![]() Stress safety: More than half of those surveyed say a gun on the premises would be a deal breaker. "It helps protect staff, it helps prevent kids from getting sick more often and it protects vulnerable infants." Forty-one percent of Mott poll respondents would avoid care providers that allow unvaccinated children to attend. Know the vaccine policy: Although inoculations can be a contentious issue, most child care centers "are very pro-vaccine," Hashikawa says. Accredited facilities should have these details readily available. Ask about educational toys, open play, lesson plans and activities, outdoor space and mealtime structure. "Health and nutrition and learning and stimulation are really important during that time," Hashikawa says. Study the curriculum: Brains of babies and young children develop rapidly from birth to age 5. Notes Hashikawa: "Look around to see how providers engage children - are they interacting and allowing them to play with toys, or are they sitting in front of a television?" Check, too, for cleanliness and a low adult-to-child ratio (1:4 for infants and 1:10 for older kids). Make a surprise visit: An impromptu drop-in shows what the facility is like on a given day. SEE ALSO: Kid with a Chronic Illness? 5 Tips for Parent-Teacher Teamwork He suggests parents visit Child Care Aware for advice - and, to compare researched and rated options in Michigan, Great Start to Quality. "It really gives that stamp of approval," says Hashikawa. "A lot of the good child care centers have waitlists." That head start allows parents enough time to arrange visits and research a variety of options.Ĭheck credentials: Although regulations and compliance vary by state, a licensed provider offers peace of mind that background checks and educational training are verified. That's often too late: "As soon as you're thinking about having a baby, you need to start the process," Hashikawa says. Start early: Some families might not begin their search until a baby is born. Hashikawa, who sits on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood and focuses on early childhood education, offers his advice: Tips for finding child care Only half are confident they could tell if a facility or provider is safe and healthy. Still, of those polled, nearly two-thirds cite difficulty finding child care with the characteristics they want. The survey involved 2,051 parents with children ages 1 to 5 who attend a day care or preschool.īuilding security, staff training and availability of educational and active play were among the top priorities. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health focused on these issues, identifying what matters most to parents selecting child care. "And it's more than a 'drop-off' location: Child care is an opportunity for children to develop, grow, learn and be ready for kindergarten." "It's a tough challenge," says Andrew Hashikawa, M.D., an assistant professor of pediatric emergency medicine at the University of Michigan C.S. MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter ![]() Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studiesįor parents of many newborns, choosing child care can be a daunting task.īeyond costs and logistics, there's a lot families must factor into the decision.Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation.Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute.Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics.Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Leadership and Enrichment for Academic Diversity (LEAD).Implicit Bias Training for Community Members.Implicit Bias Training for Michigan Medicine.Health Equity and Quality Scholars Program.Frequently Asked Questions About Sponsorship.About Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. ![]() ![]() Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).Community Outreach and Engagement Programs.About Community Health Planning and Investment. ![]()
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