Kara DavidsonChild care is an essential part of many working families’ lives. A growing body of research indicates that high-quality child care can promote positive social, cognitive, and educational outcomes for children. Providers who serve children eligible for subsidies need predictable, stable, and adequate funding. One way is through grants or contracts that pay providers based on enrollment.
Socialization
The socialization process begins early in childhood and helps a child develop a positive self-image and understand and interact with others. It teaches them how to deal with their emotions, respect the feelings of others, and work within society’s norms. Children can learn these skills from other children and adults in childcare or by participating in group activities with family, friends, or neighbors.
Children can also experience socialization in structured settings such as school or extracurricular activities. Structured environments can give children a sense of security and help them learn to adapt to new situations. A daily schedule of events with a set bedtime, meals, and learning times can help them develop an understanding of how things work in the world around them. You can find out more information about local childcare options by searching online for ‘toddler child care in Bel Air South, MD‘ (or elsewhere relevant) and reading through the most highly reviewed results. It’s important you conduct thorough research so you can make a well-informed decision on the best option for both yourself and your children.
Many parents seek quality child care programs Fairport NY, and providers with years of experience and credentials to show they can meet a child’s needs. Promoting your childcare program with testimonials from current families is a great way to attract new families.
Physical Activity
Young children need lots of physical activity to grow healthy and develop well. However, passive activities such as watching television and playing computer games or being restricted to movement in strollers and cars limit their ability to be active and cause long-term adverse effects. A high-quality childcare program is designed to provide opportunities for all young children to have the physical activity they need.
These opportunities include outdoor play, indoor and outdoor group physical activities, structured sports, and free space. Family childcare providers also promote physical activity by encouraging parents to get involved with their children in a fun way, such as jumping rope or taking a dance or karate class.
Children are more likely to stick with physical activity if they do it with their parents and siblings. If your child has special needs, talk to your pediatrician about a preparticipation physical evaluation and about community programs or adaptive equipment that can help them be more physically active.
Nutrition
High-quality child care offers a range of essential benefits. Beyond providing nurturance and educational opportunities, it helps parents meet employment and family responsibilities, provides respite care in child welfare cases, supports working families, reduces poverty, and connects children to community services, including feeding programs and parenting support.
The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program can facilitate access to wholesome meals and snacks for children enrolled in daycare. The program reimburses licensed family child care providers and child care centers for serving well-planned, nutritionally balanced meals that meet specific meal patterns.
Research suggests that children who receive CACFP-subsidized meals in childcare settings are less likely to live in food-insecure households and more likely to be in fair or reasonable health than those who do not. Regrettably, childcare providers also feel the pinch as fewer meals are being distributed. These providers depend on the money from enrollment-based subsidies to help stabilize their budgets and ensure they can keep providing for their kids.
Learning
Childcare programs offer kids a safe and enriching environment. They also help parents get the work done that allows them to provide for their families. It’s essential in today’s economy, where most parents must work outside the home to support their children and themselves.
Kids in child care are surrounded by their peers, which helps them learn socialization skills and build a foundation for future relationships with others that will last throughout life. They also spend time with educators passionate about early childhood education, allowing them to gain knowledge and develop early academic skills.
Knowledge of typical development and learning is the best place to start for a childcare provider when planning experiences and environments for children. This way, they can ensure that the activities challenge children enough to help them progress but not so challenging they become frustrated and overwhelmed. Many childcare providers also participate in ongoing training to keep their skills current.
