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Andrew Moore

Two-year-old Nadia Goodine naps Monday at the Head Start center in Seneca. The Head Start centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the widely accepted high standard-bearer for child care facilities.

Children at licensed child care facilities can spend the better part of each day at their respective centers, so how parents decide where to place their children is vitally important, experts say.

“Parents have to know the importance of quality child care,” Dee Stegelin, professor of early childhood education at Clemson University said. “They have to be willing to make it a high priority.”

While wisely choosing an early care facility that meets the safety and educational needs of a young child may be difficult, there are certain questions that must be asked in orderly to properly identify strengths and weaknesses of a center. Ratios, caregiver training, facility safety, educational curriculum and overall adult-to-child interaction are some of the key factors that should be considered when deciding where a child is to spend his or her time, said Lenna Young, department head for Public Services at Tri-County Technical College and instructor of early childhood development.

The first things to consider when preparing to choose a child care facility are, of course, the who, the what and the where. Does the parent want the center closer to home or work? Is full- or part-time needed? How much can the parent afford to pay? These initial questions can generally be answered on the phone or Internet, but a face-to-face chat with the workers of the facility is still very necessary.

“Prior to visiting, call and ask questions about those things,” Young said. “Also ask what agencies license and accredit that center? What are the center’s child/teacher ratios? What are the staff qualifications? What type of curriculum do you use? What about meals? Are these offered or do I need to provide these?”

After thoroughly interviewing a proper employee (preferably a director), an in-person visit should be scheduled to see first hand where the child could be spending his or her days.

“Visit. Don’t select a center without visiting when children are present,” Young said. “Ask for a tour — this should be offered without hesitancy.”

During a visit, Young said, a parent should look for signs that the center puts safety first. To do this, a parent could ask a director how the safety of playground equipment is determined, what type of safety training such as CPR and First Aid the staff has and what kind of procedure a center has should a child get injured.

Parents could also look at indicators that the facility maintains strong standards of health and sanitation. Watch a diaper changing, see how often children are made to wash their hands, ask what kind of procedures are used if a child gets sick and watch how toys and other equipment are sanitized before and after use.

Janet Marsh. with Clemson University’s Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, said while it may be time consuming, observation of a potential child care facility remains the best way to tell if a center is providing the level of service parents want for their child.

“I know it takes time, but I would go and observe,” Marsh said. “Just go and drop in unexpectedly, which should be fine — and watch. Ask yourself questions. How is that child being interacted with and engaged? Is the caregiver really trying to engage the child in play and activity? And are there enough caregivers to do that?”

Marsh said the level of precaution and initiative parents take in other aspects of their children’s lives as they get older should also be taken with younger children.

“Parents do it all the time with sports and school,” she said. “You take the time to meet with their teachers and coaches to get to know them, and to ask them questions.”

Marsh suggested that parents call South Carolina’s Department of Social Services (DSS) and inquire about specific centers’ participation in the ABC program. If a center does participate in the voucher program, they would be monitored carefully and subject to a ratings system. That rating system through the ABC program could be used as a point of reference to parents choosing between several facilities. ABC standards are a step above those set as minimum by DSS licensing requirements.

Complaints and brief regulatory visit deficiency reports can be found on the DSS Web site as well.

“I’d see how they are listed with the DSS,” Marsh said. “Even though there is not a lot of information there, parents can get at least an idea about the centers in that area. That’s a start.”

Yet another resource for parents is the South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCR&R), which provides information on local child care centers across the state.

MAKING A CHANGE

Similar methodology goes into making the difficult decision of whether or not to pull a child out of a child care facility. Other than looking for obvious signs of abuse and neglect. such as unchanged diapers, bruises and things of that nature, the general behavior of a child must be carefully monitored at home before and after sessions at a care providing site.

“How does the child act when it is time to go to the center?” Marsh said. “I would observe that child’s behavior myself. I’d observe my child at home before and after each session. If you can, talk to your children and see if their self-esteem is being supported.”

Young said the first proper step a concerned parent must take is going to the center in person to discuss any worries or questions that exist.

“I believe when a family member feels uncomfortable about any aspect of their child’s care, they should talk to the teacher and/or director,” Young said. “There should be an ongoing, continually growing relationship between the family, the child and the center.”

The most important aspect of early care and education, experts say, lies in the relationship between caregivers and the children. This connection would be inextricably linked with ratios, safety, education and, ultimately, the child’s development in a center of care.

“An adult’s interaction with a child, whether it be a parent or a caregiver, is what most shapes a child’s life,” Marsh said.

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This is the second installment in a four-part series on child care in South Carolina. It is the hope of this publication that this series will serve to inform parents of the important issues facing the institution of early care and education regarding safety, costs and school readiness.