Choosing Child CareChild Care OptionsIndividual child care- Babysitters and mother's
helpers. Babysitters provide informal, periodic, in-home care for your
child, such as when you need to run errands or have planned an evening out.
They are usually paid hourly and maintain general household order, but they are
not expected to do housekeeping chores. A mother's helper is similar to a
babysitter but is someone who watches your child while you are
home.
- Relative or family friend. When you
have a relative or family friend care for your child, the formality of the
arrangement is up to you. Some parents need help on occasion or on a part-time
basis. Others have a regular and detailed arrangement that may or may not
include payments.
- Nanny. Usually, a nanny
cares for one or more children of a single family. Nannies usually have at
least a high school education; many have college degrees in childhood education
or have completed a special training program. They have regular hours, usually
between 40 and 60 hours a week in the family's home. Nannies often are
responsible for taking children to different activities, such as sports
practice, dance lessons, or visits to the library. Duties usually include
chores directly related to the child, such as preparing meals, washing dishes,
and doing laundry. Some nannies agree to do additional light household duties.
A nanny is considered an employee. A formal contract usually is required, which
includes:
- A detailed schedule, including days
off.
- Pay rate. As an employer, you are obligated to pay the nanny a
reasonable salary and comply with all rules and regulations of the federal,
state, and local governments. These usually include withholding taxes; paying
Social Security, workers compensation, and overtime; and complying with other
provisions. Check with the United States Department of Labor (1-866-4-USA-DOL,
or 1-866-487-2365) for details about these
responsibilities.
- Whether benefits are included, such as health or
dental insurance.
- Special requests of either party.
- Au pair. Au pairs are
child care providers from a foreign country. They speak English and typically
live with a family for around 12 months. Au pairs usually are young adults (18
to 26 years of age) and often have completed a college degree or are pursuing
further education. Families usually are matched with an au pair through an
agency. Agencies differ in their amount of involvement. At minimum, most
agencies review an au pair's background and medical records, including proof of
immunizations. Agency policies usually provide for problems that may develop,
such as homesickness or finding a replacement. A family hosting an au pair is
expected to:
- Include the au pair in family events and
weekend trips.
- Provide the au pair with a private room, meals, use
of a car, and a monthly stipend. Au pairs usually have an international
driver's license.
- Give the au pair regularly scheduled time off.
Some agencies specify that an au pair may not work more than 45 hours each
week.
- Pay for up to 6 credit hours of class per year at a local
college or university.
Group child care- Child care
cooperative. Child care cooperatives or babysitting cooperatives are set
up and run by parents, usually for occasional child care. However, some
cooperatives provide regular child care for their members. Parents usually take
turns watching each other's children instead of paying money for child care.
This often works well for parents who have a flexible schedule, work part-time,
or work at home. Most child care cooperatives have a director and a secretary
to manage the operation. They are responsible for carrying out the governing
policies made by the members.
- Family child
care. Family child care may offer more flexibility than larger group
care centers, but quality varies among providers. All family child care
operations should be registered or licensed in the state, even if it is not
legally required. (Some states exempt family child care operations from
licensing requirements.) Licensing requirements usually do not allow more than
12 children to be cared for in a family home, including those who live with the
caregiver. Family child care also may be nationally accredited by the National
Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Although the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services has
recommendations for safe child-to-teacher ratios and
group size, each state creates its own regulations.
- Child care center. Centers that provide care for groups of
children vary in size, setting, emphasis of educational programs, and types of
activities offered. Get a list of child care centers in your region from your
state licensing bureau. Each state sets its own
licensing standards; some are lax, while others are
very strict. Child care centers are sometimes called nursery schools,
preschools,
Head
Start, Montessori schools, or day care centers. Some of these facilities
have additional accreditation through national agencies that meet higher
standards for child care than required by the state. Some child care
organizations offer specialized education programs and activities, such as
music and art classes. Each child care center has written policies about fees
(including late fees, if charged), hours of operation, days when the center may
be closed (such as holidays and staff education days), and guidelines for the
care of sick children.
Other programsOther types of child care are geared toward families that need to
fill in gaps between school hours and parent work schedules. This may include
programs that offer special activities during school breaks. This type of child
care may include:
| |
Go to previous section
Go to top of page
Go to next section
