FAMILY DAY CARE

Family day care is the most commonly used form of child care. This is because it is usually less expensive and more flexible than other forms of care. It offers a "family" environment in a home setting. Approximately half of the family day care providers in this country are women who have raised their own children and have found that caring for other people's children is a gratifying way to make an income at home. Many others who offer this service do so in order to stay home with their own children.

When assessing family day care, the initial step is to specifically define your needs. You should think about how old your child will be upon entering a provider's program, how many hours per day and how many days per week your child will need care, where a good location for a provider's home would be, and how much you can afford to pay. In addition, you should determine whether or not you would be willing to have a provider who smokes, who has pets, or who would be transporting your child in his/her car. To learn more about a provider's approach to education and his/her philosophy, you should continue to ask questions.

When you are ready to find a list of family day care providers you can use the information available in a resource and referral office, such as the Office of Family Resources. You can also check public bulletin boards, such as those found in your local library or grocery stores, or in your local newspaper, where many providers advertise. Another resource is the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) website, www.eec.state.ma.us/. Once you have obtained a list of providers, you are ready to find out more information about each of them. This will help you to narrow down your list to only those providers who best match the needs of you and your child, including your educational philosophies and values.

The state has very specific licensing requirements for family day care. To read about the specific guidelines that the EEC has set forth, please refer to their document at: http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs/FCCLicensingGuide.pdf.

The Office of Family Resources can assist you in your search for child care by referring you to family day care providers in the area of your choice. Please complete a Referral Service Statement and return it to our office if you would like to receive this service and information about this form of childcare.