The specific wording of these questions will vary depending on whether a parent is considering a child care center or a family child care home. But the areas of concern, reflected in the headlines below, are the same.

Credentials/Certification?
Child Care Center: Do you participate in any state or national accreditation or quality-rating system?
Family Child Care Home: Is your family child care business recognized by any licensing, certification or registration?
     
Education/Background of Provider?     
Child Care Center: Do the director and staff have college degrees, associate degrees or Child Development Associate credentials?
Family Child Care Home: What type of experience and background do you have that qualifies you to take care of others’ children?

Planned Programming?       
Child Care Center: What curriculum is used for your educational program and is a lesson plan posted in each classroom?
Family Child Care Home: What activities do you plan to address the various ages of children in your care, and how do you foster their social, emotional and intellectual development?

Outdoor Play?
Child Care Center: What is your outdoor play policy, and is your playground equipped to accommodate large groups of children?
Family Child Care Home: Do you have space for outdoor play, and is it fenced with soft surface materials and appropriate equipment?

Discipline Policy?
Child Care Center: What is the discipline or guidance policy for your center?
Family Child Care Home: How do you discipline children and how is a problem communicated to a parent?

Nutritional Guidelines? 
Child Care Center: What nutrition guidelines are followed in your program, and do you serve breakfast? 
Family Child Care Home: What nutritional standards are followed for meals and snacks, are menus distributed to parents, and do you participate in your state’s Child Nutrition Program?  

Written policies/procedures?
Child Care Center: Is a parent handbook made available, and does it explain tuition payment and policies regarding illness, vacations, medication, etc.?
Family Child Care Home: Do you have a parent packet that explains tuition payment, back-up child care and policies regarding medication, sick care, vacation, etc.?
                      
Health and Safety?
Child Care Center: How do you address issues such as the following: emergency evacuations, injuries/accidents, field trips, criminal background checks, immunizations and adult-child ratios?
Family Child Care Home: How do you address issues such as the following: first aid, suspected child abuse, communicable diseases, evacuation plans, injury/accident reporting, criminal background checks, TB testing, immunization reports, transportation of children, etc.?

Parent Communications?  
Child Care Center: How do you communicate regularly with parents (newsletters, daily notes, conferences) and invite their feedback (evaluation form, open door policy, parent events)?
Family Child Care Home: How will you maintain communication with me about my child (daily notes, activity ideas, conferences, open-door policy)?

Ongoing professional development?  
Child Care Center: What ongoing training do you require of staff to ensure their continued education in the field of early childhood  education?
Family Child Care Home: How do you continue to find opportunities to deepen your knowledge of the early childhood field and to improve the quality of care you offer?     

For more information: What a Parent Needs to Know: A List of Key Resources to Use in Selecting Quality Child Care.

To speak with a 4C parent counselor for a free consultation, call 513-758-1330.

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