Gilroy Today 2012 12 Winter | Page 57

When it ’ s time to go back to work

Finding the right child care provider

When considering a provider :

Interview and observe the potential provider with the child .
• Explore why this caregiver wants to care for children .
• How does she / he feel about this work ?
• Is this person warm , caring , attentive , and responsive to the child who will be in this care ?
Ask the potential provider :
• What do they like to do with children ?
• What are their feelings about discipline ?
• How do they handle naps , eating , toilet training , etc ?
• How would they handle an emergency ?
• What kind of training / education have they participated in , and how recently ?
Ask a lot of “ what if ” questions , for example :
• What if my child cries all day ?
• What if my child refuses to eat ?
• What if my child refuses to nap ?
Check references and licensing status .
Trust your instincts ! Hire someone you like . Hire someone your child ( ren ) likes .

Finding the right child care provider takes work . For starters , be sure to plan a day where both you and your child can visit the childcare facility and observe first-hand the educational program and activities for your child . Plan a visit to the program ( s ) well before you plan to enroll into a program . This will allow time to choose wisely and complete any medical visits required by the provider . Asking lots of questions from practical ones about hours and meals to personal ones about discipline and toilet training is essential . Think about your questions for the provider in advance , and then bring them along with a checklist to the visit . In the end , the most important question to consider is , “ Will my child receive loving and careful attention ?”

There are many different types of child care ; they differ by number of children being cared for at the same time , as well as by the type of provider . Some care is licensed by the State of California , some is not . Licensing does not guarantee quality , but it does provide guidelines for health and safety . Parents have the right to receive information regarding any substantiated or inconclusive complaint about any licensed childcare provider . That information is public and can be acquired by calling the regional licensing office ( 408 ) 324-2148 . Parents seeking child care in Gilroy can call the Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County , Inc . at ( 408 ) 487-0749 to receive helpful information about and free referrals to licensed providers or centers in our area . If you are looking for care in another county , call ( 415 ) 882-0234 and ask for the number to the Resource and Referral office that serves your area .
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Once you have found a good provider , be sure to :
• Communicate regularly and openly about how the child care arrangement is working .

Remember , good child care is a partnership !

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W I N T E R / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 2 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 57