EVERYTHING
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Early Years
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Going back to work after having a baby? Many moms agree that the hardest part is not the job itself, but rather the task of finding quality childcare. The right care can be especially challenging if you've already spent a year or two at home with your child. Most babies under 7 months can adapt to loving adult care easily, but with an older child, the transition becomes more difficult. A child's personality, interests and development need to be considered when searching, but honestly, details like a parent's schedule, proximity to work and budget also come in to play. How do you start figuring out what's best for your child and your family? Childcare is not a one-size-fits-all situation, advises Elda Lavinbuk, a childcare advocate for the Orange County district office of the state's Community Care Licensing Department. "Each individual child's needs are unique. What works for one might not be a good fit for the other." Luckily, with the growing demand for childcare over the past decade, there are a variety of options that have emerged for working parents. However, only some of these choices are regulated by the state and accredited by recognized organizations, like the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The three basic options available include private care in your own home or a neighbor's home, small group care in a family home, or a center-based facility that includes many children and multiple care providers. Only the latter two are licensed by the state and must adhere to health and safety features, child-to-adult ratios and certain teacher qualifications. "If a child hasn't been in outside care before, a smaller group size might be the best place to start," suggests Lavinbuk. "If they've been involved in a Sunday school program or other activities, they may be able to jump right into a larger group situation." The key, says Lavinbuk, is finding a safe and nurturing environment for your child. Even if a program is licensed, she recommends that parents spend extra time observing their child's interaction with the caregiver. Once the child is enrolled, stay connected, drop in for visits and ask questions, she advises. If you decide to find in-home care, you're aware of exactly what is available to your child in terms of toys and other activities. However, if you're looking for outside care, there are a few things you should look for beyond the state license, says Laura Cunningham, a program manager for the Orange County United Way Success by Six initiative. "It's good to have a really rich environment with a lot of different opportunities for the child to experience," says Cunningham. Are there lots of books? What about natural materials like rocks, twigs, feathers, magnifying glasses, fish or other animals? Look at the materials inside and outside as well. Are the children sitting at tables playing with play dough, or are they copying worksheets? Is there a dress-up area for imaginative play? Are there outside activities planned to develop a child's gross motor skills? What about building blocks, puzzles or other manipulative toys? "You want to see that children are learning things on their own, rather than sitting and copying the alphabet," she says. Another telltale sign of a quality environment are the children themselves. Are they happy? Although a good part of this might be intuitive on your part, you should be able to tell the difference between a child's isolated outburst and a culture where screaming teachers and whining kids become the norm. Finding quality care is not just about how beautiful the place looks or how new the equipment looks, says Cunningham. More importantly, observe the center in full swing to get a feel for how the staff interacts with the children. "Just sitting in the back of the class for a little while enables you to pick up a lot," she says. "Are teachers using a modulated tone of voice, do they get down and speak to children at eye level? Do they encourage children to use words to resolve conflicts?" Finally, take a look at how many children there are compared to the number of adults. Ratios required by law vary according to the age of the children. Cunningham's theory is, "the fewer the better." Child care is a labor-intensive job, she says, and adults need to respond quickly and appropriately when the need arises. Cunningham's final advice to parents is to be extremely assertive. She describes childcare as a "consumer beware" industry at this point, especially since budget cuts have impaired the licensing staff's ability to monitor care facilities more often than once a year. "Drop by unannounced, ask questions and watch what's going on," she says. Michele Piazzoni is a freelance writer and mother of three. She is a regular contributor. To reach her: mpiazzoni@hotmail.com. • For assistance finding local licensed childcare, contact the Kid Care Hot line, sponsored by the California Department of Education at 714.543.2273. • Search for a licensed program, or check if there have been any complaints filed against a specific program by visiting the California Department of Social Services' web page at www.ccld.ca.gov. • Find a checklist for evaluating a childcare provider and other helpful information at the Child Care Aware website at www.childcareaware.org. |
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