As a parent, it is natural to want the best for your children. Quality child care is an important part of promoting the growth and development in the early years of a young child’s life. Positive early experiences not only support the growth of children socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively, but research also shows that they help brain development.

Choosing quality child care can be challenging and unfamiliar territory for many parents. Because changes have occurred over the years regarding acceptable and appropriate early care and education, it is important for parents to learn the elements of a quality child-care program to make the best choices on behalf of their child. Important elements of a quality program include the appropriate number of children for each adult provider (minimum requirements based on the age of the youngest child have been established by the NC Division of Child Development), a child-directed curriculum, a predictable daily schedule, individualized care and developmentally appropriate expectations.

All licensed child-care sites in North Carolina are required to meet child-care requirements in addition to sanitation, building and fire codes. The Star-Rated licensing system is a way to acknowledge that a facility has exceeded minimum standards voluntarily. Another source of information which indicates quality is whether a child-care center or home has a national accreditation.

The North Carolina Division of Child Development also suggests these steps when seeking child care.

• Review North Carolina official child-care records on the NC Division of Child Development Web site: http://ncchildcaresearch.dhhs.state.nc.us/search.asp.
• Request information on a facility by phone: (800) 859-0829.
• Get recommendations from people you know.
• Talk to your friends, family members and co-workers to find information about child-care programs.
• Visit multiple child-care facilities to make your own first-hand assessment.
• Contact the local Child-Care Resource and Referral or other agency that works with parents, child-care providers, businesses and community organizations to promote quality child care.