The Anxious Parents' Guide to Quality Childcare
An Informative Step-by-Step Guide on Finding and Keeping the Finest Care for Your Child
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Before You Start...
Making Peace With Yourself: Accepting Your Need to Find Childcare
Know Your Parenting Philosophy
PART I: PREPARATION
Chapter 2: The Perfect Person: Defining Candidate Qualifications
What We Did
Defining Your Own Candidate Qualifications
Chapter 3: What Do We Need? The Job Requirements and The Job Description
What About Benefits and Compensation?
Our Job Requirements
Our Job Description
Now It Is Your Turn
-Your Basic Parameters
-What Will My Kids Be Doing?
-Other Guideposts
Chapter 4: Selecting The Most Suitable Arrangement (otherwise known as Taking your Reality Medicine)
Types of Childcare Arrangements
-Chart: In-Home Childcare - Advantages and Disadvantages
-Chart: Out-of-Home Childcare - Advantages and Disadvantages
What Does It Cost and Can I Afford It?
-Chart: Cost of Childcare Arrangements
WHAT! Insurance and Taxes???
-Chart: Insurance Considerations
Tough Compromises and Choices: Yours and Ours
Chapter 5:Identifying Your Search Resources And Starting Your Search
How Long Does This Take?
Looking in the Right Places: Identifying and Enlisting Resources to Help You Find Childcare
-Chart: Childcare Search Resources
Preparing Your "Marketing Package"
The Cost of Hiring Help For Your Search
-Chart: Childcare Search Resources - Average Price Range
How to Select and Effectively Use An Agency or Consultant
Using the Newspapers Most Effectively
PART II: ACTION
Chapter 6:Screening and Interviewing
Screening
- Screening Individual Candidates (and Dealing with Competition in the Marketplace)
- Screening Family Daycare and Daycare Centers
After Screening:
- The Initial Interview
- Interview Questions
- Final Interviewing – Face-to-Face
- But This Just Isn’t Working For Me....
Chapter 7:How To Really Check References
Checking References for In-Home Childcare
Checking References for Family Daycare or Daycare Centers and the Questions You Should Ask
Checking Driving Records, Police Records, and Credit Agencies
Chapter 8: On-Site Visit of Out-Of-Home Childcare Locations
The On-Site Visit: What is the Environment Like?
-Structure of Day/Activities
-Philosophical, Religious or Educational Affiliation
-Parenting Philosophy
-Communication
-Child-Orientation
-Rules and Requirements
-Staffing: Ratio, Turnover, Training, Qualifications
-Licensing, Certification, Insurance and Professional Memberships
-Insurance
-Fees
-Cleanliness
-Roominess
-Safety and Security
-Specific Considerations for Your Situation
Chapter 9: Making A Choice and An Offer
But What If I Have Hit A Dead End?
Written Agreements with In-Home Childcare Providers
Making the Offer for In-Home Childcare
Enrolling Your Child in Family Daycare or a Daycare Center
Medical Emergency Letter
PART III: KEEPING QUALITY CHILDCARE
Chapter 10: Tips To Make It Work
How Do I Know My Child Is Receiving Quality Childcare?
What If I Made A Mistake?
Being a Good Manager
Communication Ideas
Someone New Is Living With Us: Maintaining Smooth Relations with a Live-In Nanny
Can I Be Friends With the Caregiver? Setting the Tone of Your Relationship
Help, I Think My Child Loves the Caregiver More Than Me: Dealing With Your Jealousy
Some Thoughts in Closing
APPENDICES
A. Parenting Philosophy
B. Sample Marketing Package
C. Sample Nanny School Letter and Direct Recruitment Letter
D. Sample Interview Questions - In-Home and Center Based
E. Reference Questions for Centers and Individuals
F. Sample Contract for Nanny Services- Simplified and Detailed Versions
G. Medical Emergency Letter
H. Childcare Search and Information Resources
INDEX
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