Choosing a program for your child is a very personal choice for each family. The best program is one that matches your child’s personality, likes and dislikes, health, interests, and behaviour. It is also important to think about finding child care that respects your family’s culture and beliefs. With so many child care options to choose from, look for a program that meets your family’s needs and schedule, provides a safe and fun environment for your child, and also helps her learn, grow and build relationships with others.

Decisions about child care are important. Let’s take a look at some of the following child care options:

1. Nursery Programs
   Nursery programs are offered on a part-time basis for children usually three to four years old. Programs tend to operate in the morning and follow a ten or eleven month schedule each year. They may be closed for one, or two months during the summer. The programs may be offered for 2-5 days per week for a 2 ½ to 3 hour program. The parent is not expected to remain with the child. The program will provide a range of activities such as arts and crafts, sensory, free play, gross motor and group games such as music circles.

   Nursery programs offer other benefits including:

   • a focus on education
   • the social skills of young children
   • a preparation for elementary school or kindergarten
2. Child Care Centres (Daycare)
   Child care centres (daycare) offer balanced programs of activities for infants (0 to 18 months), toddlers (18 months to 2.5 years), pre-school (2.5 to 5 years), and school-age (6 to 10 years) children. Children learn and grow while making friends with other children of the same age.

   Child care centres provide a program for a full day, usually offering at least 9 hours of care. Child care centres are open all year; some may close for a set two week period during the summer for vacation. Fees are based on in which age group your child belongs. Infant spaces are the most costly. Many child care centres offer before and after school care as well.

   Centre-based care offers other advantages:

   • the staff includes professionals with training in early childhood education
   • the activities are designed for children at different stages of development
   • the setting is designed for children
   • the toys and playground equipment are age-appropriate and are chosen with the safety and enjoyment of children in mind
3. Home Child Care
   Home child care is provided in a family-like setting for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-age children. Children from the same family can be cared for together, often in their own neighbourhood, and close to school and friends. Hours of care can be flexible and may be adapted to suit the needs of individual families. Keep in mind that some home child care providers are licensed and some are not. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of licensed home child care.

   Licensed home child care agencies are inspected at least once a year by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Agencies will recruit individual caregivers who use their homes to care for up to five children. These caregivers, usually called providers, are supervised by home visitors employed by the agency.

   Home visitors with training in child development and family studies ensure that providers follow the agencies’ approved policies and procedures and meet the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act.

   Home child care provided through licensed agencies has many advantages:

   • providers have access to learning opportunities and other supports through their association with home child care agencies
   • home visitors help providers to plan activities for children at different stages of development
   • home visitors provide advice about nutritious meal planning and routines
   • home visitors check the home environment to make sure that it is free from dangerous objects and materials
   • agencies often lend providers child-size furniture and may supply toys and equipment that have been chosen with the safety and enjoyment of children in mind

   Child care services offered by an independent caregiver are sometimes referred to as non-licensed home child care. This is another option for child care, but keep in mind that it is not regulated. All aspects of the services offered by independent caregivers such as hours of operation, fees, policies, and philosophy, are determined by the caregiver, or are negotiated or discussed individually with the parents. Non-licensed child care may be provided by relatives, friends, neighbours, or nannies.

4. Specialized Child Care Programs
   There are a variety of specialized child care programs which provide full day, half day or nursery programs. Some specialized programs are segregated (available for only children with special needs) and others are integrated where children of all abilities are included.

   These programs have many benefits including:

   • some programs offer specialized services, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy
   • staff with specialized training to work with children with special needs
   • smaller group settings

How are child care programs regulated?

When thinking about child care options, keep in mind that in Ontario, all child care centres must be licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, under provincial legislation called the Day Nurseries Act.

The Act sets out very specific rules, regulations and minimum standards under which centres must operate in order to get and maintain a license. Most of the regulations of the Act are designed to ensure the health and safety for children. In addition, some regulations relate to helping children develop and learn.

The following is a list of how the Act outlines the ration or number of employees required to care for a certain number of children. These rules apply to all centre based care.

• Infants (0 to 18 months): 1 employee for every 3 infants (1:3)
• Toddlers (18 months to 2.5 years): 1 employee for every 5 toddlers
• Pre-school (2.5 to 5 years): 1 employee for every 8 preschoolers
• School-age (6 to 10 years): 1 employee for every 15 school age children

Home child care is also regulated under the Day Nurseries Act. Agencies that provide home child care services also have specific policies that home providers follow.

Assessing Your Family Needs

Part of choosing the best child care option for your child is to start by assessing your family needs.

Consider some of the following:

• For how long do I need child care? (e.g., morning or afternoons only, full-day, before and after school)
• When do I need the child care? (e.g., immediately, in a few months)
• Where do I want the child care to be located? (e.g., near home, work, school)
• How will I get my child to child care? (e.g., walking, bus ride, car)
• For what type of care am I looking? (e.g., nursery program, child care centre, home child care, specialized program)
• Will I require subsidy or financial assistance to pay for the fees?

Once you know your family’s needs, you can begin to explore the child care resources in your area. Information about child care centres, nursery programs, or agencies that have home child care providers in your community is available from:

• the yellow pages of the telephone directory under Child Care or Day Care
• newspaper ads, bulletin boards
• local offices of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
• community information centres, child care resource centres, libraries, churches
• the human resources department at work
• friends, neighbours, relatives, co-workers

Making the First Contact

A telephone call will likely be your first contact with the child care centres, agencies or nursery programs on your list. When you call, ask to speak to the director or supervisor since you may be arranging for care with that person. If the director or supervisor is not available, ask about a convenient time to call again.

Before telephoning child care centres or nursery programs, it is a good idea to make a list of questions. If you use the same list for each call you can compare the answers from each option and eliminate child care centres that clearly do not meet your family’s needs.

Your questions may include:

• What are your hours?
• What are the ages of children for which you provide care?
• How many children are in a group?
• How many staff members care for each group?
• What training does the staff have?
• Are parents encouraged to drop in?
• What is the cost? Are there any additional charges? Is there a charge when children are sick or away on holiday?
• Is there an application fee?
• Is fee subsidy available?
• Do you operate all year or have any set closure times?
• Do you have a waiting list?
• What is your policy or guidelines for including children with special needs?
• Do you have supports or resources for children with special needs?

If you like the way the director or supervisor answers your questions, ask for an appointment to visit the centre. Since it is important to be able to compare two or more centres, continue to call the other centres on your list. Ask the same questions and make appointments to visit.

If you are interested in home child care, find an agency that provides this service and ask to speak with or meet the director and/or home visitor who will be supervising the home child care provider. It is a good idea to make a list of questions. If you use the same list for each, call so you can compare the answers from each option and eliminate agencies that clearly do not meet your family’s needs.

Your questions may include:

• How are home providers selected?
• Can I visit the provider’s home? Can I visit more than one provider?
• Are there training opportunities the agency offers to the providers?
• How often do home visitors see the providers?
• How does the agency communicate with parents and how do providers give parents information about their children?
• What is the cost? Are there any additional charges? Is there a charge when children are sick or away on holiday? Is there an application fee?
• Is fee subsidy available?
• Do you operate all year or have any set closure times?
• Do you have a waiting list?
• What is your policy or guidelines for including children with special needs?
• Do you have supports or resources for children with special needs?

Visiting the Program

When visiting child care centres, nursery programs, or home providers, it is important to think about the way you were welcomed and how your questions were answered. Spend time talking with the staff who will be working with your child and be sure to observe the program for long enough to get a clear impression. Make notes during the interview and/or use the checklist found at the end of this document – one for visiting child care centres and nursery programs, and another for visiting home child care providers.

As a parent you want to make sure that your child receives the best possible care with lots of love and understanding. After your visits, compare your notes and think about the agency, the home(s), child care centres, or nursery programs you have seen in relation to your family’s child care needs.

Child Care Centre/Nursery Program Visit Checklist

Take this checklist with you when visiting child care centres or nursery programs, and consider the following elements of quality child care. During and/or following your visit to the program, review each section. With a checkmark, indicate if what you observed during your visit is appropriate for your child and family.