Child Care Resource Library

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Signs of a Good/Bad Childcare Center

One of the first truly difficult decisions many parents face is choosing the right childcare center for their little one, especially first-time parents whose experience with professional childcare is limited. Learning to spot the signs of a great day care is just as important as recognizing potential red flags, which can be a very real challenge for parents.

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Signs of a Good/Bad Home Daycare

Though many parents prefer the idea of a more personal childcare experience through a home daycare, finding one of great quality can be a challenge. In some states, licensing and regulation is significantly less stringent for home daycare businesses. Because this can translate to less oversight and accountability, parents who are actively exploring home daycare options may face a challenge separating higher quality programs from those less desirable. With a basic understanding of what to look for and what to avoid in a home daycare, the right decision may be more easily made.

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What Kind of Insurance Should a Childcare Provider Carry?

Childcare providers are often asked questions about their policies, practices and disciplinary styles by parents and prospective clients, but there’s one area many parents fail to consider: insurance. In fact, liability insurance isn’t even a legal requirement for licensing and daily operation in some states. The unfortunate truth is that many parents don’t discover a lack of liability insurance until a child is injured on a childcare provider’s watch, because most states also don’t require a childcare provider to disclose a lack of insurance. Still, adequate insurance is one of the most important types of protection for a caregiver or facility to possess.

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What Kinds of Certifications Should a Childcare Provider Have?

Certifications and licensure provide childcare providers with a level of credibility and legitimacy, inspiring parents to confidence and helping a business to grow. Because state licensing requirements can vary so widely from one state to the next, however, childcare providers who are just starting their businesses may have a difficult time determining which certifications and licenses are essential. Certifications and accreditations can also go above and beyond the minimum state requirements, making it the situation even more complicated for new providers. Still, there are some certifications which are crucial for a fledgling childcare provider to obtain.

What You Need to Know About Background Checks

Trust is a crucial part of the relationship between parents and a childcare provider, especially when it comes to the safety of children. Parents need to know that the people their children come into contact with each day are trustworthy, reputable childcare providers who would never put their little ones in harm’s way. A background check is one of the most popular methods of screening childcare providers and staff, but it can be a mysterious process to parents with limited daycare experience.

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What You Need to Know About Childcare Tax Incentives

Childcare costs are often a sizable financial burden for working families, especially for those with more than one child. Fortunately, there are tax credits and incentives which can help to offset this burden, making it easier to balance the costs of child care. Even though many parents are aware that some incentives exist, many do not take full advantage of them due to a lack of understanding.

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Making Your Home Safe for Your Daycare Business

Starting your daycare business out of your home can be an exciting and rewarding adventure, but it’s still imperative to ensure the safety of your home before accepting clients. Not only can an unsafe environment lead to injuries and pose health risks, but also poses a personal risk in the form of litigation and insurance concerns. A serious injury can also cause irreparable damage to your daycare business and personal reputation. Because your primary responsibility to the children in your care and their parents is to provide a safe, nurturing environment, it’s of vital importance for home daycare providers to minimize injury and health risks.

What to Look for in Newborn Childcare Providers

Great childcare providers fill their available slots quickly, which means expecting parents may need to start searching out their newborn childcare providers before the baby even arrives. The pressure of finding a caregiver in time for parents to return to work on schedule can be rattling, especially for your first child, when you’re not quite sure what to look for in terms of infant care providers.

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Daycare Contracts: What Should Be Covered?

A strong relationship between parents and their childcare provider is based upon two factors: trust, and a strong contract. While it may seem like an unnecessary bit of added paperwork, a daycare contract can actually help to stave off disputes by providing all involved parties with a clear image of their rights and responsibilities. It’s not always easy to know what should be included, especially when a provider is creating their first batch of daycare contracts. While there will always be circumstances unique to each provider’s business model, there are some pieces of information which should typically be covered in any daycare contracts and written agreements.

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Career in Child Development

Love working with children? Have an infinite amount of patience and enthusiasm? Then you may enjoy a career in child development. A career in child development is not just for anyone. It takes a special person to work with and teach children for eight hours or more a day, deal with each child’s personality, maintain patience, resolve conflicts and discipline when necessary.