Parents can choose from several types of child care, depending on the age of the child and the family's personal and professional circumstances. Regardless of whether a caregiver is employed in the home or the child is taken to a child care center or another person's home, the first and most important consideration is the health and safety of the child.
Types
Hiring someone to care for a child at home is probably the most convenient option and offers the child a great amount of individual attention, but it is also the most expensive choice. In addition to finding the right nanny or babysitter, the parent becomes an employer and must take responsibility for performing background and reference checks and possibly paying taxes and benefits. Classroom-style child care centers and programs in the home of a licensed caregiver are less expensive options that offer children a group setting for social interaction.
Features
In classroom-style child care centers and preschools, children are grouped by age and usually follow a child-development curriculum. Home-based child care providers oversee a group of children in a range of ages and may or may not follow a prescribed curriculum. A nanny or babysitter who works in a child's home will generally follow a schedule established by the parent that may include an informal curriculum.
Function
Child care workers include anyone who cares for children while their parents are at work or otherwise occupied. In addition to general supervision and care of the child, a child care worker may be responsible for teaching and socializing the child. A nanny or babysitter working in the child's home may also handle cooking, cleaning, laundry and general housekeeping for the child and sometimes for the entire family. Some private child care providers also pick older children up from school.
Special Needs
The federal Americans With Disabilities Act and individual state antidiscrimination laws help ensure that families with children who have physical or emotional disabilities have the same child care options as families without special needs. Parents of children with special needs may have additional considerations when choosing a child care facility, such as availability of special transportation and services and whether a large group setting is a suitable fit for their children.
Considerations
The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education recommends that parents assess the licensing, supervision, cleanliness, staff qualifications and backgrounds, group size, child-to-adult ratio, building safety, playground or play area safety, first-aid training and other staff training at any center or home where they consider leaving their children. Parents hiring a nanny or babysitter for private child care in their own home will have to organize social and academic opportunities for their children in addition to fulfilling their financial and legal obligations to the caregiver.
