Research has shown that children benefit from high quality child care. But what makes a program good? Is it the feeling of trust you get when you meet the provider? Is it the cleanliness of the program? Is it the accreditation or STARS status of the program? How about the education and training of the provider?

Gather information on the programs you are interested in.

Check the program’s regulatory information, accreditation, and STARS status by:

• Reviewing the program information on Bright Futures Information System
• Calling the Child Care Consumer Line at 1-800-540-7942 or (802) 241-2367.

Visit several different programs:

Nothing is better than seeing the program first hand. Watch how the provider interacts with the children, and what activities are offered. Ask questions!

Get recommendations from people you know:

Talk to people you know and trust about their experiences with different child care programs. Remember that every child is different – what works for one family might not work for another.

Look for things research has said indicates quality child care:

To help you make choices about child care, researchers have identified guidelines, or quality indicators, that are often found in programs that are considered “high quality.” High quality programs have well trained staff who provide nuturing learning environments that are safe, healthy and go beyond basic expectations.

Programs that go beyond minimum standards may have earned national accreditation and/or been recognized by the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS).

Additional resources:

Child Care Aware - the Child Care Aware website has information that can help you locate quality child care in your community.