Child and The Family

Child and Family

About 70% of parents place their young children in some type of daily care. Whether you choose in-home or center-based care, a preschool, or someone else's home for your child's daily care setting, you should follow some specific guidelines to ensure receiving quality, professional care.

Most important is to know your own child's temperament, likes and dislikes, health, interests, and behavior. For a baby under 1 year old, give careful attention to your child's need to be nurtured and held, any special health needs, and the type of person you want to care for your little one during the first year of life.

For an older child, developing play and learning styles, interaction with other kids, intellectual curiosity, and need for individualized attention should be considered.

Your family's own values and emotional needs also come into play. Some parents are overly anxious about leaving a very young child with one person, while others prefer individual care. But by age 3 or 4, it's good for kids to have at least some exposure to other kids and be in a structured program like preschool or daycare.

Before choosing a care setting, find out which options are available and consider cost, location, and reputation.