Steps for choosing a learning center

Sometimes, the process of finding the right child care can be quite stressful, given the wealth of information and choices available. It can feel overwhelming at times. However, here are some straightforward steps to help guide your search for child care, ensuring you have all the necessary information to make the best decision for your child.

Understand The Basics

• Familiarize yourself with the various child care options.
• Learn about the licensing and regulation of child care programs, ensuring the health and safety of children.
• Explore additional quality standards that go beyond basic licensing requirements, focusing on delivering high-quality care that fosters a child's learning, growth, and readiness for school.

Search For Child Care Programs In Your Area

• Utilize your state or territory's online child care search tool, which is mandated to help you find child care options.
• To locate your state or territory's online child care search, visit the "Find Child Care" page for relevant links.

Investigate

• Review the information provided by your state or territory about child care providers on their online child care search or child care consumer education website.
• This information will empower you to make well-informed decisions regarding child care.
• To find your state or territory's child care consumer education website, select your region on the "See Your State's Resources" page and explore the "Understanding and Finding Child Care" section.

Check Licensing Status

• Verify whether the program is licensed, registered, certified, or legally licensed-exempt.
• Determine if the program's license has been suspended or revoked.
• For further insight into child care regulations, visit ChildCare.gov's "Ensuring Safe and Healthy Child Care" section.

Inspection Reports

• Examine each program's inspection reports to identify any violations of health and safety requirements and how they were addressed.
• Discover if there have been valid child care complaints against the program.
• To access your state or territory's online child care provider licensing and monitoring reports, select your region on the "See Your State's Resources" page and explore the "Understanding and Finding Child Care" tab.

Access Quality Ratings

• Find out if your state or territory has a child care rating system and learn more about it.
• Select your region on the "See Your State's Resources" page and explore the "Understanding and Finding Child Care" section.

Contact Each Program.

• Ask key questions to determine if the program aligns with your child and family's needs.
• Inquire about their licensing status and available space for your child.
• Learn about their operating hours and the cost of care.
• If you receive child care financial assistance from your state or territory, inquire if they accept such payments.
• Schedule a visit, either in person or virtually, to get a sense of the program.

Visit Several Programs.

• Visiting each program is essential to experience the environment firsthand.
• Use a tip sheet during your visit to ensure you assess, observe, and inquire about crucial program features.
• Due to the ongoing pandemic, some programs may offer virtual tours instead of in-person visits.

Consider All The Information You Found.

• Reflect on your interactions with the programs. Did you feel welcomed?
• Observe if the children appeared happy and engaged in age-appropriate activities.
• Evaluate your confidence in your child's happiness and safety in each program.
• Choose the provider that made you feel most comfortable with your decision.