Thinking About Caregivers For Your Child

The caregiver you choose is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child’s early years. Regardless of the situation you choose for your child, the provider is the person who will ultimately be responsible for your child’s well being. Your choice is very personal; choose carefully.

Here are some questions to consider when you’re choosing a caregiver for your child.

Does your child’s caregiver…

Respond to you and your child with friendliness and warmth?

  • Yes
  • No

Interact with children in a respectful, caring way?

  • Yes
  • No

Discipline fairly and with compassion?

  • Yes
  • No

Respect your attitudes and goals for your child?

  • Yes
  • No

Offer praise and guidance?

  • Yes
  • No

Have a sense of humor?

  • Yes
  • No

Interact with your child rather than just “watch” him or her?

  • Yes
  • No

Treat your child as the special person he or she is?

  • Yes
  • No

Help your child make choices?

  • Yes
  • No

Encourage good health habits?

  • Yes
  • No

Help your child get along with others?

  • Yes
  • No

Understand your child’s ability to get along with others?

  • Yes
  • No

Allow your child to make choices and gradually accept responsibility?

  • Yes
  • No

Have training that helps him or her understand a child’s growth and development?

  • Yes
  • No

Set up regular times during the year to talk with you?

  • Yes
  • No

Welcome your help with activities, field trips, parties, etc?

  • Yes
  • No

Offer dependability?

  • Yes
  • No

Tell the children what they “can do”? (Set limits in a positive way?)

  • Yes
  • No

Respect the difference in each child’s religious, ethnic, and cultural background?

  • Yes
  • No

Allow parents to stay with their child in the beginning to ease the transition to a new place?

  • Yes
  • No

Encourage the children to bring a special toy or object from home?

  • Yes
  • No

Encourage the children to talk and share with one another?

  • Yes
  • No

Have an organized daily routine?

  • Yes
  • No

Use community resources to enhance the program?

  • Yes
  • No

Encourage children to express positive and negative feelings?

  • Yes
  • No

Help children label their feelings?

  • Yes
  • No

Remain calm and nurturing?

  • Yes
  • No