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The Best Child Care Services for Working Parents

Child Care SearchParent Resources

5th November 2020

Child care programs help to nurture and look after preschool and school-age children. Private and government-sponsored programs provide child care services for parents in various income brackets. They provide valuable support to working parents and play a critical role in children’s development.

Selecting the best child care services for your child can be quite intimidating. When looking for a program for your kid, ensure the center is compliant with various federal regulations. You should also ensure the environment is conducive to the child.

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Family Child Care Services

Children in different age groups are cared for by a professional caregiver in residential homes, condo units, or private apartments. The provider may opt to care for the children in their private residence or another residence specifically for child care. Services offered by these providers can be less expensive than center-based care, but charges vary depending on the state, the qualifications of the provider, any special services offered (meals, for example), and other factors.

In most states, there are rules that require the licensing of the family child care homes. If a provider is licensed, they must adhere to specific rules and regulations concerning the children’s health and safety. During the licensing application process,, the licensing agency will visit the home to ensure all the rules and regulations are followed.

Licensing of the child care home does not guarantee that the provider will offer quality services. You will need to conduct adequate research to find the best family child care services available for your child. Some of the aspects to consider include price, location, and general environment of the facility.

Child Care Centers & Preschool Programs

Childcare centers accommodate a large number of children compared to family child care services. The providers set up centers in commercial buildings. The center typically has well-divided units or classrooms to facilitate the children’s division according to their age groups. Children participate in various learning activities that are supported by the caregivers.

Child care centers are privately owned or owned by public bodies such as churches, schools, or government agencies. Most states require the licensing of the centers, but some programs are exempt from the licensing rules. The pricing of the centers differs depending on the body offering the services.

Preschool programs are typically licensed in the same way that child care centers are licensed, but may offer a more specific program for a smaller age range of children, such as 3-5 years old. While most child care programs can more than adequately prepare a child for kindergarten and beyond, some families may not need full day care and opt instead for a more traditional (meaning part day) program instead.

School-Age Child Care

This type of program focuses on enrolling school-age children. The child care facility can care for the children before and after attending school. Child care services and some family care programs may offer this service. Churches, schools, YMCA, and recreational services may also care for school-age children.

Vacation Child Care Centers

These centers focus on caring for school-age children during school holidays. The programs incorporate some activities that will keep your kid occupied during the break. Some of the everyday activities include: swimming, arts and craft, sports activities, and drama. The centers are operated by local parks or state recreation departments. Some of the centers may also accommodate preschool children. The centers only offer their services during school holidays, breaks, and occasionally even on weekends.

Private Caregivers

A caregiver may come to your private residence to take care of your children while you go to perform your official duties. You can make an arrangement depending on your working hours. A private caregiver is exempted from Federal laws, and parents are responsible for screening, interviewing, and conducting background checks on the caregiver.. In some regions, the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) offers financial assistance to families that opt for private caregivers.

Family, Friend & Neighbor Care

Family, friend, and neighbor care includes providers close to you, such as siblings, neighbors, parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles. It is a type of child care that is unlicensed and may be exempted from licensing regulations, although this varies by state. Some of the caregivers in this category are eligible for child care subsidies.

Head Start Centers

Head start centers primarily offer services to children between three and five years from low-income families.. The free programs are funded by the Federal government and help in the promotion of children’s development. Non-profit organizations, churches, and community agencies operate the early head start centers.

The program also seeks to provide support to the family in the upbringing of the children. Various stakeholders in the program will occasionally visit your home to monitor the growth of your kids. Children also indulge in educational services and are offered free medical services. This program also accommodates special needs children.

Various rules of the state regulate the programs. The rules ensure that the program is compliant with health and safety rules set up by the government. Before enrolling your children, ensure that the program is licensed and does not charge you for the care offered to your kids.

Child Care Innovations as a Result of Coronavirus Pandemic

The government ordered the closing of all schools to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Most family child care centers and child care centers were forced to shut down. For working parents who cannot work remotely due to the nature of their job, such a move impacted them negatively. Most parents are resorting to private caregivers.

Most kids enrolled in the various child centers have a specific routine, and disruption of the routine can affect their growth. A child care center’s change to a private caregiver has tremendous adverse effects on any preschool and school-age child.

The best way to adapt to the changes is by enrolling in online registered programs. The programs release numerous learning videos for the children and involve the children in various activities. Such innovation helps in establishing a suitable environment for your kids at home. Your private caregiver can guide your children through various online activities and nurture the toddlers’ positive development.

You can visit Wonderschool for more resources about child care programs that might be a good fit for your children.

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