Finding quality care for your child may seem like a simple task, but many parents (myself included) are quickly surprised by all the factors involved when choosing quality child care. Once you decide on which type of child care setting is best for you, many parents then must consider the cost and location, followed by making sure the child care staff are properly trained, whether or not the home or center is licensed, and if the environment is the right fit for your child’s needs. Here are some things to keep in mind when “shopping” for child care.

Types of Child Care & How to Find a Site

Before starting your search, you’ll want to determine which program’s setting meets your child’s needs (such as a home environment versus a classroom setting), the size of the program, and the space and hours it has available. 

• Child Care Centers - Centers can serve children of a variety of ages and can include full and part-time care. Child care centers may be right for you and your child if you prefer a structured, classroom-like environment with groups of children their same age, a wider variety of equipment and activities, and many adults present.

• Family Child Care Homes-Family Child Care providers care for a small group of children in their own private residence. Family child care homes may be right for you and your child if you prefer a home-like setting and small group size, and more consistency.

• Head Start and Early Head Start Programs- These programs are free and federally funded, and they are designed to promote school readiness for families that meet income eligibility requirements. To learn more about Head Start and Early Head Start, visit us here: https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/EHS. 

To find the child care option that’s best for your family, you can start by calling the Early Learning Coalition Child Care Resource and Referral line at 561-514-3300 to receive information about choosing child care and a personalized child care listing. Review the information provided for each site, including their licensing status, inspection reports, and quality ratings. You can then contact the individual centers you are interested in and find out about their availability, hours of operation, and cost of care. Finally, schedule a time to visit the center to experience the environment firsthand. 

Questions to Ask & Things to Look For

• Is the program licensed? Licensing is the main way states and territories regulate child care to ensure children stay healthy and safe. Not all child care options are required to be licensed, so it is important to check what the status is for the program you are considering.

• Does the program accept financial assistance, or participate in any financial assistance programs?

• Ask about teacher to child ratios, education, and training requirements for staff. Do program staff undergo background checks as part of the hiring and screening process?

• Does the program provide meals or snacks?

• What are the program’s pick-up and drop-off procedures, safety measures, and emergency planning procedures?

• After visiting the child care site, ask yourself how you felt- did you feel welcomed? Were the children happy and engaged in age-appropriate activities? Which of the providers that you visited made you feel the most comfortable?

You can download a tip sheet of additional things to look, listen, and ask for at your child care center here: https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/choosing-quality-child-care-tip-sheets. Additional resources are also available at the Division of Early Learning’s website: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/early-learning. 

Resources & Financial Assistance

If you need assistance paying for child care, there are programs that can help. You may be eligible for vouchers, certificates, or subsidies. Some local nonprofit organizations and child care providers may also offer fee assistance or scholarships.



The Coalition’s Child Care Resource and Referral team are always available to provide you with information, financial advice, and any other questions you may have! Visit us online at https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/child-care-resource-referral or call 561-514-3300. We are here to help you every step of the way!