How to Choose

How to Choose the Right Care For Your Family

Undoubtedly, you have discovered that there are many options for child care in your area. We recommend that you be as thorough as possible in your research, so you can be confident that you’ve chosen the right child care option.

So, after you have learned about the various types of care, and used our referral service to find child care options for your family, we recommend you take the following steps:

First, call and ask some basic questions, such as:

  • Is there an opening for my child?
  • What is the daily program/routine?
  • Does the provider follow a curriculum?
  • What are the qualifications (education and experience) of the caregivers?
  • Is there much staff turnover?
  • How many children does the provider care for/what is the class size?
  • What are the ages of the children in the group?
  • What are the fees, and what do they include?
  • What are the hours? What happens on holidays and vacation days?
  • Is the provider accredited by a national organization?

Hopefully, the answers to those questions will help you narrow down your options. Next, you should visit the providers you are most interested in, to get a feeling for each in person.

Before you visit providers, review these informative documents:

pdfChoosing Infant/Toddler Care Guide (English)

pdfChoosing Infant/Toddler Care Guide (Spanish)


pdfComplete Parent Guide to Choosing Child Care (English)

pdfComplete Parent Guide to Choosing Child Care (Spanish)


Everything you need to know before hiring a nanny:

pdfThe Ultimate Nanny Guide

When it’s time to visit providers, we recommend you:

Before you commit to a program or sign a contract, you should:

  • Review the provider’s Parent Handbook, if one is available
  • Make sure you understand the pricing, and whether you qualify for financial assistance to help pay for care. Learn more about Paying For Care.

Concerns?

Check a program’s compliance history, address concerns about the quality of child care, or discuss any concerns about child abuse.

More About Concerns

Connect

Contact Us

Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc.

313 Central Park Avenue
Scarsdale, New York 10583

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Child Care Specialists extended hours are available on Tuesdays until 7pm to help you make an informed decision about child care.

Phone: (914) 761-3456
Toll-Free: 1 (844) 387-7525

Fax: (914) 761-1957

Email us

handicap icon    se habla espanol