In-home daycare provides the kind of high-quality child care and safety requirements you would expect from a commercial daycare center, but in a home setting. These environments often have smaller child-to-provider ratios, enabling your child to get even more individualized attention and care.
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In-home daycare, or family child care, usually involves mixed-age groups of children, which is great for kids’ development of social skills. Since toddlers and babies aren’t divided into different grades or classes, family child care is also convenient if you’re seeking care for siblings. Your children can stay together, and you’re less likely to worry about competition for multiple spots in a program. Plus, in-home daycare is less costly and has more flexible hours than a traditional daycare center.
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When looking for any type of child care, you want a provider with whom you’ll have a good parent-teacher relationship. Your care provider should prioritize this too. In fact, high-quality family child care programs will be happy to collaborate with you to support your child’s development. Additionally, in-home programs adhere to core early childhood education principles and should be happy to detail them for you.
As you’re looking at programs, ask as many questions as you need to get a sense of the provider’s child care philosophy. Getting an idea of what the daily routine looks like can help you make an informed decision. Sometimes, this is just a matter of listening to your intuition. Wonderschool parent Amber L’Estrange, for example, started her family child care experience from just a good gut feeling. Read her story below.
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“I liked the concept of family child care programs and I’m also really committed to a mindful approach to education, organic food, and a focus on progressive learning approaches,” L’Estrange told Wonderschool. “I had [my child] on the waitlist for some schools, but there was something intuitively I felt was missing. I kept an open mind, and one day when I was at Highland Park, Joey from Little Nest Learning Space approached me. He let me know that they were opening up preschool and that I should come to the open house.”
L'Estrange’s first visit immediately confirmed the new program was the right choice.
“When I went, I INSTANTLY felt the heart,” she says. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh that was what was missing: that real care, heart, and warmth.’” Read her full story.
There are different types of licenses for different types of care programs, so family child care licenses have their own licensing requirements. For instance, in-home program licenses often limit the number of children enrolled to between 10 and 15. Parents should always review the licensing for any programs in which they’re considering enrolling their children.
Licensing requirements for family child care home programs vary by state, but some form of a child care license is nearly always required. States that make exceptions for in-home programs only do so in exceedingly rare circumstances. This can happen, for instance, if the provider is related to all the children in their care and only supervises them occasionally, or if a provider is caring for children under a defined number of unrelated children (this number again varies by state).
Licensing regulations are in place to ensure programs meet important health and safety standards. Most state licenses set expectations around facility cleanliness and safety, emergency protocols, maximum child-to-provider ratios, and minimum provider training requirements. The license application process often includes a background check and proof that a minimum number of staff members have first aid training. Some locations will require programs to obtain licenses at both the state and county levels.
Resources such as Childcare.gov are great for finding licensed providers in your area. In-home daycare facilities also shouldn’t hesitate to make their licensing information readily available to you. Some certifications, such as accreditation by the National Association of Family Child Care, offer additional proof that a program has been thoroughly vetted.
When you search for family child care providers through Wonderschool, you’ll see the program’s license number. Wonderschool rigorously verifies licensing for all listed programs and visits facilities on a regular basis to ensure they remain compliant. Choosing Wonderschool to find a family child care provider is among the most streamlined ways to ensure credibility and assess provider qualifications.
When considering any potential family child care programs, ask as many license-related questions as you feel necessary. It’s a good sign when programs go above and beyond the minimum requirements. For instance, some states only require one staff member to have first aid training. If you ask how many providers know CPR and the answer exceeds the minimum requirement, you’ll know your child is in good hands.
Beyond the environment, in-home and child care center programs offer a variety of curriculum for learning and development.
Curriculum may be based on philosophies such as Montessori, Waldorf or Reggio Emilia which offer different methods to prioritize individual discovery. Other programs may offer a faith-based approach. There are also bilingual programs that combine these options while learning multiple languages. Similarly, these programs can include a variety of cultural explorations. Having a variety of options gives you the chance to find an environment that’s harmonious with your style.
You may be interested in a specific program for a number of reasons. You may want a program that focuses on, for example, sensory and tactile exploration. This helps your child develop their fine motor skills and gives them the chance to expand their observational abilities. Others are more centered on discovering their own personal creativity and talents.
Child care providers may also work with you on a customized care plan and schedule. Programs that utilize early intervention strategies can also provide you support if your children experience any developmental delays. No matter your goals, Wonderschool is here to help you find a child care program that fits.
If you’re talking to potential in-home providers, here are some questions you can ask to confirm that they follow best practices around health and safety.
Family child care offers a nurturing environment for children to grow and often provides more individualized care than traditional daycare centers. Programs that operate out of a provider’s home must meet minimum health and safety standards, and licensing requirements ensure that providers adhere to these guidelines.
Start your child’s early education right by finding a quality family child care option that meets all the essential criteria. Wonderschool can help you find a family child care program that meets your and your child’s unique needs. Explore your local licensed providers now.
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