A Parent's Guide to Child Care
for School-age Children

What Are The Choices For School-Age Care?

There are many programs that may offer child care for school-age children:

 
  • Day care centers
  • Family day care homes
  • Group family day care homes
  • Park and recreation departments
  • Public and private schools
  • Religious institutions
  • Summer youth camps
  • Youth groups (such as Ys, scouts, boys and girls clubs, Cooperative Extension)
Some of these programs may provide care for school-age youngsters only; others might add a school-age component to an existing child care program.

Basically, child care programs for school-age youth provide adult supervision and age-appropriate activities in the hours before and after school. Programs that are sensitive to the needs of employed parents also provide care during times that school is not in session, such as school holidays and vacations.

 Is One Type Of Child Care Better Than Another?

No one type of child care program is necessarily better than another. Some children are happier in small groups or homelike settings; other children thrive in larger, center-based programs. In any type of care, school-age youngsters need a program that lets them enjoy their out-of-school time to relax, play, pursue hobbies and other interests, build relationships with trusted adults, and socialize with other children.

Parents need to know that their children are in a safe place under the supervision of competent adults. For many parents, convenience and cost are important considerations.

Most important is that you find a program that best suits your needs and the needs of your school-age child.

 Why Is Regulation Important?

Most child care programs that serve school-age youngsters must be either licensed or registered with the State Department of Social Services. Some child care programs are regulated by the city Department of Health. Camps for children must meet regulations established by the State Department of Health.

Regulated programs are required to meet standards that are designed to protect children and give parents peace of mind. For example, in regulated child care programs,

 
  • Parents have the right to drop in at any time to observe the program or see their children.
  • Adult-child ratios limit the number of children each adult cares for, which helps to ensure that children are properly supervised and get the attention they need.
  • Child care providers must receive ongoing training in areas such as child development, health, safety, and nutrition.
  • The child care facility must be clean and safe, with space enough for active children.
  • There must be a written plan for program activities and routines, and the plan must be shared with parents.
  • There must be a plan for the identification and prevention of child abuse and maltreatment.
  • Every licensed program is inspected at least once before the license is issued or renewed. At least 20 percent of all registered programs are inspected annually.

 

How Do You Recognize High-Quality Child Care?

There is no absolute guarantee of quality in child care programs, but there are some factors that help to ensure quality. Because most child care programs are regulated, ask to see the program's license or registration certificate. In addition, look for these important things:

 
  • a clean, safe, friendly environment that meets the needs of active school-age youngsters;
  • responsible care providers who understand school-age children and enjoy working with them;
  • a variety of activities that complement the school day, present opportunities for achievement at differing levels of skill, and encourage school-age youngsters to make choices;
  • a program philosophy that understands that school-age children need time to relax with friends as well as time to pursue individual interests under the watchful guidance of competent adults;
  • nourishing meals and snacks that will appeal to hungry youngsters who are in a period of rapid growth;
  • respect for the importance of parents and other family members to children and to the child care program.
 

Legal:

Please note that the child care providers listed with TLC Child Care Locators (ChildCareCenters.org) are listings only and are not recommendations.  The information provided by TLC Child Care Locators is believed to have come from reliable sources, including the facilities themselves or those open to the public domain.  However, the facilities shown are listings only.  In no way does TLC Child Care Locators, any site partners, or any sponsors endorse, license, nor otherwise recommend lists found on TLC Child Care Locators Web Site.  TLC Child Care Locators exists as a first step for parents, and is not intended as a recommendation of any kind.  We encourage you to contact the sources themselves for the most accurate information.  We also encourage you to contact local Day Care Licensing Agencies to check records of Child Care Providers that you are considering.