Know Your Child-Care Center

What Is a Good Child-Care Program?
Quality child care offers the child healthy social and educational experiences under qualified supervision in a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment. In such a center, children are not only well-cared for but also participate in daily activities appropriate for their ages and individual developmental levels. Through these activities, each child develops important skills, learns to get along with others, and builds independence and self-respect.

To provide a child with a sense of security, child-care centers should provide a daily schedule that has some flexibility.

These are not required by Florida law.
Children - including infants and toddlers - have easy access to safe toys kept for them on open shelves.
There are age-appropriate toys and games to build hand-eye coordination such as grasping toys for infants; nesting cups for toddlers; and puzzles, small building toys, and safe scissors for older children.
Building toys, such as blocks and other accessories, are added to enhance imaginary play.
Soft toys and dolls, toy dishes, and dress-up clothes are available for imaginary play.
Varied experiences with language and books are provided.
Activities are children initiated but teacher facilitated.
Time to run, exercise, and develop coordination.
Time for art activities and puzzles.
Field trips to local parks, libraries, museums, firehouses, etc.
Active and quiet play.
Clean sand and water are available for play outdoors and sometimes indoors.
Organized and free activities.
Space is provided for children to play alone or in small groups, protected from the pressure and competition of other children.
Children's artwork is displayed where it is visible to children.
Time for meals and snacks.
Colorful pictures of everyday things are hung at the child's eye level without the use of sharp objects such as tacks.
Sufficient number of trained staff and special time for individual adult attention and interaction.
Scheduled rest time.

Every licensed child care center should:

Have a valid license which bears the distinctive seal of the State of Florida and is posted in a conspicuous place within the center for the parents to see.
Adhere to the number of children for which the center is licensed at any given time.
Post a schedule of daily activities.
Have a working telephone with police, fire, poison control, and rescue numbers posted near the telephone.
Know the statewide toll-free telephone number, 800-962-2873, for reporting child abuse, and have it posted near all telephones. Reports of suspected and actual cases of child physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect received through the Florida Abuse Hotline number are referred to the Department of Children and Families for investigation.

Have no less than the required minimum staff/child ratio for each age level, which is as follows:

(Minimum State Licensing Requirement)
Under 1 Year. Old - 1 Adult for 4 Infants
1 Year Old - 1 Adult for 6 Infants
2 Years Old - 1 Adult for 11 Children
3 Years Old - 1 Adult for 15 Children
4 Years Old - 1 Adult for 20 Children
5 Years Old and Older - 1 Adult for 25 Children

This is the state minimum licensing standard. This standard may not indicate an adequate child/staff ratio for quality care.

Have a working fire extinguisher and conduct monthly fire drills with children and staff.
Have a locked storage place that is out of the reach of children for storing cleansers, poisons, sharp instruments, matches, and other dangerous supplies.
Have adequate, safe indoor and outdoor play space and equipment.
Have an adult who is trained in first aid and CPR on the premises at all times. The center also must have a fully stocked first aid kit.
Keep all medication in an area that is inaccessible to children. Medication must be in the original container and written authorization must be obtained from the parent before medicine can be administered.
Have clean, child-sized bathroom facilities which are appropriate for the age groups served.
Post the weekly menu.
Have clean cots or mats and cribs so children may rest and nap.
Have enough space for children to work and play quietly and actively with materials and equipment.
Be accessible and appropriate for children/persons with special needs.
Use safety restraints and car seats every time a child is in a car, bus, van, or other moving vehicle.

The Parents' Role
Quality child care involves not only the child but also a close working relationship between the caregiver and parents. The parent's responsibility in establishing the relationship includes the following:

Providing the center with complete enrollment information including current home telephone number and numbers where they can be contacted during the day; telephone numbers of two local persons in case of an emergency (friend, neighbor, relative), and names of authorized persons with permission to take the child from the center.
Being able to come to the center at any time during operating hours.
Providing current and up-to-date immunization and physical records.
Telling the caregiver any special needs the child may have, including food allergies or dislikes, procedures for nap times, toilet habits, favorite toys and games.
Asking the caregiver about the qualifications and experience of child-care staff.
Discussing with the caregiver the center's capability to provide activities which meet the needs of all children including those who have special needs.
Discussing with the caregiver the center's policy for disciplining children.
Asking about child-care transportation policy - is it the responsibility of the parents, or does the center provide transportation?
Asking about the center's hours of operation (including days and times).
Making sure to be on time when picking up children from the center and notifying the center if they are going to be late to pick up their child.
Never bring a sick child to the child-care center.
Notifying the child-care center if the child is sick or if the family is going out of town and the child will not be attending.
Finding out the cost of child care and what this includes.
Are food, diapers, laundry, toys, educational materials, and trips extra, or are they included in the fee?
Finding out what the payment schedule is. Does the parent pay in advance or at the end of the week? Is there a registration fee?
Making sure children are dressed appropriately for the weather and in clean and neat clothing, and that they have an extra set of clothing to change into.
Asking the caregiver the procedures for dispensing medicine to children and having signed authorization for caregiver to dispense medicine.
Participating in the center's special activities and attending scheduled parents meetings and conferences.
Talking with the caregiver about any concerns regarding the child. For example, cuts, scratches, bruises, or other injuries which may have occurred at the center, as well as discussing the child's progress and participation while at the center.
Strongly encouraging children to talk about their experience in child care.
Visiting the child-care center during the time the child is in care to observe different activities in which the child is involved.
Familiarizing themselves with the child-care standards used to license the child-care facility. These standards may be found in chapter 10M-12, Florida Administrative Code, unless the county has elected to meet or exceed these standards through the development of its own county child-care standards.