How To Find The Right Child Care...

As a parent, you want to choose the kind of care that will help your child learn and grow. You want to your child to be safe and happy.

Here are four steps to help you find the type of care that is best for your child.

1. Think about what type of care you and your child need.

2. Find at least three places to interview.

• the Yellow Pages of the telephone book under Child Care or Day Care
• newspaper ads
• Internet
• bulletin boards in local stores
• community information centres, child care resource centres, Ontario Early Years Centres, libraries, churches
• friends, neighbours, relatives or co-workers
• regional offices of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services
• your local municipality

Some Ontario Early Years Centres or child care resource centres may have a list of child care providers for their area. Just remember: Neither the Ontario Early Years Centres, the family resource centres nor the Ministry of Children and Youth Services have approved this list. As a parent, it's up to you to research, choose and monitor your own child care arrangements.

3. Make the first contact.

Call each of the child care places you are considering. Speak to the person in charge (such as the supervisor or a home visitor at a home care agency. If they are not available, ask when would be a good time to call again.

When you call, have a list of questions ready to ask the child care provider. The answers to these questions can help you choose the places you want to visit.

4. Set up a visit to the child care program.

When you've decided what child care programs you want to visit, find out as much as you can about what happens there day to day. Take notes. When you have finished your visits, you can look over your notes. Then you can make your decision.

Some questions to ask

When you start your search for child care, it's a good idea to call the child care providers you are considering and ask them a few questions.

The answers to these questions can help you choose the places you want to visit.

What to ask a home child care agency

What to ask a child care centre

• What are your hours?
• How old are the children you care for?
• How many children are in a group?
• How many staff members care for each group?
• What training do the staff have?
• Can the centre accommodate the special needs of children?
• Are parents encouraged to drop in?
• What is the cost? Are there any additional charges? Is there a charge when children are sick or away on holiday? Is there an application fee?
• Is fee subsidy available?
• Do you have a waiting list?
• Are meals and snacks nutritious?

What to ask a school-age care program

• What are the hours?
• How many children are in a group?
• How many staff members care for each group?
• What training and experience do staff have?
• Are parents encouraged to drop in?
• Can children choose to do homework?
• What is the relationship between the program and the school?
• Can children participate in after-school activities and still be monitored by the child care program?
• Is transportation provided if children have to travel a distance to and from school?
• What happens when a child does not arrive at the centre at the expected time?
• What is the cost? Are there any additional costs? Is there a charge when children are sick or away on holiday? Is there an application fee?
• Is there a waiting list?

 Further contacts and information can be found at the following link.