What Quality Childcare Looks Like - Emily Rogan

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consider, is whether the situation they choose provides quality care.
But parents may not know exactly what quatity means when it
comes to entrusting their children to someonetse - or how
'imoorlant it is.
Early chil.dhood education experts agree that quatity is much more
than simpl.y meeting state health and safety regulations. "Early brain
development sets the pace for the rest of [ife," says Dana Friedman,
Ed.D.. project director of Early Care and Education-Long Istand (ECEU),
a collaboration of experts on parenting and chitd devetopment dedicated
to improving the qual.ity of earty chitdhood services on Long Istand.
Over the last five years, Friedman says, researchers have confirmed
that. "you cannot separate intellectual. social and emotional devetopment
and that relationships in the early years are the most critical for
later schooI success."
In fact, 85 to 90 percent of brain capacity in terms of that deve[-
opment is formed by age five. Yet 95 percent of our investment in public
education doesn't begin untit after that age. says Diane Cohen.
executive director of the Long Istand Fund for Women and Girts, which
atong with the Long Istand Women's Agenda. is giving $50,000 annuat-
[y to parent education and advocacy groups for a new awareness campaign.
The Earty Years Matter: What Every Parent Needs to Know.
"Thafs why ifs crucia[ that parents selecthe type of chitd care programs
that witl best promote their chi[d's devetopment."
Ifs easy to understand why parents and chitd-care providers are
confused by the word "quatity." Pressure for students to perform we[[
in schooL and on state assessments, to be admitted to highly competitive
cotleges and the emphasis from the media on how American
students compare to their internationaI peers, has led parents and
care givers to beUeve that highty structured, academic earty care wi[[
make chjLdren better prepared for the future. Parents are swayed by
centers that promise to teach reading, writing and math. But says,
Friedman, 'You don't need an academic program for children to succeed
acaderirically later in schoot." Instead, chitdren need adutts to speak
to them and ask them questions and encourage them to ask questions.
Childre need safe, accessiblequipment to satisfy their curiosity.
And most importantly, they need to have their feelings validated and
feel loved.
To address the issue of quatity care on Long Island, Friedman, a
nationatty renowned researcher and poticy analyst, created a study with
ECELI to anatyze the current state of chitd care on Long Island and
determine where improvements are needed and how those changes
might be imptemented. While there are no avaitabte [oca|' statistjcs as
to the number of quatity care centers here, ECELI is trying to establish
basic standards that are understood and recognized by providers -
and parents - across the area. These standards include educated
staff, age-appropriate curricutum, facitity, parentat support and ctear
discio[ine orocedures.
Here's what you should see in a day care or
private chitd care setting that indicates the
program is of good quatity:
I There should be low staff turn-over to
support consistency in care.
I There should be a high ratio of adutts to
chitdren.
r Children in atl-day child care need a ptace
to curt up and relax. Is there batance between
active and peaceful time
I Are staff members really tatking to chiLdren,
rather than giving directions Are they
asking open-ended questions to eticit thoughtfuI
responses
I Chitdren aren't quiet peopte, so if the
facitity is too quiet, something is making them
that way - it couLd be fear.
I The caregiver should be at the chitdren's
tevet. If the kids are sitting on the ftoor, their
caregiver should be as welt.
I Caregivers shoutd be engaged with the
chitdren. The chitdren shouldn't be ptaying on
one side of the room while the teachers are in
a group on the other.
I Is the director accessibte and visible
throughout the day Doe she make hersetf
avaitable to parents when they have questions
and concerns
I Overa[[, there should be music, singing,
laughter and a general lightness of spirit
throughout the center.
- Rogan
66 ,VEWSDAy'S PARE TTS & CH,LDREN www.liDarent.com