Selecting a Childcare Provider

What Should I Look for When Choosing a Childcare Provider?

Looking for the best care for your child can be a challenge. Finding the right environment is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. We understand. That is why we have created this Childcare Decision Guide. Use it to assist you with your search. Take this guide with you when you visit childcare centers so you can easily compare and make the best decision for yourself and your child.

At KinderCare, we remain committed to bringing the highest quality early childhood education and care to our children and their families. We regularly update our curricula to align with national and state accreditation standards and are developing new enrichment program offerings to meet the needs of our families.

Where KinderCare Goes Beyond

We understand that you want to be certain you have made the best choice for your child. At KinderCare, we create a joyful, warm, and safe environment for your child. Below are some questions to ask yourself about your overall experiences when you visit other providers.

Ten things to look for when you visit any childcare center:

1. The teachers and staff you meet in the center listen and care.
2. The caregiver-to-child ratio allows your child to receive plenty of individual attention.
3. The teachers have a passion for what they do, and they receive comprehensive professional development.
4. The center offers a research-based program that fosters confidence, self-esteem, and a love of learning.
5. The playground and classrooms are safe, and the entrance and building are clean and secure.
6. You receive daily communication, both verbal and written, about your child's activities.
7. You are encouraged to drop in at any time to see your child.
8. The teachers meet with you on a regular basis to share your child's progress.
9. When you ask for references from other parents, they are readily provided.
10. The center offers flexible scheduling to meet your family's needs.

Why Accreditation Matters

KinderCare is committed to providing only the best to children and their parents. That's why we ensure our centers meet the highest standards of childcare quality. Though accreditation is an involved and time-consuming process, we believe it offers important assurance to parents who are making one of the most important decisions in their children's lives. Accreditation is a mark of quality and helps parents find the best possible early childhood experience.

Programs that are accredited provide a safe and healthy environment for children, have teachers who are well trained, have access to excellent teaching materials, and work with curriculum that is appropriately challenging and developmentally sound. To maintain their accreditation, centers must voluntarily improve their offerings and adhere to high national childcare standards.

What's Involved

Accreditation is awarded by several national organizations (see below). Each accrediting organization requires adherence to a specific set of child development standards. Programs undergo in-depth self-assessments, independent observation, and approval by professional experts. In general, accreditation evaluates the center's staff qualifications, parent communication, interactions, curriculum, health and safety, and administration. It can take from 1-2 years to become fully accredited.

How Accreditation Differs from State Licensing

Licensing

Each state sets its individual licensing requirements. The goal of licensing is to ensure a child's health, safety, and nutrition while in out-of-home care. Licensing laws provide a minimum standard of quality below which it is illegal to operate. Contact your state's childcare regulatory office for specific information.

Accreditation

A number of national childcare organizations have established quality standards that go beyond a state's minimum licensing requirements. When a center becomes accredited, it has voluntarily decided to meet high national quality standards and has made a commitment to provide the kind of care, attention, and stimulating activities that you and your children require.

NAEYC

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) created an accreditation system more than 20 years ago to improve the quality of education and care provided in programs for young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for children. NAEYC awards accreditation only to high quality early childhood programs reviewed by a national commission comprising recognized experts in childcare and early childhood education. Accreditation is valid for five years. To learn more, visit the NAEYC Web site.

NAC

The National Accreditation Commission for the Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) is a division of the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP). The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of childcare in America by investing in the people who lead the programs. NAC accreditation identifies and acknowledges early care and education programs that meet a wide variety of professional and ethical standards. Accreditation is valid for three years. Visit the NACCP Web site for details.

NECPA

The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), an independent and nationally recognized program, has been supporting educational programs that strive for excellence since 1993. The non-profit organization encourages the availability of high quality early education programs for America's families. As a prerequisite to accreditation, it requires all centers to have possessed a state license in good standing for at least one year. Full accreditation is granted for three years with satisfactory annual reviews. To learn more, visit the NECPA Web site.

Decision Guide