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A Parent's Guide to Choosing a Child Care ServiceGood-quality child care provides a safe, healthy environment and supports the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of children. There are many child care options available including informal child care provided by family, friends, neighbours, nanny services or other in-home care. There are also licensed child care centres, family child care homes and group family child care homes. The type of child care arrangement you choose will obviously depend upon your needs, the type of child care you prefer, your child's needs and the options available in your community. Parents sometimes choose unlicensed child care because it may be less expensive, more convenient and perhaps more flexible. Others choose licensed child care because it is licensed and monitored by the Early Learning and Child Care Branch and must meet certain standards. Sometimes, licensed care is a parent's first choice because they may be eligible to receive a subsidy to help offset child care costs. At times, more familiar care is chosen for infants and young children, while school-age care might be determined by how close the child care is to school. Licensed Child Care Licensed child care, whether provided in a child care centre or a family child care home, is regulated and monitored by the Early Learning and Child Care Branch of the Department of Learning. Parents using a licensed service may be eligible for a Child Care Subsidy to help with child care fees. Staff in Child Care centres are Certified Early Childhood Educators. In licensed family child care homes, there is an alternate caregiver in place should the primary caregiver be ill or otherwise unavailable and Criminal Record Checks will have been completed on all adults living in the home. Unlicensed Child Care The potential advantages of unlicensed care, which is often provided by family members or friends, include a level of comfort with the caregiver, lower cost or no cost, flexibility, similar parenting styles, generally fewer children, and a home environment. Non-family arrangements may be chosen because of convenience of location, daily or family rates and a home environment. Making a Choice Choosing a child care service can be confusing to a parent and they may be unsure of what to look for or what types of questions to ask. Visit potential child care services and interview the caregiver or the person responsible for the operation of the service. All types of child care services must meet standards regarding the number of children in their care. This brochure provides a list of suggested questions that you can use to help you decide whether a particular child care arrangement is right for you and your child. The Child Care Service Is the service licensed or unlicensed? Number of Children What is the total number of children being cared for? (If some children
attend part time, what is the largest number that would be there at any
given time?) Activities and Routines What type of daily activities do children engage in? Parental Participation How often are you expected to participate in centre or home activities? Child Management and Discipline What child management techniques and methods of discipline are used? (You might use one or two examples of possible situations and ask how the caregiver(s) would handle them.) (Parents must be assured that their child(ren) will not be subjected to hitting or spanking or to physical, emotional or verbal abuse that might humiliate or embarrass the child or undermine the child's self-respect. The child must not be denied necessities like food, clothing, or bedding and the child must not be isolated.) Snacks and Meals What types of meals are served? Safety and Well-being Does the child care facility or home appear to be clean? Vacation What arrangements are made for vacation, both yours and the caregivers,
as well as for statutory and school holidays? Administration and Fees What are the hours of operation? Establishing a Child Care Agreement No matter what type of child care arrangement you choose and whether it is licensed or unlicensed, it is important to have an agreement, preferably in writing, between you and your caregiver. Please refer to the brochure entitled, "Building Effective Child Care Partnerships" for more information about the importance of an agreement and what an agreement might include. For more information about child care in Saskatchewan, please contact the Early Learning and Child Care Branch office nearest you:
or contact the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association - www.skearlychildhoodassociation.ca/ The following brochures are available from the Early Learning and Child Care Branch:
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