How Do You Choose a Caregiver (When It Can't Be You)?
7-minute read
Article overview:
There are so many options when looking for a caregiver, how do you choose when it can’t be you? Let’s dive into some guiding principles to steer your caregiver search, plus the top questions you should ask on these topics:
- Health and safety practices
- A learning environment that respects and celebrates all different kinds of kids and families while fostering self-confidence
- Creating connections with teachers and friends to build social and emotional skills
- Expert-designed curriculums for all ages, developmental stages, and learning styles
- Developmental screenings to track your child’s progress
We get it: Trusting your baby (or toddler or preschooler) with a new caregiver is a big step! You’re probably feeling all the feelings right now—worry, guilt, and maybe even relief that you will get the help you deserve.
Where They’re Safe and Loved
Caring for your child is a huge responsibility, and we take it as seriously as you do. That’s why we post our health and safety policies—and more—on our site so you can access them anytime. Plus, our centers are regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds state standards.
Most importantly, we hire teachers who make every child feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world. They respond to every coo and cry with kindness and compassion (just like you do). And they’re always ready to chat with you about your child’s day and development.
Questions to ask child care providers (and clues to look for) as you search:
- What are their health and safety procedures?
- Do they have a warm and loving demeanor with babies and children?
- Are teachers or providers CPR-certified?
- How do they handle nap time?
- Does the staff seem happy?
Where They’ll Be Seen and Welcomed for Who They Are
Whenever you step through our doors, you’ll know that you’re in a place where your child is safe, happy, and celebrated for who they are. Making your family feel at home matters to us.
Our centers are safe spaces for children to explore and learn about the world around them. We create opportunities for your child to see reflections of themselves and their beliefs, customs, and cultures in our classroom community. Understanding that every child grows in their own way, our Inclusion Services team works closely with teachers to design a learning environment that celebrates differences while fostering self-confidence.
Questions to ask as you search:
- How do they communicate with families?
- How do they work with families to bring out the best in each child?
- What are ways they foster diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Everyone Belongs In Our Circle
At KinderCare, we’re committed to building warm, welcoming and supportive classrooms for children of all abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
Find a center near youWhere They’ll Build Important Relationships
Our teachers’ trained ears and eyes know how to listen to your child’s needs across different ages and stages. They spark curiosity through age-appropriate suggestions and questions that help develop confidence and decision-making skills.
And we don’t just emphasize teacher connections; friendships between the children play a huge role too. These relationships build independence, boost self-esteem, and pave the way for future success. Our whole-child curriculum focuses on social-emotional skills, teaching kids everything from sharing toys to collaborating on a finger-painting project and practicing kindness.
Questions to ask as you search:
- Do teachers engage children by asking questions and talking respectfully to them?
- How do they handle tears or children working to share a toy?
- Do they have a social-emotional component to the curriculum?
Where They’ll Love to Learn
Your child’s brain is growing faster than it ever will in their whole life, making amazing connections every second. Our whole-child curriculum, rooted in the latest early childhood research, fosters academic, physical, and social-emotional growth through daily activities tailored to every age and stage. Your little one will not only play but also think critically and decide how (and what) they want to create.
Even our infants have a tailored curriculum, brimming with sensory and language experiences that nurture their buzzing brains. Curious to see how? Check out this 5-minute video, during which our expert chats with a new mom about how our teachers nurture your baby’s growth.
Questions to ask as you search:
- Do they have a formal curriculum?
- How do they help children develop reading and math skills in these important early years?
- Is there a lot of time for open-ended play? Are children in charge of their own play?
Where They’ll Get Ready for Kindergarten … and Beyond!
For over 50 years, we’ve been partnering with parents to help kids reach their full potential and build confidence for life.
We’re passionate about your child’s education, so we use assessments to observe their progress and make sure we tailor learning to their needs at every stage. Year after year, the results show that the longer they’re with us, the better prepared they are for kindergarten and beyond.
We know you want the best for your kiddo when you can’t be there. Now, armed with our guiding principles and the right questions to ask, you’re all set to find the best caregiver for your family.
