The ideal program or provider for children under three understands your child's changing emotional and physical needs. The care arrangement should provide a setting and activities that will foster healthy development in a nurturing environment. Some skills children under three are working on include:
- Forming trust with adults
- Understanding words and early speech
- Exploring the environment
- Gaining confidence in mobility
Plan on spending several weeks to find and evaluate child care arrangements for your infant or toddler. Center based care, family child care or group family child care, informal care or in-home care are appropriate child care options for your infant or toddler. Some of the things to look for in a provider that will care for your child under three include:
- Babies are cuddled and comforted
- Reading, singing, and speaking with children
- Encouragement of exploration
- Sets routines and standards
- Has a warm, positive personality
- Responds quickly to children's physical needs
- Practices cleanliness (hand-washing, diapering, food areas, toys etc.)
Center for Children's Initiatives' Referral Specialists can assist you in selecting a setting that best fits your needs. Please call us at 212.929.4999.
Please note: The Center for Children's Initiatives does not license, recommend or endorse any one provider over another, we do encourage parents to exercise their right to evaluate and select the child care program that best meets the needs of their family.
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