1. Child Care Options

2. Objectives
To identify criteria for quality child care and explore various available options
To examine the effects of economics, demographics, and cultural diversity on child care options
To analyze legislation and agencies that protect children
To compare child care options for children of varying ages as well as varying family structures
Check these- ok?

3. Finding Quality Child Care
Quality features of child care
No more than eight babies per group with four babies to one adult
Children whose diapers are changed promptly
Caregivers who react quickly and lovingly to crying babies
Caregivers who allow individual babies to nap when they’re tired
A center or home that allows and encourages parent drop-in visits

4. Important Health Procedures
Health procedures of quality child care facilities
Caregivers wash hands after each diaper change and before each feeding
Bottles and food jars should be kept clean and clearly identified for each baby
Foods should be stored in the refrigerator and utensils should be washed thoroughly with hot water and soap
Medicines and cleaning agents should be stored well out of reach of children

5. Child Care Alternatives
Some of the most common child care options
Nanny
American, private caregiver in your own home
May live in or out of your home
May do light housekeeping
Can care for children of any age
Au Pair
Young European adult who lives in your home
Does not provide housekeeping
Will care for children over the age of 3 months

6. Child Care Alternatives
Pros for the nanny and au pair
Child gets to stay in the comfortable, familiar environment of their own home
Maximum personal attention and flexibility
Cons
No backup if the nanny is sick or on vacation
No interaction with other children
Can be one of the more expensive options
Nanny typically costs between $200-$600/week
Au pair is less expensive

7. Child Care Alternatives
Relative Care
Environment in which you have a relative care for your child while you are working
Pros
Maximum personal attention
One of the most affordable options
Necessary level of trust is generally already in place
Person will typically always play a role in the child’s life
Cons
Potential tension if parent and relative don’t see eye to eye
Parent may feel indebted to the family member

8. Child Care Alternatives
Family Daycare
An environment in which a woman cares for up to 8 children in her home
Includes no more than 2 infants
Pros
Usually more affordable than other types of child care
Nurturing, family-like environment
Children receive maximized personal attention
Cons
Often, the caregiver is not licensed or formally educated
No backup if the caregiver is sick or on vacation

9. Child Care Alternatives
Institutional Daycare
An environment in which staff care for large groups of children in an institutional setting
Pros
Centers are licensed and staff are generally well trained and educated
Provide children with many opportunities for social interaction
Sometimes places of employment have daycare centers on site
Cons
Children do not receive as much personal attention
Usually one of the more expensive options
Children tend to be exposed to more illness

10. Child Care Alternatives
Work-at-Home Parent Care
For parents who have the flexibility of working from home or telecommuting
Work hours must be flexible
Pros
Affordable option
Child has maximum personal attention
Parent has the opportunity to spend quality time with their child, watch them grow and develop a special bond
Cons
Jobs that permit telecommuting are often difficult to find
Parents sometimes miss adult interaction found in the office
Sometimes difficult to balance caring for the child and working

11. Comparisons of Child Care Alternatives

12. Caregivers in Teaching Roles
Caregiver also fulfills the role of teacher
Preschools provide an educational program for young children before starting kindergarten or elementary school
To a lesser extent, family and institutional daycare may also provide this “teaching” type environment

13. Ten Signs of a Great Preschool
Children spend most of their time playing and working with materials or with other children
Children have access to various activities throughout the day
Teachers work with individual children, small groups and the whole group at different times during the day
The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork and projects
Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences

14. Ten Signs of a Great Preschool
Children work on projects and have long periods of time to play and explore
Worksheets are used rarely, if at all
Children have an opportunity to play outside in a safe play area every day
Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups
Curricula are adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help

15. Impact of Child Care on Family Economics
It is important to consider the resources you have available, compared to your childcare options
More Expensive:
Nanny
Au Pair
Institutional daycare
More Affordable
Relative care
Family daycare
Work-at-home parental care

16. Protecting the Rights of Children
One area in which children’s rights are protected is in the licensing of daycare facilities
This protects the health, safety, and well being of children who attend child care facilities
Develops minimum standards for regulated facilities as well as policies and procedures for enforcing those minimum standards
One agency that handles these issues is the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS)
What are some other programs that protect the rights of children?
The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS)

17. Resources Activity What resources in your area focus on children?
Individually, or in groups, use the internet, newspaper, telephone directory and other resources to research and gather information about child-oriented resources
Resources such as:
child care
school parenting programs
clinics
food banks

18. Cultural Diversity in Child Care
What are some of the benefits in choosing a child care program that will expose your child to cultural diversity?
Help children be more aware of the world around them
May be a consideration if you want your child surrounded with your own culture/beliefs
Some child care settings will expose your child to different languages
while your child is young, other languages are easier to learn
some programs also teach children sign language

19. Legislation and Public Policy Affecting Children
Legislation focused on children deals with everything from protection and child support to daycare licensing
Using various research methods, find examples of legislation affecting children
Suggested source
U.S Department of Justice web site

20. Family Structures and Child Care Options
What are some different types of family structures?
Single parent families
Dual-career families
Families with multiple children
What impact does family structure have on child care options?
Single parent families will most likely have less income than dual-career families, thus limiting their child care options
Families with multiple children will be spending more on child care and should consider children’s needs when selecting an alternative

21. Differing Needs for Children of Various Ages
What are some ways child care options are impacted by age of children?
Infants under one year of age should be given special consideration, due to their need for nurturing and attention to health needs
For older children consider options that will develop play and learning styles, encourage interaction with other children, promote intellectual curiosity and give individualized attention
Younger infants generally adapt quickly to new child care environments
Older infants may feel “stranger anxiety” and need more time to adjust

22. Suggested Care Guidelines for Various Ages
Child:Staff
Max. Group Size
Birth-24 mos.
3:1 6
25-30 mos.
4:1 8
31-35 mos.
5:1 10
3 yrs.
7:1 14
4-5 yrs.
8:1 16
?check citation?
Research your state’s minimum daycare standards

23. QUIZ Which child care options are presented as the most expensive?
Give an example of a child care facility incorporating cultural diversity?
Answers:
Nanny, AuPair, Institutional daycare
Exposing the children to different languages, including sign language

24. QUIZ
Which family structure is most likely to have the most income to spend on child care?
Families with multiple children
Single parent families
Dual-career families
In what age range are developing play and learning styles and promoting intellectual curiosity most important?
Answers:
3. C- dual-career families
4. Older children

25. QU QUIZ IZ
What is the suggested child-to-staff ratio for children from 31 to 35 months old?
Which of these is statistically the most commonly used child care option?
Mother cares for child at work
Care in child’s home
Organized care facilities
School-based activity
Answers:
5. 5:1
6. B- care in child’s home

26. Acknowledgments
Child Care Licensing
Child Care Options
Choosing Child Care
Production Coordinators
Treena Aston
Allison Mangold
Production Manager
Geoff Scott
Research & Graphic Editor
Lauren Mangold
Executive Producer
G.W. Davis
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CEV Multimedia, Ltd.