Choosing Child Care for Your Children

Choosing child care for your children is one of the most important decisions you can make as a parent. Selecting the appropriate type of care is very important to their health and well-being.

Nebraska requires that anyone providing services to four or more children at any one time (from families other than that of the provider and for compensation) be licensed. Licensing requires that the caregiver/teacher and the facility both meet minimal health and safety standards. Most importantly, licensing means that the facility has been inspected by a fire marshal and the names of all caregivers have been cleared with the Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect.
Please remember, licensing regulations are minimal standards and do not provide any guarantees. As a parent, youare strongly encouraged to visit and evaluate any child care facility you are considering for your children. Spend at least 15 minutes interviewing the prospective provider and visit the facility with your children more than once, with one of the visits unannounced. 

The following are suggestions for the types of questions to ask and observations to make during a visit to a prospective child care facility.

 

Questions/observations regarding:
Payments Provider Setting Activities

Payments:

  • What is the fee per hour/day/week/month?
  • Are there late arrival fees or other fees I should be aware of?
  • Is there a formal contract to sign?
  • How much notice is required to end the contract?
  • What are the arrangements if/when the provider is on vacation, ill, etc.?

Top of Page

Does the Provider:

  • appear patient and friendly?
  • encourage parents to observe, discuss policies, make suggestions and participate in the program?
  • seem to be someone your child will enjoy being with?
  • seem to enjoy his/her work?
  • understand what children can and want to do at different stages of growth?
  • have methods of dealing with behaviors that agree with your own and are constant with licensing standards?
  • seem to have enough time to look after all the children in care?
  • show an interest in your child, family and your expectations?
  • appear organized, with a routine and rules that children can understand and follow?
  • have previous experience/training in working with children?
  • have other people who will be caring for your child?
  • make arrangements when he/she has an emergency that takes them away from the children?

Top of Page

Does the setting:

  • have a safe outdoor play area and equipment?
  • have a safe, clear area where infants can play?
  • provide enough space for napping and appropriate surfaces (cots, cribs, mats)?
  • have locked storage for medications, cleaners, poisons, guns and ammunition?
  • have working smoke detectors?
  • have pets?  if so, are they vaccinated?
  • have at least two approved exits from child care areas?
  • have enough space inside and outdoors so all children can move freely and safely?
  • have enough furniture, play toys and other equipment for all children to be individually involved?
  • have equipment and materials that are suitable for the ages of the children?
  • have a clean, safe place to change diapers?

Top of Page

Do activities include:

  • creative experiences such as play acting, music, reading and art?
  • transportation ( if needed) with appropriate seat belts and care seats?
  • adequate supervision at all times when children are in care?
  • time outdoors with supervision?
  • toys and play equipment that are right for the child's age and state of development?
  • washing hands after diapering, toileting and before preparing food?
  • enough caregivers/teachers to give individual attention to all children?
  • nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day?
  • quiet and active play, indoors and outdoors?
  • a schedule that meets young children's need for routine, but is flexible enough to meet the needs of each child?

Top of Page

Parent Information:

PDF The Right Place - A Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care

Top of Page

Documents in PDF PDF format require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader
which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc.

Child Care Page

Children's Services Page