If you need child care in Newark, Delaware, there are plenty of options.
As a parent, you don’t need to be told that choosing the right child care services facility for your little is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your tyke’s early childhood development.
You don’t want to hire a place that’s a glorified babysitter. No, you want a facility that’s going to be a pivotal piece to the puzzle that is your child’s growth. You want your child armed with all the tools so when they enter into the school system for the first time as a proud kindergartner, they’re ready to take on the world.
Here Are Some Tips on How to Choose a Child Care Facility
It’s good to head into any decision as important as choosing child care with as much information as possible. So definitely ask around and do some research. Reading this article is a good start, so here are some tips on how to choose a child care facility:
1. Pay attention to the staff: It’s essential for the team to be accredited for the task at hand, but also crucial for them to interact in a way that’s engaging to the child. You want these educators to interact with your child, get on the floor and play with them, and attentive. For infants, close and loving interaction is important.
2. The ratio of teacher to a child is important: The ratio of adults to children should be adhered to. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, for infants one adult to 3 infants (eight maximum class size); toddlers 1-7 (14 max), preschoolers 1-10 (20 max).
3. Hours of operation: Make sure you pick a facility that is open longer than just school hours because the hours that most Americans work certainly varies.
4. Education: You want there to be an actual curriculum, yes, even for infants. Organized programs should be designed specifically for the different age groups to encourage growth and development.
5. Special needs accommodation: The right daycare facility should not only be able to accommodate special needs children but work with them to help them thrive. For example, many parents have children with autism, and this diagnosis sometimes isn’t made until a child is 2-4 years of age. The best facility has the staff trained to work with special needs children.
How Much Does Daycare Cost in Delaware?
So how much does daycare cost in Delaware? Location and the facility you’re choosing will make this answer vary somewhat, but the state of Delaware has provided statewide averages. For infants, the average is $8,900 per year and for toddlers and preschoolers, $7,100.
Compared to other states, Delaware’s child care costs are quite affordable.
There’s also the state of Delaware subsidy program rates to consider. Child care subsidy is funding that is available through the state to families that qualify.
This can be substantial as the state of Delaware subsidy program rates can pay for some or all of the cost of the child care you decide upon. The criteria hinge on your annual income. You’ll need to fill out some forms with the state. Their website (kids.delaware.gov/occl/parents.shtml) has the information you need.
