What Does Quality Look Like?
 
Research shows that quality child care can be very good for children. This document explains what quality looks like for children of different ages. You will also want to review the Site Visit Checklist to help you make your child care choice.
Infants and Toddlers
The person caring for my child should:
- provide lots of physical contact such as holding, carrying, rocking, snuggling, etc.
- talk happily to my child: during everyday routine times (such as diapering and feeding) as well as during play times
- respond to my child quickly and lovingly to meet his/her needs
- encourage my child to reach new milestones: for instance, reaching for toys, crawling, or walking
- be patient and gentle, especially as my child is learning how to be social with other children
- use redirection often as a way to guide my young child’s behavior
- respect my child’s individual needs and routines such as napping, feeding, etc.
- read simple, colorful books to my child or a small group of children
- understand that infants and toddlers need to feel loved and secure in order to develop and grow
Preschool Children
The person caring for my child should:
- help my child feel good about him/herself by: letting my child know when she/he has been successful with a task, having many good one-on-one interactions, offering hugs and smiles, etc.
- listen when my child is talking
- encourage my child to try new things
- sit with my child while he/she is playing and talk with my child about what he/she is doing
- encourage my child to verbalize his/her feelings to others and help my child learn ways to handle conflicts in a positive manner
- show a sense of humor and playfulness
- have realistic expectations for my preschooler’s behavior
- give my child opportunities throughout the day to make good choices
- ask many open-ended questions
- read to my child daily and encourage a love of books
School-age children
The person caring for my child should:
- show concern and interest in what happened during my child’s day at school
- understand that my child needs time for active play after school
- support my child when he/she is working on homework assignments
- encourage my child to develop and pursue interests and hobbies relevant to his/her age
- include my child in making rules
- try to give my child appropriate responsibilities
- realize that although my child is becoming more and more independent, she/he still needs adult guidance, attention, and affection
- ensure that there is space for my child to store his/her materials that may not be suitable for younger children
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