64 Part One The Children and You
about a program before they can
choose it. Your role will be to help
parents gain the needed information.
As parents begin a search, they
want to identify options. Some
parents start by contacting a child
care resource and referral agency for
a list of licensed programs in their
community. Other parents search
the telephone book for available
programs. Parents also ask people
they know about experiences with
the available programs. Many parents
seek the advice of other parents who
use early childhood programs. Parents
often trust this more than information
given by the program itself.
Next, parents often begin calling
available programs. First questions
often involve what age groups the
program serves, whether openings
exist in their child’s age group, and
what the hours of operation are.
Then, parents might ask about fees
and location.
Parents who are still interested
will ask about the program, staff,
and activities. From there, they may
arrange a visit to the program. A visit
during program hours lets parents
inspect the environment, observe the
program, and meet the staff. Parents
may want to see the whole facility,
including the kitchen, restrooms,
classrooms, and outdoor play areas.
They will often ask to see the daily
and weekly schedules as well as the
menu for meals and snacks. Parents
also want to observe the interactions
of staff with children and other
adults in the program.
After the visit, parents may
have additional questions. They
may need to visit a program
several times before making a final fi
decision. Parents may also want
to bring their child to see how the
child responds to the environment.
With all of this information, parents
can decide which available early
childhood program will best meet
the needs of the child and family.
Licensing Rules
and Regulations
Licensing g rules and regulations g
are standards set to ensure that
uniform and safe practices are
followed. Licensing rules and
regulations are typically stated in
terms of conditions that affect the
safety and health of the children.
They are also designed to protect
parents, employers, and employees.
Currently, every state in the U.S.
has licensing rules and regulations to
promote safe, healthful environments
for children in out-of-home care. Many
licensing systems exist because no two
states are alike. Communities have
different needs and vary considerably.
These rules and regulations change
in response to research, monetary
considerations, and politics.
A child care license is a
state-provided certifi granting ficate
permission to operate a child care
center or family child care home.
Many states require that the license
be posted in the center’s entryway.
Most licenses include the center’s
name, period for which the license
is effective, and number of children
permitted to attend. Programs are
typically monitored with scheduled
and unscheduled inspections. When
a violation is noted, some states
require that a copy of the officialfi
violation be posted in the entryway.
Once the violation has been corrected,
the posting can be removed. This is
a way of communicating the status