Introduction Part 3

Author: An G

2008-09-30 Word Count: 590 Category: Parental Care

Types of Child Care

There are also other forms of child care with respect to educational programs.

• Head Start and Early Head Start - Is a program that services low-income families and their children ages birth through five. It is funded by the government and available to those that qualify.

• Private Preschool Programs - Are programs that are privately owned and licensed by the state. They can be half-day or full-day programs that focus on educational curriculum for two- to five-year-olds. They can service children within a child care program, or be a separate program altogether.

• Preschool within the Public School System - Are programs that are also referred to as pre-kindergarten programs and generally service children who have been identified with special needs by a pre-school screening. Many pre-K programs also service low-income families or families who do not speak English as their primary language.

I've worked at two such facilities that would be considered quality child care that actually meet nationally accredited standards, and follow all the other guidelines, with the exception of small group sizes. This, to me, is the one factor that is the hardest to find in any child care, due to the fact that programs must maintain a certain level of attendance in order to fund the program. Despite the larger numbers, these centers are still considered quality centers, and for the most part, children benefited greatly from attending these places. The children there received beneficial pre-kindergarten skills, as well as consistent care from a trained professional, as all teachers had an early childhood degree or equivalent.

Parents, are you looking for quality daycare or childcare? Are you looking for someone who’s more than a babysitter? Wondering what your states standards and regulations are? Want your children to get a good early childhood education from a teacher who cares and is qualified? Have you checked out your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) for quality childcare?

I’ve also written a book because of my experiences in teaching and, most importantly, my experiences teaching in child care. I’ve always been one to demand excellence in everything I do and from everyone I encounter. The fact that child care is less than excellent keeps me searching for a way to improve the standards that aren’t meeting my, and hopefully your expectations.

I am just one of many professionals who have worked over the years to achieve excellence in child care. I have always been one to make sure I have the facts before making assumptions or conclusions about any topic. With that mind, the book I've written is a compilation of the research I have studied, along with my personal experiences that I have used to draw conclusions about the state of child care in the United States. Although I may refer to other countries, it is merely to compare and contrast what I feel is a noteworthy fact about what other countries are doing to support the future of their country.

I always thought that if I’m a good teacher and a good role model, then others will follow suit and step up to the challenge of creating quality child care, and that it would be enough. I’ve always hoped that there are more people out there that have the same standards I do and are creating the same quality than not, but the more I teach, the more I find this isn’t the case.

Angie