Family Child Care is a wonderful option for so many reasons. This was the option we chose for our children when I had to return to work. I wanted my children to be in a home environment. I wanted to find someone who was going to care for, nurture and love my sons and I liked the idea of it being on a much smaller scale than a centre.
When I went on the search for the perfect dayhome there were some qualities that I was definitely looking for. The person who was running the home child care program had to have some experience working with children, they had to have completed some training or education in early childhood education and they had to have children already placed in the home. The caregiver/provider had to have completed a police clearance and have references available.
Because I work in the industry I knew exactly what I was looking for, what questions to ask and what to look for that might be a red flag. Most family child care providers are working on their own and this means that there isn't anybody to observe and ensure any standards are being followed. Some Provinces and States have programs where providers can be a part of an agency and are approved and monitored. However there will always be private child care in home and these can also be a great option, if you know what to ask and what to look for. I have created a simple questionnaire that you can take along with you on your visits to your child's next potential dayhome.
Questions for dayhome
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