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Two is a great age. Children are mobile and curious. They explore and begin talking. What makes this age so much fun also makes parents a little nervous. While toddlers need to explore, you spend a lot of time keeping them safe. Gates at the stairs and plugs in electrical outlets are now the norm in your house. You want your child to experience the world. Now they will be experiencing it outside of the comfort and safety of your home. You want a child care situation that you can trust.
No one can care for your toddler the way that you do. That is a given. You know how fast they move towards those stairs, you know what entertains and intrigues them the most. You now must find the situation that best mirrors the care you provide your toddler.
In finding child care you must look at the basics of your needs.
When do I need the care?
What hours and days? Is this full time or part time? Know that part time care for toddlers can be difficult to obtain.
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Time of Day ... or Season matches the hours of care you will need with what might be available. Be sure to get clarity before choosing a particular child care setting.
- Full time care is considered a full week, at a minimum of five hours a day in most settings. Part time care could be just a few days a week or a few hours a day. School-age care is before and/or after school, and some settings don’t offer both so it’s important to ask.
- Most family child care homes and child care centers offer care between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but some options exist beyond those hours; including evenings, overnight, weekends, and special summer camp programs.
- Some settings offer options such as occasional or drop in care, 24-hour care, or temporary or emergency care.
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Where do I need the care to be?
Do you want her traveling with you downtown or prefer her to stay close to home where she, and you, might meet new friends from your neighborhood.
Is a home or center best?
While toddlers often demand individualized care, they enjoy interacting with other children as well. You will have to determine the type of social situation wherein your child will thrive.
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What is care going to cost?
Because toddlers have high demands, it takes more time, effort and staff to care for then. Cost will reflect this.
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Financial Considerations will certainly be part of your decision. Care for school-age children, for example, will be less than care for toddlers and infants. Quality child care is expensive and so is the cost of providing quality care. Overhead costs for child care providers include maintaining up-to-date materials and environments, insurance, salaries, and professional development; as well as additional expenditures if they are working toward accreditation or further academic credentials.
You could be eligible for financial assistance, depending on your income, through your local county Department of Job and Family Services. Many child care centers, homes, and school-age programs participate in subsidy programs. Other options to help offset your costs include the possibility for no-cost health insurance through Healthy Start! or taking the child care credit on your taxes.
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Does your toddler have any specific needs?
Does she have any special dietary requirements or allergies?
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Specific Needs of your child will also be part of your decision-making process. These needs could be health-related, such as allergy to pet dander or cigarette smoke, or they could be related to physical, cognitive or emotional needs that require special accommodations. If your child has special needs, it will be beneficial to be up front when interviewing potential child care providers. The provider’s response can often help you decide whether or not to proceed with the next step of setting up an onsite interview.
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Decide what needs must be met in what ways. Then decide those that are negotiable. Make a list. Now that you have sorted out your needs, think about how a particular setting will meet them.
More . . .
What to Look For
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