find the caregiver responsive to your comments or suggestions? Feel your instructions are being followed?   What to watch for: You see or hear your child saying or doing things in play that seem to reflect some kind of mistreatment. Your child is afraid to go to the child care or afraid of one particular person. Your child begins to act withdrawn, nervous, or begins having nightmares or physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches. Your child is suddenly afraid of undressing, using the bathroom, or bathing.   Is It Babysitting or Child Care? Who does it?    Babysitting: Usually teenagers   Child Care: Usually adult females What is it?   Babysitting: Temporary care of children.  Usually part-time.   Child Care: Permanent care of children.  Can be part- or full-time. When is it done?     Babysitting: Nights, weekends   Child Care: Daily during typical working hours  How often is it done?   Babysitting: Once or twice a week, or less   Child Care: Every working day of the year Why is it done?     Babysitting: For the sitter - to earn spending money. For the parent - to get     a break from the kids.   Child Care: For the provider - to self-support   For the parent - to provide care, guidance, and educational opportunities for     children while parents work. How is it done? Babysitting: Babysitter usually cares for one family's children at a time.  Can be actively engaged with the children in play or be passively involved (supervising children while they are playing or asleep while babysitter engages in other activities like studying, watching TV, talking on the phone).  Meets the custodial need for the children: feeds, changes diapers, bathes, beds. Child Care: Child care provider meets the developmental and educational needs of young children. S/he stimulates language, intellectual, self-help, social/emotional, fine motor, and gross motor development by providing developmentally appropriate activities.  is actively engaged with groups of young children from several families simultaneously.  Guides children toward positive behavior. Where is it done? Babysitting: Typically the babysitter comes to the home of the family where services are required. Child Care: In child care facilities that are environments specifically designed for children. How much does it cost?   Babysitting: Usually a nominal per hour rate is charged based on the number of children.  Often left up to the discretion of the parent. Child Care: Child care is a business.  Parents may be billed an hourly rate per child, or billed weekly at a predetermined rate per child.  Some centers offer sliding fee scales for more than one child in a family or for low-income families. What kind of training is required?      Babysitting: No training is required.  Most babysitters have no training.     Some may attend a brief 1-2 hour workshop on "how to baby-sit".   Child Care: Annual training is required by the state for all registered or licensed     child care facilities. Training varies from those who hold a baccalaureate degree,     associates degree, or just the minimum required training.