Working Together -- Parents, Providers, and Kids
Your child is adjusting to child care and things are going well. You want to keep it this way. Form a partnership with your child’s caregiver. Child care is better when parents and providers work with children as a team. Everyone wins!
Here are some things to think about to make your child care partnership work:
- Greet the caregiver with a smile each day. Find ways to show that you value her expertise and the time she spends with your child.
- Take time to talk with the caregiver daily. Ask about her day and your child’s day. Find out his favorite things to do at child care and try some at home. Tell the provider about other things he likes to do.
- Plan with the caregiver ways to help teach your child if difficulties arise.
- Tell the provider about things happening in your child’s life that could affect his day. These can include difficulty sleeping the night before, excitement about a new pet, or one parent being away on a business trip.
- Drop in for a visit whenever you can. Good providers welcome unannounced visits from parents.
- Volunteer to help with a special party, event, or field trip.
- Read all notes or newsletters sent home.
- Review the written policies regularly.
- Keep to your set schedule. If an emergency happens, let the provider know about a schedule change. Find out if she can be there at that time.
- Have back-up child care for illness or vacation times.
The Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care Program
has information on children's issues for early childhood educators, child
care providers, and parents on the Better Kid Care Web site at: www.betterkidcare.psu.edu.
The Right Person
A child care program may have a brand new, fancy building and lots of toys and play equipment, or it may not. Those things are important, but what matters most to your child is the person providing the care. When looking for child care, make sure the caregiver is someone you want your child to be with while you are working.
Spend some time visiting a program and getting to know the caregiver. Here are some things to consider:
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See if the caregiver has a good rapport with the children.
- Does she get down to their level while talking with them?
- Is she easy to talk with?
- Does she take part in games and activities?
- Find out if she has training in child development. What experience has she had with children?
- Is she warm and caring and energetic?
- Talk about how you teach your child to do things. See if her values are similar to yours.
- A caregiver who understands children will display their artwork and projects for everyone to enjoy. Does the caregiver do this?
- A trained caregiver will have a safe and healthy atmosphere for the children.
The Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care Program has information on children's issues for early childhood educators, child care providers, and parents on the Better Kid Care Web site at: www.betterkidcare.psu.edu.
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Nancy Wilson, Better Kid Care Program Specialist
Penn State Better Kid Care Program
253 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
e-mail: naw6@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-5880
Fax: 814-865-7893
