July 11, 2002

Making The Right Choice For Your Child

More and more children are in preschool or other child care settings before they enter kindergarten. Choosing the right child care is important because it can affect how prepared your child is when entering school.

"Childcare expenses can take a large portion of income for working parents, especially those with lower incomes, says Debra Pankow, North Dakota State University Extension family economics specialist. "It is important that parents spend their child care dollars wisely, and buy the best child care available within their budget."

There are some steps one can take when choosing a quality childcare setting.

• Look - Begin by visiting several child care homes or centers. On each visit, think about your first impression. Don’t stop there, think about whether the place looks safe for a child. Ask your self whether the care-givers/teachers enjoy their work. Always visit a center or a home more than once and stay as long as possible so that you can get a feel for the place and the care giver.
• Listen - What does the child care setting sound like. Observe whether the children sound happy or how teachers respond in voice.
• Ask - It is very important that the adults who care for your children have the knowledge and experience to give them the attention they need. Ask about the background and experience of all the staff and other adults who will have close contact with your child.
• Be informed - Find out about efforts in your community to improve the quality of child care. How can you get involved?
• Count - Count the number of children in the group. Then count the number of staff members caring for them.

Minimum staff/child ratios for group & Center Care

• Infant............. 1:4
• 2-3 years....... 1:5
• 3-4 years........1:7
• 4-5 years........1:10
• 5-6 years........1:12

"In North Dakota, a provider must be licensed if caring for more than three infants (0-2 years) or five children (0-12 years). Providers must count their own children who are under 12 years of age. Homes in North Dakota caring for fewer than what is stated above are not required to be licensed, however, they are encouraged to go through a process of self-certification by completing an Affidavit of Standard Compliance," Pankow says.

"No matter what kind of child care you are considering, make sure you take the time to carefully look for the right child care that best fits your child’s needs. Be certain that the child care facility is clean and safe and is filled with things to explore that are appropriate for your child’s age."

For more information on child care contact the North Dakota Department of Human Services (Bismarck) at 701-328-2310, your local county extension agent, or Debra Pankow at 701-231-8593.

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