Looking For Child Care?
A Guide To Choosing Child Care

The search for child care is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. It can also be one of the most difficult. “A Guide to Choosing Child Care” was created to serve as a resource for you as a parent to use when searching for a child care provider.

This booklet contains several helpful tips to help families make an informed choice when choosing a child care program. We hope this information will serve as a useful tool in finding the child care arrangement that best meets your child’s and family’s individual needs.

For additional information, an individualized list of child care providers, or answers to your questions, please call the CCCC office so we can provide you with further assistance.  1-800-676-2805

To access a referral specialist by email, please e-mail: findchildcare@CCCConnect.org

Please click the following link for a full copy of our Looking For Child Child booklet.

Looking For Child Child booklet

Individual chapters may be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

Table of Contents

What does licensing mean?

Do all programs need to be licensed?

Types of Child Care
In-home, Relative care, Family child care homes, Child care centers,
Preschools, Pre-Kindergarten & Head Start Programs, School-age Care

Matching your child's style to a program

Is your child ready to stay home alone?
15 factors to consider when deciding

How do I start looking for care?
Sample phone interview questions

What do I look for when I visit?

Checking References

Helping your provider understand your child’s needs

Choosing care for a child with special needs
What are my child’s rights? Finding a program Special Needs Resources

Need help paying for child care?

Ten common courtesies

CCCC Complaint Policy

Community Resources

Parent Checklist