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Helpful Tips
How
to Select an Early Childhood Program for Your Young
Child!
Enrolling your child in an appropriate Child Care Center,
Head Start Program, Preschool, Kindergarten, Family Child
Care Home, or other Early Childhood Program can enrich, stimulate,
challenge, nurture and add fun to your child's day!
Common
Characteristics Of Quality Early Childhood Programs
Love,Knowledge
and Dedication are Demonstrated when providers:
- Put children first.
- Hold and cuddle infants and children frequently.
- Treat all children with respect.
- Offer encouragement to each child.
- Know how children learn and develop.
- Understand different temperaments.
- Practice patience and understanding for different types
of behaviors.
- Constantly improve their skills and knowledge through
training and education.
- Accomplish discipline through guidance and redirection.
Communication,
respect, and partnering happen when:
- Providers and families work together in mutual respect.
- Providers and families maintain open and regular communication.
- Children's feelings are respected.
- Providers talk with children, not at them.
- Parents are referred to community resources when needed.
Exploration,
guidance, and fun happen when:
- Children are free to learn in their own way and at their
own pace.
- Curiosity is encouraged.
- There are lots of play options using all the senses.
- Natural transitions are planned and child-friendly.
- Rules are simple and few.
- Play can be "messy" at times.
- Play areas offer choices and chances for success.
- Children can laugh, be silly, dance, sing, climb and run.
- Providers can laugh, be silly and playful with the children
too.
- Waiting times are few.
Health
and safety practices are evident when:
- Toys and play spaces inside and out are clean and hazard
free.
- Children are closely supervised.
- Everyone routinely washes their hands.
- Children are served nutritious meals and snacks.
- Children do not attend when they are sick.
- Safe diapering practices for infants/toddlers are followed.
- The program is licensed for early childhood program activities
by the Child Care Services Division, Department of Social
and Rehabilitation Services
"Provider" refers to any early childhood professional,
child care provider, toddler or preschool teacher, licensed
center staff or certified early education teacher/specialist.
12 Questions to Ask the
Provider of Early Care Services Before Enrolling Your Child:
- Do you and your staff enjoy being with children?
- What is your daily routine?
- Do you and your staff have CPR and First Aid Certification?
- What is your background with children?
- Do you and your staff participate in education/training
related to your job?
- When do you share information about my child's day?
- How do you handle the needs of multiple age groups?
- How are the children's changing interests met?
- What are your guidance and discipline practices?
- Is your program licensed/registered by the State of Vermont?
- What would happen if we disagree about something?
- Do you have an early childhood credential or does your
program have national accreditation?
When you visit a Preschool,
Child Care Center, or other Early Childhood Program, here are
some things to look for...
- Does a provider greet you and your child in a friendly
way?
- Are parents invited to drop by at any time?
- Do providers get down on each child's level to speak with
the child?
- Is the number of providers enough to meet the individual
needs of children?
- Do the providers and children enjoy being together?
- Is the program space (indoors and out) inviting to children?
- Does the program space provide child size furnishings?
- Where are the play, rest, eating, toilet and diapering
areas?
- Is the program space safe and large enough?
- Are all hazards removed from a child's reach?
- Are toys clean, safe, and in easy reach of children?
- Are there enough toys and a variety of learning materials
for each age group present?
- Are children's needs quickly met even when things get
busy?
Early Childhood Programs include
any of the following:
- Preschool, part day.
- Child care center; full or part day.
- Family child care home.
- Head Start Program.
- Kindergarten.
- Special Education or Special Health Need Services.
Recent
brain research indicates that high quality early care
and education for children is important to later learning
and growing. |
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