How to Choose Childcare in Four Steps

Your Guide to Finding the Right Childcare Program

• Step 1: Prepare

  You’ve made the decision. Your child will attend childcare. You may be thinking to yourself, "Now what? Where do I start?”

  Reflect

  Before you begin searching for and contacting programs, it is helpful to reflect on your priorities for childcare. You may ask yourself:

  • Do I need care on certain days and during specific hours?

  • Am I looking for a program near my home or place of employment, or somewhere between?

  • Does care in a particular setting interest me most?

  Our Childcare Choice page can help you address these questions and more.

  Search

  You know what you’re looking for in care. Now you just need to find it. Our Finding Childcare page guides you to free resources to search for care that meets your needs.

  Verify

  You have a list of programs at hand. Before you begin contacting childcare providers and scheduling tours, it’s a good idea to check inspection reports. Search your top programs on Childcare Finder, and scroll to the bottom of their profiles. There you will find inspections, complaints, enforcements and critical health and safety violations.

  For questions about what you discover, contact the OECOSL Childcare Support Line at 1.800.299.1627.

• Step 2: Contact Programs

  You’ve narrowed your list of childcare programs to those that you feel best meet the learning and growth needs of your child. Now it’s time to reach out to providers. Whether you call, email, message through Early Learning Marketplace or text, your goal is to confirm high-level priorities before taking the time to tour. In this first contact, ask questions like:

  • Does your program have openings for the age(s) of my children?
    • *Providers may require an information or waitlist form before you tour or enroll, particularly if they do not have openings at this time.
  • How much would care cost per week, and are there any additional fees that I should be aware of (for example, materials and supply fees, activity fees)?
    • *Providers may choose not to share cost until you take a tour.
  • Does your program offer care during the days and times I need?
  • Where is your program located?
    • *If you are looking at childcare centers or ministries, the program's address will be public. If you are looking at family childcare homes, it is likely that you will need to ask for the address.
  • How does your program support children with special needs?
    • *If your child has a delay or disability, you may consider asking several questions. Learn more about Advocating for Your Child’s Needs on our blog.
• Step 3: Take a Tour

  You’ve asked key questions to further narrow your list, and now it’s time to schedule tours of your top programs.

  If possible, arrange tours earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the program’s nap, snack and lunch times. Touring before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. allows you to see providers and children in action.

  Come prepared with questions when you tour. Write them down, print them out or have them accessible on your phone. Use questions in two ways:

  1. Ask questions of childcare providers and note their answers.
  2. Use questions to guide what you look for while onsite. What you see, hear and notice gives you a deeper sense of the day-to-day in each program.

  Allow our checklists to guide your questions and observations.

  • Our Health and Safety Checklist equips you with key questions about class and group sizes, security, emergency procedures, child development and more.

  • Understanding a provider’s beliefs about children gives you a sense of how you feel putting your child in their care. Our Philosophies Behind Caring for Children blog is a good resource. If your family speaks a language other than English, the short checklist in our Multilingualism in Childcare blog can support you with what to look for as you tour.

  • And of course, ask your own questions. You may want to know a provider’s check-in and check-out policies, ask to see the playground or discuss communication and partnership for children’s development. You might consider asking for references so you can talk to families currently enrolled there.
• Step 4: Review the Handbook

  You’ve toured top programs and asked your most important questions. Reviewing providers’ family handbooks will offer the last bit of information to help you make a decision.

  Child Care Aware of America outlines what is typically included in a childcare provider’s family handbook. In Indiana, providers often reference the Brighter Futures Indiana Emerging Provider Experience as they incorporate the mandatory policies into their handbooks. We recommend paying attention to the following:

  • Closure schedule: Childcare programs should notify families with advanced notice when they will be closed for holidays, vacation, weather and illness. The handbook should indicate whether a provider will charge for care during closures.

  • Fees: Providers should outline fee policies and procedures, fees for activities and special programs, fees for late payment or pick up, etc. Especially note whether and how much a provider charges for flexible timing of drop off and pick up.

  • Emergency preparedness: Programs must have emergency procedures in place. Notice the types of emergency drills providers implement and how often.

  • Illness policy: Childcare providers should disclose how they handle children’s illnesses as well as sicknesses of their own.

  • Open door policy: Childcare programs should allow families to come in anytime, including to breastfeed onsite.

  In addition to items noted on the Child Care Aware of America outline, we recommend looking for overall philosophy and a few additional policies in providers’ family handbooks:

  • Program philosophy: How does the program asses each child’s learning? In what way will you see progress throughout the year?

  • Parent communication policy: Does the provider communicate in a way that meets your family’s needs?

  • Individualization: Does the provider recognize the values your family has and the goals set for your child?

  • Discipline: Does the provider’s policies for managing behavior, teaching emotional regulation techniques and individualized support align with your family’s values about discipline?

  • Suspension and Expulsion: Does the provider state how they will respond to patterns of challenging behaviors? What practices will a provider try before suspending or expelling a child?