Archive: Parents

Ohio Child Care Center Quality Rating System

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) has a voluntary Child Care Quality Rating System called Step Up To Quality. Licensed child care centers can opt-in to this program and achieve up to three stars when they work toward goals above and beyond the ODJFS child care licensing requirements.

According to ODJFS,

Step Up to Quality means:
– fewer children per classroom
– better trained teachers
– a more comprehensive early education experience for your child
– a focus on continuous improvement

One-Star Centers
• Have these teacher/child ratios
– Infants 0-12 months – 1:5 or 2:10; 12-18 months – 1:6
– Toddlers 18-36 months – 1:7; 30-36 months – 1:8
– Preschoolers 36-48 months – 1:12; 48-60 months – 1:14
– School-Agers 5-15 years – 1:18
• Teachers and the administrator receive 10 hours of specialized training per year. This shows a commitment to expanding their knowledge and skills in order to support your child’s development and learning.
• Teachers are familiar with the Infant and Toddler Guidelines and Ohio’s Early Learning Content Standards. This
supports your child’s development and learning.
• The program provides at least one employee benefit to staff members. This means employees are valued, which in turn reduces staff turnover and provides continuity of care for your child.

Two-Star Centers
• Have these teacher/child ratios
– Infants 0-12 months – 1:5; 12-18 months – 1:6
– Toddlers 18-36 months – 1:7
– Preschoolers 36-48 months – 1:10; 48-60 months – 1:12
– School-Agers 5-15 years – 1:16
• Half of the lead teachers have an AA Degree in Early Childhood Education or Career Pathways Level 3.
• Teachers and the administrator receive 10 hours of specialized training per year. This shows a
commitment to expanding their knowledge and skills. In order to
support your child’s development and learning, teachers utilize these skills in their curriculum planning.
• The program provides at least two employee benefits to staff members. This means employees are valued and treated as professionals, which in turn reduces staff turnover and provides continuity of care for your child.

Three-Star Centers
• Have these teacher/child ratios
– Infants 0-12 months – 1:4 or 2:8 or 3:10; 12-18 months – 1:5
– Toddlers 18-36 months – 1:6
– Preschoolers 36-48 months – 1:10; 48-60 months – 1:10
– School-Agers 5-15 years – 1:15
• Staff/child ratios in all classrooms meet national high-quality early care and education standards.
• All lead teachers have an AA degree in early childhood education or
Career Pathways Level 3.
• Teachers and the administrator receive 10 hours of specialized training per year, above licensing requirements. Specialized training on Infant and Toddler Guidelines
and Ohio’s Early Learning Content
Standards gives teachers the ability to assess children’s progress and prepare them for kindergarten.
• The program provides at least three employee benefits to staff members. This means employees are valued and treated as professionals, which in turn reduces staff turnover and provides continuity of care for your child.

Learn more about Ohio’s early care and education quality standard program here.

A short while ago, we had the pleasure of talking to Sallie Westheimer, of 4C for Children, about Ohio and Kentucky’s Quality Rating Programs (Ohio’s quality rating system is Step Up to Quality and Kentucky’s quality rating system is Stars for Kids Now). She tells us that when evaluating licensed child care centers these programs take a look at teacher and director training, number of children each adult cares for (the fewer the better), among other things. She urges parents to ask about the quality rating system when visiting centers…are they participating, how many stars do they have, are they working toward a star? Check out the video to learn more.

In this video, Sallie makes an important distinction between the child care quality rating systems and a restaurant or hotel rating system. Generally, rating systems run the spectrum from bad to good (for example, a hotel with a 1 star rating in a 3-5 star system is thought of as a bad rating), however in the Ohio and Kentucky Quality Rating Systems even one star is going above and beyond what is required of them for state licensing.

For additional information please visit:
Ohio Jobs and Family Services
Kentucky Department of Education
4C for Children

Also be sure to visit 249smiles.com to talk with quality rated child care providers* in your area, find important information, and get recommendations from parents like you!

*note: not all child care providers on 249smiles.com are quality rated.

What does Ratio mean in a Child Care Setting?

A child care ratio is the number of teachers or caregivers to the number of children.

For example, a 1:5 (or 1 to 5 or 1/5) ratio means there will be 1 teacher/caregiver for every 5 children. If there are 15 children, then there must be 3 teachers/caregivers.

Webinar: How to Assess a Child Care Setting

Child Care Aware is running a free webinar for parents on How to Assess a Child Care Option. More about this web event:

Choosing good child care is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your child. How do you know which child care setting meets your family’s needs? How do you assess quality? Join NACCRRA’s outstanding Senior Early Education Specialist and Consumer Education Specialist, Niki Smidt and Mujaahida Latif, for an informative session about what you should look for when you choose a child care center or family child care home. This interactive session include questions and answers, so come armed with your burning questions about child care.

Wednesday July 22nd at 8:30pm – 9:30pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Central 7:30 – 8:30pm, Mountain 6:30 – 7:30pm, Pacific 5:30 – 6:30pm, Alaska/Hawaii 4:30pm/2:30pm

It’s FREE! Click here to REGISTER.

Free Montessori Education in Cincinnati!

Did you know that Cincinnati is a leading city in Montessori? Cincinnati has an extensive Montessori history, educator training program, and public Montessori schools. Read more about it at: Soapbox Media > CPS’s Montessori Story

List of Cincinnati’s Public Montessori Preschools
– Dater Montessori in Price Hill : website | report card | 249smiles link
– North Avondale Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Pleasant Ridge Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Sands Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link
– Winton Montessori School : website | report card | 249smiles link

Also, here’s some preschools that are not free but still Montessori…

List of Cincinnati’s Private Montessori Preschools
– Central Montessori Academy
– Children’s Meeting House Montessori School
– The Child’s Place Montessori School
– Cincinnati Country Day School
– Discovery Center Montessori Preschool
– Cornerstone Montessori School
– Country Hills Montessori Eastgate | Springboro | West Chester | Harrison | Ft. Thomas | Erlanger
– Farmview Montessori Garden
– Garden Montessori School
– Kennedy Heights Montessori Center
– Kinder Garden School
– Maple Knoll Child Center
– Mercy Montessori Center
– Montessori Academy of Cincinnati
– Montessori Center for Lifelong Learning
– Montessori Center Room
– Northern Kentucky Montessori Center
– Queen of Angels Montessori
– Park Montessori
– Renaissance Montessori School
– St. Rita School for the Deaf
– St. Ursula Villa
– Spring East Montessori
– The Summit Country Day Montessori School
– Terry’s Montessori School 209 | 425 | 435
– The New School Montessori
– Trent Montessori
– Villa Madonna Montessori School

Learn more about Montessori…
Cincinnati Montessori Society
American Montessori Society

How to Select Quality Infant and Toddler Care

Christine Fields, Infant/Toddler Specialist at 4C for Children, talks to us about important considerations when choosing care for your child from newborn to 3 years old.

Find the full list here: http://www.4cforchildren.org/PS/qualityccc.html
Also, print off this checklist to take with you when visiting care options.

Summary of Interview

3 Aspects of Safe and Healthy Care for your Infant or Toddler:

1 – Group Size and Ratio – What is the maximum number of children allowed in the infant/toddler setting at one time? The fewer the better! When ratios are lower children form better relationships with their care providers and receive more one on one time with them.

2 – Consistency of Care Provider – Are the same caregivers with the children everyday? Infants and toddlers need to be able to build secure attachments and strong relationships with their caregivers to develop and grow. Children comfortable with the care providers will be more likely to explore their environment.

3 – Environment – Is the care environment child friendly? Is there space for children to move freely throughout the room? Are there child size furnishings with age appropriate activities for children to explore?

Source: 4C for Children

Begin your search for Quality Child Care Centers Now!

Daddy Moments

Little Moments, Big Smiles

Life is hectic. Asking someone how they are doing returns a familiar tale: too much to do and too little time. In the end, it really doesn’t matter why we feel like that. The simple point is that most of us feel like we are barely keeping our heads above the water. I know this well. I’ve made operating on 4-5 hours of sleep an art, if not a science. So with two little ones, a full time job, and a start up, there’s not a lot of time to go around. But, regardless of my work, responsibilities, or whatever, the most important thing I have to do, is be a Dad. That is why I smile every time I see this

It’s easy to forget how much each little minute matters. It might be painting, reading, playing baseball or being a hair model (you would be amazed at the amount of clips and “ponies” a 3 year old can attach to your head). The activity is irrelevant. What matters is the time, the engagement, and the love that’s shared. The first three and a half years of my daughter’s life have flown by and it scares me to imagine how much faster it will start to seem.

So Dads! Let’s be greedy! Let’s promise to steal as many of those moments as possible. Sometimes there are legitimate and important things keeping us from those moments. But understand this – There will always be reasons; the moments, however, are ever fleeting.

With Father’s Day around the corner, I am pledging to be a Greedy Dad. I promise to beg, borrow, and steal as many Daddy Moments as possible. Who’s with me?  Who else pledges to be greedy?

Pledge to be a Greedy Dad! Post a comment on this page to make your pledge.

Now post this on your blog or social profiles! Let everyone know about your commitment to being a greedy dad.

<a href="http://blog.249smiles.com/?p=137" mce_href="http://blog.249smiles.com/?p=137" target="_blank" id="link_697c992e34de5"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq218/249smiles/greedydadpledge.png" mce_src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq218/249smiles/greedydadpledge.png" border="0" alt="249smiles.com Greedy Daddy Pledge" /></a><script>_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_697c992e34de5","Article link clicked",{"Title":"<img src=\"http:\/\/i449.photobucket.com\/albums\/qq218\/249smiles\/greedydadpledge.png\" mce_src=\"http:\/\/i449.photobucket.com\/albums\/qq218\/249smiles\/greedydadpledge.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"249smiles.com Greedy Daddy Pledge\" \/>","Page":"Daddy Moments"}]);</script>
(copy the code from this text box and paste it into your blog or profile)

Kudos to Campbell-Ewald the creative agency that created this spot.

Types of Child Care

When searching for care there are several things to consider. What are my options for child care? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of care? And what should I look for when interviewing providers and visiting centers?

Karen Middendorf, Director of Parents Services at 4C for Children, talks to us about these important considerations in the video below.

For more information from 4C for Children go to: www.4cforchildren.org
Also, view this list at: http://www.4cforchildren.org/PS/types.html

What are the my options?
1. Child care centers
2. Inhome or Family care providers
3. Nannies
4. Babysitters

What do these child care types mean?
1. A child care or early education center is a state licensed facility with multiple teachers and children. Some centers have established teaching curriculums while others serve more as daycares.
2. Inhome or family care providers care for children in the providers home. Some inhome providers care for their own children in addition to children from other families, while others choose to care for children from several families in their home. Some states require this type of provider to register for a state license or certificate.
3. A nanny is a child care or early education provider that offers full time care in the family’s home. Nannies can live-in or live-out of the family’s home. Au pairs are a type of nanny who are foreign citizens that travel in to work with a family.
4. A babysitter is a child care or early education provider that offers part time, occasional, evening, or weekend care.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of child care? What should I look for when I interview a provider or visit a center?

Child Care Centers

Child Care Center Advantages
– licensed by the city or state
– trained staff
– age appropriate activities, equipment, and supplies
– dependable care
– social environment for your child
– supervised caregivers
– structured

Child Care Center Disdavantages
– exposure to illness
– may need to stay at home or arrange care when your child is sick
– less flexible drop off and pickup times
– often closed on holidays
– less one on one time for children
– teacher and staff turn over can create instability

What should I look for in a Child Care Center?
– warm and loving teachers
– safe and engaging environment
– low teacher to child ratios
– a balance of structure and free play
– compliance with health and safety regulations
– current license and certificates

Inhome Family Care

Inhome Family Care Advantages
– small group size
– chance for child to socialize with other children
– varying child ages and home environment creates a family feel
– often less expensive than child care centers and nannies
– may be more flexible hours

Inhome Family Care Disadvantages
– providers often have less education or training in early care
– less dependable care
– not as monitored
– difference in teaching or childrearing styles can create issues

What should I look for in an Inhome Family Care Provider?
– warm and loving teacher
– safe and engaging environment
– low teacher to child ratio
– compliance with health and safety regulations
– current license and certificates
– compatible teaching or parenting styles
– has references from other families

Nannies and Babysitters

Nanny and Babysitter Advantages
– less stressful transitions
– familiar environment
– one on one attention
– flexible scheduling
– reduced exposure to illness
– convenient location

Nanny and Babysitter Disadvantages
– hard to monitor care
– can be very expensive
– difficult to find
– no socialization with other children
– may need to provide benefits

What should I look for in a Nanny or Babysitter?
– warm and loving personality
– compatible teaching or parenting styles
– responsible and dependable
– has reliable transportation
– has references from other families

Overall, when selecting care…
1. Take your time and explore many options.
2. Interview several care providers and visit centers.
3. Ask lots of questions.
4. Observe the teachers and care providers with children.
5. Find providers with matching teaching philosophies and parenting styles.
6. Develop a written set of expectations.
7. Talk to other parents who have used child care.
8. Most importantly, trust your instincts.

For further assistance call 4C for Children at 513-221-0033 or visit 4cforchildren.org
To locate child care in your area and talk to other local parents visit 249smiles.com

Sources:
4cforchildren.org
babycenter.com
naeyc.org
nanny.org