Congregations Caring for Children

Defining Quality Child Care

Defining Quality Child Care

Defining Quality Child Care

Defining Quality Child Care

Defining Quality Child Care

Quality child care offers a stimulating, nurturing environment which should help

prepare every child for school and to reach her/his full potential.

So what exactly is quality child care? Well, quality is defined as a degree of excel 

lence. This means not average, not  it will do  child care, but excellent child care.

Bottom line, the child care provider should offer a safe and stimulating, loving

environment in which each child will mentally and physically thrive.

Characteristics of quality

Quality child care offers:

Settings that are safe and provide small group sizes and adult to child ratios

encouraging the best opportunities for development;

Caregivers or teachers who have experience and are trained in early

childhood development;

Settings that offer opportunities for meaningful parent involvement;

Learning materials and teaching styles that are age appropriate and

respectful of children's cultural and ethnic heritage; and

Learning opportunities that promote each child's success in school.

Adapted from  What are the benefits of high quality?  National Association for the Education of

Young Children, 1509 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 1426

Description of settings from infant to school age child care:

Infant and toddler care

Quality care for infants and toddlers should be with a provider who seems to

enjoy the children by talking and interacting with them in a warm, friendly way.

It is important that little ones are included in activities but stay safe when around

older children. Some measures of quality to consider in infant and toddler care:

Does the provider keep a clean diaper changing area which can be disinfected

after every diaper change?

Does she wash her hands after every diaper change and between diaper

changes?

What are the sleeping arrangements? Where are cribs located?

What experience has the provider had with infants and toddlers?

Who supplies the diapers? Formula? Baby food?

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