Looking for Child Care

Choosing care for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent or guardian.

The experience will affect your child's development now and for years to come.

Take the time to make a good decision!

Customized Child Care Referral Search

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Your Family

All families have different needs and goals when it comes to child care. The provider that's right for one family may not be right for another.

To help you make the best choice for your family, consider the following:

Personal Values

What's important to you? Your personal values come from experience, culture, religion or a mix of all three.

Parenting Style

Not everyone parents the same way. Some parents are stricter; others are more permissive. Most parents fall somewhere in-between.

Location

  • Child care should be convenient to where you live or work.
  • How will you drop off and pick up your child? Car? Train? Bus?
  • Can you do it alone, or do you need someone else to help?

Your Child

Your child is a wonderful, special human being! To make sure your child is happy in child care, think about what makes him or her unique.

Consider the following:

Personality

  • Is your child shy or outgoing?
  • Does your child tend to focus on one activity or a variety of activities?
  • Does your child play well with others?
  • Is your child independent or prefer an adult to be nearby?

What are your child's favorite activities?

  • Outdoor play and sports?
  • Dress up and drama?
  • Arts & crafts projects and building things?
  • Singing and music?
  • Reading?

Children with Disabilities

Children with disabilities have special physical, medical, educational and emotional needs. By federal law, all providers must work to include children with disabilities. If the home, center or school is not yet set up to welcome a child with disabilities, there are resources available to make structural modifications, give the provider special training and support your family.

Development Stage

As they grow, children go through different stages. The kind of child care they need changes with them.

Infants

Infants (birth-14 months) need feeding, diaper changes, sleep, affection and one-on-one contact. If your child is between 6-13 months, he or she may suffer from stranger and separation anxiety.

Toddlers

Toddlers (ages 15 months to 2 years 8 months) are full of energy and like to explore. They need a variety of activities�toys, water and sand tables, art projects, outdoor play�to stimulate them. They enjoy being with other children, but may have trouble playing with them. Older toddlers will be learning to use the toilet.

Preschoolers

Preschoolers (ages 2 years 9 months to 6 years) are starting to form friendships with other children. They are learning to use language to express their needs and relate to others. They need a balance of quiet play, active play, group play and individual time.

School-age Children

School-age children (ages 6- 14 years) can do many things for themselves, but still need adult supervision. They can express themselves, understand and obey rules, and take care of equipment, supplies and belongings. After school, children need time to relax, play and do homework.

Different Kinds of Child Care

There are many different kinds of child care:

  • Family child care home
  • Child care center
  • Nursery school
  • Head Start
  • School-age child care
  • In-home / relative care

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licenses most child care programs.

Programs must meet minimum licensing requirements which include, but are not limited to the following:

  • All providers, household members in a Family Child Care home, and staff in a Center Based program must have a criminal background check;
  • All providers and staff must be certified in First AID and CPR;
  • Family Child Care Providers must complete a 3 hour orientation and attend an additional 15 hours of training every 3 years;
  • Teachers and Directors for Child Care Centers must have college courses in child development and 1-3 years of experience working with children;
  • Homes and programs are inspected and must be safe, clean and of sufficient size as well as pass all local building, health and lead paint inspections.

For more detailed information about licensing regulations, go to http://www.eec.state.ma.us/oo_licensing.aspx.

Licensed programs can also be accredited. This means that the program has met even higher standards set by a national organization.

 

Type Ages Site Hours Notes
Family child care home 8 wks-14 yrs Home Usually full-day, year-round Groups may have up to 6 children. Large family child care homes have 2 providers and up to 10 children.
Child care center 8 wks-6 yrs Center Usually full-day, year-round Large group of children with multiple providers.
Nursery school 2.9-5 yrs School Half days, school-year only. May have morning and afternoon sessions.  
Head Start 2.9-5 yrs Center or School Full and half days, school-year only Enrichment program with education, nutrition, health and social services. Early Head Start has similar program for children 8 wks to 2.9 yrs.
School-age child care 6-14 yrs School or Home Before and after school, sometimes school vacations Some programs exempt from Department of Early Education and Care licensing
In-home / relative care All ages Home By agreement Provided by friend, neighbor, relative or nanny. UNLICENSED

What To Do

  1. Call CCCB at (617) 357-6000 x6641 or visit Find Child Care at MassKidCare.Net to get a list of providers that suit your needs.
  2. A couple months ahead of time, begin to call child care providers. Ask them preliminary questions.
    • If you call 10 providers, narrow it to 3-5 that fit your basic qualifications.
    • Call the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and make sure the licensing record is good.
  3. Make appointments to visit with the 3-5 most suitable providers.
    • When you visit, bring your child so that you can see how he or she reacts.
    • Plan to spend about an hour for each visit, and go prepared to inspect the site, and interview and observe the provider at work.
    • Before leaving, get the names and numbers of 2-3 families who are enrolled so you can call them for references.
  4. Fill in the answers to the questions on the Child Care Provider Checklist for each provider you visit.
  5. Based on the information you have on your checklist, references and your own personal reaction, make a first and second choice. Call to reserve a space.

Financial Assistance

If you need help paying for child care, there are several programs that can help you.

Talk to a CCCB Referral Specialist to learn more about your options.

Child Care Provider Checklist

Telephone Interview

Preliminary Questions
  • How many children are in the program? Are they full-time? Part-time?
  • What are the children's ages?
  • What are the days and hours of the program?
  • Is it open during the holidays and school closings?
  • How many adults are there?
  • Have all the staff been screened by the Department of Early Education and Care?
  • Have all the staff completed First Aid and Child CPR courses?
  • Can parents visit any time they want?
  • What are the fees for the program? Are meals included?
  • Is transportation available?

Visit

The Child Care Provider
  • What is the provider's background and training?
  • Does the provider enjoy his or her work?
  • Is the provider warm, gentle and calm?
  • How does the provider treat the children in the program?
  • How do the children in the program seem to feel about the provider?
  • What kind of discipline does the provider use and when?
  • How does the provider handle toilet training?
  • How does the provider handle separation anxiety?
  • How does the provider handle tantrums?
  • How does the provider resolve conflicts between children?
  • What does the provider do when a child cries or is upset?
  • Does your child like the provider?
  • Is there anything about the provider that makes you uncomfortable?
The Environment
  • Is the space clean, tidy and inviting?
  • Is there a place for children to nap or rest?
  • Are there safety caps on electrical outlets?
  • Is there a safe, outdoor play area or park nearby?
  • Are all household cleaners and medicines in a locked cabinet?
  • Are there fire alarms, fire extinguishers and a second exit?
  • Are there toys, books, art supplies and games for your child's age group?
The Daily Program
  • What is the typical daily schedule?
  • How much free play time do the children have?
  • What sort of activities do children do alone? One-on-one with the provider? In a group?
  • Does the provider read to the children?
  • Does the provider let the children watch television?
  • How often and for how long do the children get to play outdoors?
  • How often and for how long do the children nap?
  • What kind of meals and snacks do the children receive?
  • How often does the provider take the children on field trips?
  • Is the program licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care?

The Child Care Provider

After you, your child's provider may be the most important influence in his or her life.

Together you will make sure your child is happy and healthy during the early years.

You should like and respect the provider. Trust your instincts!

A good child care provider:

  • Loves and respects children
  • Is warm, caring and attentive
  • Is calm and gentle
  • Is well-organized
  • Has training in early childhood development
  • Has experience with children your child's age
  • Is concerned about safety
  • Communicates regularly with parents

The Site

A child care home, center or school should be clean and safe, comfortable and inviting.

Inspect for:

Cleanliness

  • All areas should be cleaned daily, especially bathrooms.
  • Rugs, cushions and toys should be cleaned regularly.

Safety

  • The space should be child-proofed with outlet covers, padded furniture and safety latches.
  • Supplies should be stored out of children's reach or in locked cabinets.
  • There should be smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and a second exit.

Adequate space and toys

  • The site should have different areas for different activities.
  • Toys and equipment should be age appropriate and in good condition.
  • There should be sitting, resting and storage areas.

Outdoor space

  • Yards or play areas should be fenced in with equipment in good condition.
  • There should be separate play areas for each age group.
  • Sandboxes should be covered when not in use.
  • If there is no yard, a playground should be nearby.

Ratio of children to adults, and maximum number in a group

The ratio is the maximum number of children per adult for the children's age group. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

Age Child:Staff Maximum Group Size
0-24 mos 3:1 6
25-30 mos 4:1 8
31-35 mos 5:1 10
3 yrs 7:1 14
4 yrs 8:1 16
5 yrs 8:1 16
6-8 yrs 10:1 20
9-12 yrs 12:1 24

Making the Arrangements

Once you have decided on a provider, call right away.

Then meet with the provider to discuss:

Your Child

The better your provider understands your child, the better the care will be. Share your child's personality, learning style, favorite activities, likes and dislikes, medical needs and comforting rituals.

Emergency Procedures

Ask what the provider does when a child gets sick or injured. Supply emergency information, including your telephone number and those of two relatives or good friends, your pediatrician's name and telephone number, and your health insurance provider and policy number.

Provider's Policies

Request a copy of the provider's policies and procedures with rules about payment, sick days, drop-offs and pick-ups.

Communicating With Your Child Care Provider

Your child's experience will be better if you and the provider plan to talk once every one or two weeks.

Some things you should discuss are:

  • What you and the provider expect of each other
  • How your child behaves at home and at child care
  • Things your child has said to you and to the provider

A Smooth Transition

Change is hard for everyone, but especially for children. Here are some ways you can help your child start child care for the first time or adjust to a new situation:

  • A week before your child begins, get him or her on the right schedule and practice a routine for leaving the house.
  • Starting a week before the first session, get your child used to being with the provider by leaving him or her for short, then increasingly longer, visits.
  • To avoid stress in the mornings, get everything ready the night before.
  • For the first few days or weeks, allow extra time for drop-offs as your child may have trouble saying good-bye.
  • Always say good-bye! Your child needs to know that when you go away, you will return.

Resources

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