Relocating to Las Vegas | Relocation Resources for Moving to Las Vegas

For help in selecting a safe and healthy child-care setting, visit Child Care Aware at www.childcareaware.org or call (800) 424-2246. Also check the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) website at www.nccic.org.

TOOLKIT FOR FINDING THE RIGHT CHILD-CARE FACILITY
When preparing for your search for the right child-care facility, compile a list of items to observe and questions to ask for each facility that you tour. When making the final selection, your comments will help you remember aspects of each. Here is a sample list to help your efforts.

— Health and Safety Factors

Observe cleanliness of the center as well as the diaper-changing and hand-washing procedures.
Ask about security of medicines and chemicals in the facility.
Ask if the caregivers are certified in CPR and First Aid.
Ask about the meal and naptime routines.
Ask about transportation procedures if children are taken on field trips.
Ask about discipline procedures when children act out or break classroom rules and how positive behavior is encouraged.
Observe indoor and outdoor play areas and safety precautions used by staff.

— Activities

Ask about planned activities and observe equipment, toys and materials.
Ask if the children are read to daily and look for the quality and quantity of books in each room.
Ask about the amount of time spent each day on the playground (30–45 minutes in the morning and afternoon is recommended).
Ask about the use of technology (e.g., TV, VCR, computers) in the facility, recognizing that limited use is recommended for young children.

— Quality Factors

Remember that consistent, positive relationships with caring adults will allow your child to grow, develop and learn.
Observe whether the caregivers are warm and caring and enjoy their work.
Ask if the program is accredited or certified by a recognized respectable agency, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (www.naeyc.org), with higher requirements than minimum child-care licensing standards.
Ask about the experience, education and regular training of the caregivers.
Ask about the number of children assigned to each caregiver and the number of children in each room so you can understand the opportunities for individual attention.

— Parent Involvement

Ask if parents are welcome to visit and how they are encouraged to participate.
Ask how and how often the caregivers will communicate with you about your child’s progress or behavior.

HIRING A NANNY
According to the International Nanny Association (INA) (www.nanny.org), you can look for a nanny in many places, including help wanted ads in newspapers and magazines, bulletin boards and referrals from friends. These approaches can be time-consuming and also can result in negative experiences. The INA suggests that you contact nanny-training programs about the availability of their graduates or that you take advantage of the services offered by nanny-placement agencies.