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Family Child Care Homes |
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Family child care homes are child care programs run by one provider in his/her own home. A lot of parents prefer family child care for infants and very young children because it offers a home-like environment with a small-group, mixed-age setting. Family child care homes may also offer:
When looking for a family child care provider, it’s important to be comfortable with the home, the children, and the caregiver. When you visit a family child care program, look at the activities the children are doing, see how the children fit in with the rest of the family, check out the space the children have to play in, and ask a lot of questions. In Montana, family child care homes are required to be registered. You should look for a situation where there are no more than six children for each adult (unless the provider is approved to accommodate 2 additional children during a 3-hour overlap period). The number of children under the age of 2 should be limited to 3 or fewer. To check on provider-to-child ratios in Montana, go to the National Child Care Information Center website and click on Montana. Finding the right caregiver takes times and patience. You need to evaluate the caregiver's qualifications, check references, and meet with the provider several times. All child care providers in Montana are required to have 8 hours of training per year in the early childhood field and be certified in First Aid and CPR. Ask the provider about any additional training or education they may have. Most of all, you need to feel comfortable with the person and trust that he or she is committed to providing the best care for your child.
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This page last updated on
Monday, November 13, 2006 |
