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Preschool: Let the learning begin! Actually, the learning began at birth and hasn’t stopped! Now you want them to experience the world on a larger scale. Socialization is a wonderful experience for three, four and five year olds. They want to spend time with others and they mimic everything you do. At this age they begin to experience and understand the world around them. You want a situation that allows them to continue to explore and to learn more about how the world works.
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? Am I looking for a part day or part week preschool setting? Do I need full time care that has a specific curriculum that meets my child’s needs?
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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?
You will have to determine the type of social situation wherein your child will thrive. Some children at this age do well in large groups. Others need more time to emerge and do better with smaller numbers.
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What is care going to cost?
Part day preschool will obviously be less and is typically paid monthly. Full time care will be more and is paid weekly.
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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 preschool age child 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 situation will meet them.
More . . .
What to Look For |
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