What are your family's and your child's unique needs? Reviewing these questions will help you decide what's important.
What is our primary reason for seeking a program? Here are some of the reasons parents/guardians might seek such care: My own mother has been hospitalized so I must be out of town for the next two weeks, and I need after-school care for my child. Or, my new job requires me to come in for training at 7 am for one week only; I need someone to care for my child in the morning and get her off to school safely.
What kind of a program are we most interested in? A family child care home? A child care center? A before or after school program?
What can we afford?
Do we need transportation? Can we provide our own transportation to and from the program or do we need alternate transportation?
What should I look for when I visit a program? I hope to see a welcoming, clean, safe facility; loving and competent caregivers; content participants.
Where can I be flexible? Because this is short-term care, are there any points on which I can compromise? Although I won't compromise on issues such as safety, competence, and atmosphere as I visit potential programs, I will remember that the providers are attempting to help me find a solution to an emergency, sporadic, or short-term situation. I may be able to bend on small issues in exchange for a safe, reliable, and flexible care situation.
