Parents of Young Children Choosing Childcare

Choosing the right childcare option, such as daycare or preschool, is a very important choice because this will affect healthy development and education in early childhood. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of quality in early child care and provides recommendations to parents who need to make a selection. The Council on Early Childhood cited the American Academy of Pediatrics (2017) that over half of the children under five in the United States participate in some form of out-of-home care, which is why core considerations should be on the quality and not the cost or convenience. The quality of care could determine the interest and development of the child towards education.

The AAP policy echoes that high-quality care can positively impact long-lasting effects on children, specifically from low-income families. Many studies reveal that children participating in a high-quality, intensive early education program tend to demonstrate improved cognitive, social, math and language skills (Council on Early Childhood, 2022). In this perspective, the sooner childcare is perceived, the more the investment will be viewed as one for the child’s future development with good returns.

Small Groups: One of the major indicators of quality is small groups and low child-to-caregiver ratios. This would include one trained caregiver for every four children from 13 to 35 months. Smaller groups allow more individual attention, which promotes healthy brain development (Council on Early Childhood, 2022).

Low Staff Turnover: Stability among caregivers is important for infants and toddlers to establish strong, positive relationships. A quality program retains staff over time and provides staff with ongoing training and pay. This stability assures continuity of a nurturing caregiver for a child, thereby promoting the child’s emotional and social well-being.

Childcare Health Consultants: A third component of quality childcare is regular interaction with health professionals. Childcare health consultants, such as immunization and medication, are available for infection control. Children get repeated infections that must be addressed (Family Doctor, 2023). They could also offer developmental, hearing, and vision screenings. This goes a long way in ensuring that the welfare of children is well taken care of, as childcare health consultants can provide some health advice, suggestions on nutrition, and more.

Parents can refer to several resources when searching for quality childcare.

Licensed care can be found through organizations such as the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) through Child Care Aware®. Licensing requirements vary by state, and parents can learn more about state-specific licensing regulations.

Quality rating systems (QRISs) also exist in more than 75% of the U.S. states (Lahti et al., 2015). QRISs are research-based, measurable standards for quality childcare. Most of these systems also provide star ratings that give parents an idea about the quality of care. It is important to note that QRISs may not include health and safety standards.

Parents can also seek out accreditation in care services. The National Association for the Education of Young Children and related organizations, such as the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs, provide lists of accredited centers and programs that are of higher standards. Similarly, the National Association of Family Child Care provides a directory of accredited family child care providers. (Council on Early Childhood, 2022)

It calls upon parents to demand access to more affordable, quality care. Sharing personal experiences with policymakers—either elected or through social media—raises awareness of the challenges families face in finding quality care (Council on Early Childhood, 2022).

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides parents with significant guidance in selecting an early childcare program; quality is paramount in a child’s healthy development. Parents are advised to look at the promotion of small groups, staff stability, and access to health professionals while making care choices. It will also be important that parents take advantage of the resources to find accredited, licensed, and quality care options.

Council on Early Childhood (2022). Why Quality Matters in Early Child Care: AAP Policy Explained (Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics). https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/work-and-child-care/Pages/why-quality-matters-in-early-child-care-aap-policy-explained.aspx

Family Doctor (2023). Repeated Infections in Children. https://familydoctor.org/condition/repeated-infections-in-children/ Lahti, M., Elicker, J., Zellman, G., & Fiene, R. (2015). Approaches to validating child care quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS): Results from two states with similar QRIS type designs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 30, 280-290.