For many working moms, especially those who work outside the home, sending our kids to daycare is the norm. But with so many childcare options available, how we do choose the right one?
Searching for and choosing a daycare is not a simple process. It can actually be overwhelming at times; I spent endless hours researching and comparing daycares in my area. There are so many things to think about – home daycares versus centers, cost, location, reputation, personal and family needs – and it can be hard to find a place that checks all the boxes.
Even though there are many factors that are important to consider, we should always strive to choose the highest quality setting available. Choosing a high-quality program helps our kids develop socially, emotionally, and academically, and has a measurable impact on them for years to come.
What does “high-quality” mean?
Quality isn’t measured by a single metric. It refers to the overall space, resources, staff, and support available to a childcare program.
High-quality programs adhere to a rigorous standard that ensures children are receiving the proper care, are safe, have good teachers, and are engaging in age-appropriate activities.
Generally, childcare is considered high-quality when:
- Children are exposed to healthy, positive interactions with teachers who are warm, engaging, and responsive to their needs.
- Children have access to a learning space in which they can explore their physical environment in a developmentally appropriate and safe way (appropriate toys, pretend play sets, puzzles etc.), as well as the opportunity for safe outdoor play time and interacting with nature.
- There is good administrative and program support (good leadership, adequate funding, trained teachers, low turnover rate, low staff to child ratio etc).
It’s important to note that high-quality childcare doesn’t always equate to a daycare center. Many home daycares can be considered high-quality as well – it all depends on the people who work there and their plans for the little humans they will be entrusted with.
How do we assess the quality of a childcare program?
Quality can be assessed by us as parents by reading reviews, meeting the teachers and staff, and taking tours of the facility. You can find comprehensive checklists to help you evaluate the quality of a childcare setting at Child Care Aware.
Quality can also be assessed by state standards. Most states or territories have childcare quality ratings for registered providers that can be accessed via childcare.gov.
Why childcare quality matters
How important is quality in early childcare? Does it really matter that much?
Yes! The experiences in the first five years of a child’s life set the foundation for the rest of their lives. If that’s not convincing enough, keep reading!
Many studies have shown that enrolling our children into high-quality childcare programs during infancy and toddlerhood can have significant academic and social benefits that persist for years into the future.
1. Children enrolled in high-quality settings are more likely to have better vocabulary and reading skills in kindergarten
Children who are enrolled in high-quality childcare in the infant-toddler and preschool years go on to have larger vocabularies and better reading skills in kindergarten. High-quality settings expose children to a language-rich environment where there are many opportunities for them to communicate with their teachers and classmates.
Language development is important to pay attention to in the early years – research shows that a child’s vocabulary at just 19 months predicts reading and comprehension skills in school and in later years.
2. Children enrolled in high-quality settings are more likely to have better social and emotional skills
Children who are enrolled in high-quality childcare learn how to regulate their emotions, form positive relationships, control their impulses, and interact with others in the social context of school.
Some research shows that children enrolled in high-quality childcare during the infant-toddler years may even have better social skills than their peers in kindergarten.
3. Children enrolled in high-quality settings are more likely to have better performance in STEM subjects through elementary and high school
Children who are enrolled in high-quality childcare from infancy through preschool-age perform better in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects through elementary and high school. This is because high-quality childcare facilities are 1) more likely to have warm, engaged, and responsive teachers and 2) more likely to provide higher levels of cognitive stimulation for children.
4. Children enrolled in high-quality settings are more likely to have better overall academic performance in kindergarten and elementary school
For all the reasons listed above, children enrolled in high-quality early childcare programs have better overall academic performance in kindergarten and elementary school than those who are in family child care, public school preschool, or in the care of family and friends.
5. Children enrolled in high-quality settings are more likely to be better prepared for kindergarten
Kindergarten readiness in kids is measured by the presence of certain skills and behaviors, such as literacy, language, and social-emotional development. High-quality childcare programs improve those skills and help prepare our kids for success once they get to school.
Being successful in kindergarten actually increases the likelihood that our children will do well in elementary school and throughout their lives.
Choosing childcare isn’t simple; there are many things to consider, and we each have our own priorities and needs. Whenever possible, we should prioritize quality when searching for childcare. High-quality programs are associated with better performance in school, as well as academic and social success later in life.
Sources
Workman, Simon, and Rebecca Ullrich. “Quality 101: Identifying the Core Components of a High-Quality Early Childhood Program.” Center for American Progress, 2017, www.americanprogress.org/article/quality-101-identifying-the-core-components-of-a-high-quality-early-childhood-program/.
Mader, Jackie. “The Lasting Benefits of High-Quality Child Care.” The Hechinger Report, 9 Aug. 2023, hechingerreport.org/newsletter/the-lasting-benefits-of-high-quality-child-care/.
“Quality Matters | Division of Early Childhood.” Earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org, earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/families/finding-child-care/quality-matters.
Bustamante, Andres. “High-Quality Child Care Contributes to Later Success in Science, Math.” Apa.org, 15 June 2023, www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/06/quality-child-care-science-math.
Schoch, Annie, et al. Children’s Learning and Development Benefits from High-Quality Early Care and Education: A Summary of the Evidence. 2023.
Vernon-Feagans, Lynne, et al. “Quality of Childcare and Otitis Media: Relationship to Children’s Language during Naturalistic Interactions at 18, 24, and 36 Months.” Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, vol. 28, no. 2, Mar. 2007, pp. 115–133, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2006.12.003. Accessed 17 Feb. 2022.
Bratsch‐Hines, Mary E., et al. “Infant and Toddler Child‐Care Quality and Stability in Relation to Proximal and Distal Academic and Social Outcomes.” Child Development, vol. 91, no. 6, 14 July 2020, pp. 1854–1864, https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13389.
“Kindergarten Readiness Leads to Life Skills, Research Finds.” College of Education and Human Ecology, OSU College of Education and Human Ecology, 2024, ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/kindergarten-readiness-leads-life-skills-research-finds.
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