Choosing child care can be a daunting task. You need to balance location, cost and quality.
Licensed child care providers are regulated to ensure children have safe and healthy environments. Check with your state to find out about licensing requirements and the quality rating system in your area.
Centres
Child care centres near me provide a safe and supportive environment for children. They may serve children of all ages and are often regulated by state or local governments to ensure they meet safety standards.
Families often choose centres because they are convenient and often offer flexible hours that allow parents to meet their work or school obligations. They can also offer more individualized care and foster emotionally secure interpersonal relationships between caregivers and their children.
Family child care, based in homes, is another option that may be more suitable for families who want to have more one-to-one time with their children and providers. It can be more affordable than other child care options and has a smaller ratio of children to provider, allowing them to interact with the child more closely.
Quality child care programs support children’s social, emotional, intellectual and physical development by letting them learn through play and providing a variety of educational activities. Some centers and family child care homes also receive accreditation as a way to demonstrate their higher level of quality.
Family Child Care
Family child care centres near me offer a wide range of care and learning options for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Centres also provide long day care (often called 'Early Learning Centres' or 'ELCs') for children whose parents are working or studying, or need some regular time off.
Family care centres may be a small home setting or large, commercial settings. In either case, these facilities typically try to bring economies of scale by employing a central manager who handles marketing, administration and some central purchasing.
In addition, some franchised family child care near me home programs provide training and resources to their family child care providers. In addition to these benefits, many family care home providers are also able to qualify for federal and state subsidy funds which can help reduce costs.
Quality child care provides children with a variety of enriched experiences that have been shown to contribute to greater achievement and success in school and in life. Licensed and nationally accredited family childcare programs earn ratings when they meet or exceed quality standards set by the National Association for Family Childcare.
School-Age Programs
School-age programs, or out-of-school time care, provide a range of engaging learning and recreational experiences for children in a variety of settings when they are not in school. These include school-based programs, community centres and licensed family child care homes.
For example, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City's Afterschool program offers homework help and art projects. Jaiden loves it because he's in a fun, safe environment with staff who care about him.
School boards must offer before and after school programs for children four to 12 years old where there is sufficient demand from parents and families. These can be offered by the school board itself or third-party providers such as a licensed child care centre or an authorized recreational and skill building program provider.
Summer Programs
Whether you need care all summer or want to fill in some gaps, there are plenty of great options to choose from. These options include camps, nannies, daycare centres, and home care.
Depending on the child's age, a summer program will provide your child with various activities, such as arts and crafts, swimming, drama, dance, organized sports, and other enrichment activities. These programs are offered in weekly or biweekly sessions and may last for an entire summer or just a part of it.
In addition to fostering socialization, summer camp programs can also combat the "summer slide," which occurs when children lose their skills during the break. Many of these programs are also well-priced, between $200-$450 a week.