See Dick build a castle. See Jane destroy it. See a day-care provider guide them through their dispute and teach them the value of getting along.
Finding a good center or provider is not child’s play. The choices are also expensive, and that’s not because of a paucity of providers. In fact, there are a confusing number to sort through.
Open the Yellow Pages and under “Child Care,” “Child” and “Child Care Referral Services” alone, you’ll see dozens of listings for centers and individuals competing to watch your children. They charge anywhere from a modest $6 an hour to several hundred dollars weekly.
Word-of-mouth will point you in the right direction. But it’s also critical to know what questions to ask during an interview, what to look for and what you’ll need to pay in terms of benefits and transportation. (Yes, those withholding taxes that took Zoe Baird out of consideration for U.S. attorney general will have to be paid if you don’t want to get into hot water with the IRS.)
Perhaps most important, you need to watch how potential caregivers interact with your child. Do they get down on the floor and play or do they simply baby-sit their charges?
Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute in New York, a non-profit research organization, considers the person more key than the place. “It’s the person who takes care of your child. You want someone warm and caring who views them as individuals and likes children. You also want someone who will teach them.”
So, what kind of child care should you get? Here’s a guide.
– Nanny care. To a large degree, the decision will hinge on how much you pay. Often the most expensive and least disruptive solution is a nanny or caregiver who comes to your home, maybe lives in and takes care of your child. You’re likely to pay between $250 and $300 a week for 50 hours of care.
While such interaction is viewed as a plus in the early years, it’s often considered a downside as a child gets older because there’s less chance for play with other children. “After age 2 1/2 to 3, children need interaction,” says Barbara Bowman, president of the Erickson Institute, a graduate program in child development affiliated with Loyola University.
Some caveats: Be prepared to give vacation time and pay when your family goes away or you’ll risk losing your nanny to another more “generous” family. Have a backup caregiver in case your nanny gets sick.
A slightly less expensive alternative, though not cheap, is taking in an au pair. In exchange for room and board for a year, the au pair cares for your child, prepares meals and does “light” laundry.
Government-recognized au pair agencies must meet guidelines regarding the education levels of their hirees and enforce guidelines such as no heavy housework, 1 1/2 days off each week and no more than 45 hours of work weekly.
One such agency, AuPairCare, based in San Francisco and with a regional office here, charges $4,195, which includes finding an 18- to 26-year-old (it gives each host family four applications to consider with more provided if needed), airfare, medical insurance, a police check and a four- to five-day child development program in New York. On top of that, families pay the au pair $115 a week.
– Family child care. Still less expensive are providers who watch a few children in their homes, what the industry terms family child care. Many charge $125 to $175 a week, depending on location, says Laura Pastorelli, who formerly offered family child care but now works at the North Avenue Day Nursery. “The closer you get to the lake and downtown, the higher the rate tends to be,” she says.
Treasured Offspring Ltd. Childcare Services in Marynook has a staff of two care for seven children. Owner Carolyn Williams charges $125 a week, plus a $50 registration fee.
When such centers watch fewer than three children, they don’t need to be licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). While many of these caregivers are scrupulous about safety, hygiene and appropriate discipline, others are not, and it’s critical that parents inspect potential centers more than once, says Bee Jay Ciszek, executive director of Chicago Metro, a non-profit advocacy organization for children, families and teachers. “There are enough bad centers that parents should be cautious,” she warns.
Specifics to look for and ask about are whether there are a sufficient number of cots or cribs for young children, where meals are served and what foods are offered, how safe the surroundings are (different ages have different requirements), what age-appropriate games and activities are played.
Also, observe the interaction between staff and children. “Be sure the staff’s expectations are realistic,” said Laura Esikoff, director of the parent/infant development program at the non-profit Juvenile Protective Association. “Some expect too much–that a toddler eat neatly and not make a mess.”
Find out about the staff’s educational backgrounds. The lead teacher should have an associate or bachelor’s degree with child development experience and should continue to take courses, says Barbara Willer, public affairs director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in Washington, D.C.
– Day-care centers. These centers tend to a wide variety of ages in an off-site location and charge a range of prices, typically $150 to $200 a week. Hours of operation vary.
At the Laurence Armour Day School at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, the oldest licensed employer-sponsored child-care provider in the state, the cost ranges from $160 a week for an infant to 2-year-old, down to $101 for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. Detour 2 Discovery Day School at 1020 S. Wabash Ave. charges $195 for infants and children under 2 years and $175 for those who are older.
Because such centers are licensed, they adhere to DCFS’ guidelines on the proper ratio of children per adults. DCFS requires at least one staff member for every four infants–children 6 weeks to 15 months–and one staff member for every 20 children when they are 5 years and older.
Better-run centers offer amenities as well. Laurence Armour has seven classrooms and a newly renovated playground. Detour 2 Discovery has a computer lab, library, rec and fitness room and offers Spanish lessons, music classes off campus and walks to nearby Grant Park. The center will receive NAEYC accreditation in September.
For a copy of the Cook County child-care resource and referral list of caregivers, call 312-769-8000.
