Day Care Centers, which decades ago were looked down upon and disdained as designed for children of destitute and indigent mothers are now regarded as essential for two parent and single parent working families. Day Care Centers (DCC) now look after more than thirty percent of US children under the age of five.

Contemporary Day Care Centers serve parents at all socioeconomic levels. They range from those which offer bare bones child care to those which provide the latest educational innovations, music, foreign language and ballet lessons together with field trips to museums, zoos and aquaria. Most qualified Day Care Centers have some positive features for young children. They often offer a number of interest areas: one for block play, a sand table, a quiet corner for listening to stories or records, and hopefully an easily accessible outdoor area for large muscle activities such as slides and tricycle riding.

Of course there are some disadvantages as well. One is that children are more likely to get sick in a Child Care Setting than in setting with fewer children and teachers. Because the teacher to child ratio is often higher in a Day Care Center, than say in a Family Day Care, or with a Nanny, the child is also likely to get less individual attention. Day Care Center hours also tend to be inflexible and there may be special charges for early drop offs and late pick ups. Finally, because the staff turn over tends to be frequent (largely due to low pay) your child may have to adjust to a number of different care givers over the course of his or her stay.

In choosing a Day Care Facility you have to be clear about your priorities. What is most important: cost, closeness to your home, facilities, educational programs? Once you have established your priorities you can locate referral agencies that have a list of Day Care Facilities within your community. One way to shorten your list is to look for those Centers which are accredited either by the National Association for the Education of Young Children or by the National Association of Family Day Care. This will ensure that the Center has met minimum standards of safety, sanitation, teacher qualification and basic facilities, toys and equipment. Visit several Centers and get feel for the facility and the staff. If possible visit the Center while it is in session to get a sense of what the experience would be like for your child.

Once you have made your choice remember it is not written in stone. If you or your child (unless it is simply a matter of separation anxiety) is unhappy with the Center, you can always find another. The most important factor that should influence your decision is that you feel comfortable and assured that your child is in a safe, clean, well outfitted setting and looked after by trained, competent care givers and educators.