Matching your infant’s or toddler’s style to the right care setting: Child Care Aware

ChildCareAware.org

1-800-424-2246

This offers some guidelines on how to use what you know about your infant or toddler-like personal style and activity level-to select a child care setting that’s just right.

The question below can help your develop a profile of your child, and learn more about the type of care that might best meet your child’s needs.

What is your child’s personal style?

Pick the one that describes your child most of the time.

Adaptable:

*Flexible

*Approaches new people/situations with ease

*Good with transitions

Looking group setting providing social interaction and new experiences

Cautious:

*Thoughtful

*Approaches new people/situations cautiously

*Has difficulty with transitions

Look for:

Small group settings that are less over-whelming

Feisty:

*Passionate, feels things intensely

*Has difficulty controlling her strong feelings, wants and needs

Look for:

Programs where each child has a primary caregiver, someone who knows and understands your child (Note: All children would benefit from this)

How does your child react to the world?

Big Reactors: communicate their feelings and don’t hold back!

Looking for: Caregivers who respect your child’s emotions but help him/her to express them in a more controlled way.

Low Activity: children sit quietly, exploring through their eyes and ears.

Look for: Caregivers who engage children in sensory-rich activities.

How social is your child?

Super Social children:

*Enjoy approaching new people

*Are happiest interacting with others

Look for:

*Opportunities for group play

Take it slow:

*Are shy around strangers

*Need time to warm up

Look for:

*Programs that allow children to choose when they’d like to play with others.

Is your child tolerant of changes and challenges?

High Tolerance children:

*Aren’t bothered by changes

*Are adaptable

*Cope well with frustration

Look for:

*Mixed age settings that offer enjoyable challenges and stimulation.

Low Tolerance children:

*Are sensitive to change

*Get upset when daily routine is altered

*Are easily frustrated and impatient

Look for:

Same age settings with developmentally appropriate toys and activities.

Health and Safety Issues to Consider:

High-quality child care providers are ones that also make health and safety issues their top priority. Use the questions below as general guidelines and contact Child Care Aware for more information (1-800-424-2246):

*Are diapering, sleeping, food preparation and play areas separate?

*Are there clearly written sanitation procedures specific to each area? Are there instructions posted on proper diapering and food storage/preparation procedures?

*Do staff receive training on health and safety issues?

*Are infants and toddlers toys washed and disinfected regularly?

*Is there a sick-child policy?

*Do adults regularly conduct safety checks of all areas inside and out for potential safety hazards?

*Do staff maintain children’s personal grooming standards (for example hand washing)?

*Are all infants put to sleep on their backs?

*Is the staff equipped with appropriate first aid materials? Do staff members know basic first aid techniques (for example, CPR)?

*Do staff practice fire drills and evacuation procedures? Is there a written policy in place for evacuation procedures?

What are your child’s unique needs?

Sleep:

Look for child-friendly settings offering:

*Individual schedules

*Separate sleeping area and

*Appropriate lighting (dim) temperature (comfortable) and noise level (low)

Cultural Identity:

*Are staff interested in your family’s culture?

*Do staff speak your home language or find effective ways to communicate with you about your child?

*Are staff open to including books and other aspects of your child’s culture?

*Are staff’s values and practices consistent with your family’s?

Special Needs:

*Are staff enthusiastic about working with your child?

*Do staff understand the medical and therapeutic procedures and assistive technology necessary to support your child?

*Are staff trained and supported to work with children with special needs?

*Is the setting accessible to your child?

*Do any books/toys feature children with special needs?

*Are staff willing to help your child develop the skills that match what your family believes are important?

Responsive Care:

Among the items we’ve discussed, there is one common thread; the need for caregiving staff to adapt their approach to meet your child’s needs. This is called responsive care. To do so, caregivers need to be excellent observers of the children in their care and search for the meaning behind children’s gestures, gurgles, cries and glances. Responsive caregivers wonder why a particular behavior is occurring, come up with an educated guess and interact with the child to see if they’re correct. Is a crying baby tired? Hungry? Wet? Lonely? Frustrated?

Responsive caregivers adapt their responses based on the reason behind the behavior as well as the style of the individual child.  This ensures that all children are treated as unique with their own thoughts, feelings, preferences and needs.

Responsive Child Care Issues to Consider:

*Are children allowed to function on individual schedules?

*Do parents receive daily written reports about their children’s day (and formal progress reports twice per year)?

*Are parents free to visit at any time during the day?

*Does the caregiver adhere to state-regulated caregiver/child ratios?

*Is the caregiver’s turnover rate for families under 20%? Why do families leave?

*When caregivers leave, how do staff help children understand the transition?

*Do staff receive medical benefits, vacation leave and continuing education support?

*How do caregivers respond to child-initiated interests?

*How can parents get involved in the program?

*If you’re nursing, is the caregiver responsive and accommodating?

Child Care Aware is a program of NACCRRA. The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies committed to helping parents find the best information on locating high-quality child care and child care resources in their community. Child Care Aware in partnership with local CCR&R’s, builds consumer awareness and supports families in making choices for the care and education of their children.

For additional resources or for help in locating your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency, call:

1-800-424-2246

TTY Line: 1-866-278-9428

ChildCareAware.org

Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Child Care Aware pamphlet and I give them full credit for the information. Please call them directly for more information on the program.