The first big decision facing you is the type of care you want for your child. Perhaps the hominess of a family child care home appeals to you, or the chance for socialization in a child care center. Each form of care has something to offer your family.

Child Care Centers

Opting for care in a child care center means that your child will be in a group setting outside of your home. Center-based programs generally care for larger numbers of children than other types of care, and children are usually grouped by age. Most centers are licensed by the state and are restricted by regulations that govern of the number of children they are allowed to serve, the ratio of adults to children, and the educational qualifications of the caregivers. If the center is accredited, it means it has gone through a rigorous examination and meets the standards set by national organizations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Many parents prefer a center-based program for older children who might benefit from a little more structure than you'd find with in-home or family child care. It's also an appealing option if you want your child to be with peers of the same age. There is a correlation between the education and experience levels of the director and teaching staff and the quality of child care provided. Be sure to ask about the qualifications of the teachers and director in the centers you visit.

To review licensing agencies and staff-to-child ratios for centers in your state, check out the National Child Care Information Center website and click on your state.

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Family Child Care

Family child care homes are child care programs run by one or two providers in their own home. A lot of parents prefer family child care for infants and very young children because it offers a homey environment with a small-group, mixed-age setting. Family child care homes may also offer:

• School-age care options
• Part-time schedule options
• Flexible schedules
• Option to allow siblings to stay together

When looking for a family child care provider, it’s important to be comfortable with the home, the children, and the caregiver. When you visit a family child care program, look at the activities the children are doing, see how the children fit in with the rest of the family, check out the space the children have to play in, and ask a lot of questions.

Most, but not all, states require family child care homes to be licensed or registered. Experts say you should look for a situation where there are no more than six children for each adult. To check on provider-to-child ratios in your state, go to the National Child Care Information Center website and click on your state. If the home caregiver is licensed, he is required to have a certain amount of training in the early childhood field.

Like a child care center, if a family child care provider has been accredited, the program has been through a rigorous evaluation and meets the standards set by the National Association for Family Child Care.

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Legal, Unlicensed Care

Having a relative or a friend care for your child -- in your home or theirs -- is an option for some families. This is also known as "legal, unlicensed" child care. In general, family and friends care arrangements are not regulated, and you can work out creative pay arrangements, such as reciprocal care. Remember that if you hire a friend, you need to talk to an accountant about your tax obligations and other IRS requirements.

Any individual who cares for two or fewer children is not required to have a license to operate a child care, but may opt to take part in the Trust ME program. Trust ME is a state program that lists all individuals who are legally caring for children without a license ("legal, unlicensed providers") and have cleared background checks from:

• Maine Department of Human Services Child Protective Services
• Maine Division of Motor Vehicles
• Maine State Bureau of Identification

Any individual who clears the Trust ME background checks in Cumberland County is listed in the Child Care Connections database.  For more information on the Trust ME program, call 1-866-638-7878 or click on the link above.

As with any child care arrangement, be sure to discuss your mutual expectations in advance, including such concerns as the schedule of care, payment or other compensation, discipline, nutrition, TV policy, safety, toilet training, and more. Good communication with caregivers is important in the success of any child care situation, but is critical with relatives and friends because of the personal nature of your relationship with them.

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In-Home Care

In-home care is care that is provided in your home by a caregiver whom you hire -- usually a nanny or au pair, or in some cases a "mother's helper." In-home care is not for everyone. It is usually expensive, hard to find, and does not provide an emergency back-up situation. Caregivers may or may not have training in child development. In addition, you may not feel comfortable becoming an employer, providing supervision, and being responsible for taxes associated with the employment of a caregiver.

While in-home care does offer a great deal of flexibility, one drawback is that your child may miss out on peer interaction. You can address this problem by setting up play dates and playgroups for your child.

Finding the right in-home caregiver takes time and patience. You need to evaluate the caregiver's qualifications, check references, and meet with a candidate several times. Most of all, you need to feel comfortable with the person and trust that he or she is committed to providing the best care for your child. It is important to remember that in-home caregivers are not licensed by the state. You may want to consult with agencies that place in-home caregivers to help you with the search process. Once you've chosen your in-home caregiver, it's a good idea to draw up a contract that outlines the legal responsibilities of your child care arrangement.

Additional considerations with in-home care:

• Live-in caregivers require room and board to be provided by the host family.
• You and your caregiver may have different expectations regarding care responsibilities -- make your expectations clear up front.
• The length of the relationship with in-home caregivers is variable.

Au Pairs

An au pair lives with a family for one year, providing limited child care and sometimes light household help in exchange for room and board, a stipend, and the opportunity to experience life in another community or country. It is a specialized arrangement that requires you to consider not merely your child care needs, but your entire family’s living arrangements. With foreign au pairs, there are strict regulations about how much time they can spend on child care, and other requirements for families, such as the payment of one college course per year. Agencies that make placements of au pairs do provide some training, but it is important to note that many au pairs have little child development training.

For more information about hosting an EF Au Pair call:
1-800-333-6056 or visit their website at www.efaupair.org

Consideration in Finding an In-Home Caregiver

• Would your child benefit from one-on-one care in his own home environment, as compared to group care in a center or family child care home?
• Would you consider a live-in or live-out arrangement? The cost of an in-home caregiver may be somewhat lower, because you are offering her room and board. How much are you expecting to spend?
• Would it be more convenient for you to have child care in your own home rather than outside your home?
• Do you want a caregiver to be in your private home during the day when you are not there?
• A live-in caregiver requires that you have a private room for the caregiver (a private bath is also encouraged). Are you comfortable with another adult sharing your home?
• Does your child have special needs which may make in-home care a preferred option?
• Are you willing to spend time searching for a nanny, including careful screening and interviewing?
• Are you interested in having your caregiver do occasional weekends, evenings, or emergency care? Live-in caregivers are usually more available for this type of care.

How many hours a week do you need care?

The type of caregiver you will need will depend on the length of time you require child care during the day and the week. Caregivers typically work less than 40 hours a week. Do you need more than 40 hours a week of care? If so, you may want to combine different types of care or hire two caregivers. Caring for children is a difficult job and can "burn out" even the most experienced, patient caregiver if the hours are too long.

Working with an Au Pair agency can take up to 4 to 6 months. Au Pairs come only twice a year: summer to early fall, or January.

Define your expectations and requirements for your caregiver.

What type of activities do your want your children to engage in each day? Do you want them to have plenty of time outdoors, take trips to the playground or library, socialize with other children, or work on art projects? Do you want your caregiver transporting your child? If so, does he or she have a driver's license?

Decide if housekeeping is required. You need to be clear with the caregiver on how much is expected.

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Nursery Schools

Nursery schools are licensed and regulated by the state, and are generally a good child care option for parents who are looking for a social and learning environment for their child on a morning or afternoon schedule. Nursery schools enroll children aged two years nine months to five years of age, and may run on a school-year calendar. There are various types of nursery school programs available, from a traditional program to a program that follows a Montessori or Waldorf approach. Knowing your child's needs will help you to determine what type of nursery school environment will suit her best.

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School-Age Care

School-age care is care that is provided for children aged 5 years to 12 years of age. This type of care can be found in a public or private school setting, as well as in recreation centers, or child care centers. There is usually one director and a staff of teachers, all trained in school-age care and related activities. Group sizes are determined by state regulations, and programs are licensed by individual states. Most programs run on a school-year calendar.

School-age care can be provided in the afternoon (after school hours) and in the mornings (before school begins). In some cases, transportation and meals are provided as well.

School-age programs may also be accredited.  The accrediting body for school-age programs in the National School Age Care Alliance.

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Summer Camp

Although you may have only just become accustomed to the bus schedule, it's already time to think about summer child care for your school age children. Children in elementary school are generally too old for traditional child care, yet too young to be home alone. So what are the options for working parents? Finding summer child care is a challenging, and often expensive, undertaking, but with a little planning, you and your children will have an enjoyable summer.

Some resources:

• Check with other parents to learn what your child's friends will be doing.
• Watch the newspapers. Most summer programs advertise long before summer arrives.
• Check with your child's school for information on summer camps and school sponsored programs. Also churches, YMCA, YWCA, parks and recreations departments are a great place to start.
• Some towns or schools host a camp fair where representatives from the camps display their brochures and can answer questions. Check with your school or town recreation department.
• Call ACAP RDC at (207) 768-3045. ACAP RDC maintains updated listings of camps and other summer programs.

Options for Summer Child Care

Summer day camp/recreation programs are generally designed for boys and girls. While not historically designed as child care, they serve the dual purpose of an enriching summer experience while meeting the needs of working parents. Camps usually offer a variety of activities that may include swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and field trips. Some camps are specialized in specifically the arts and sports. Look into the camps that correspond to your child's interests. Be sure to check the hours of the camp. Most camps operate during traditional "school hours:, but some offer extended care (before camp begins and after camp ends). Sometimes, if the camp is on a bus route, the transportation pick up and drop off will provide the needed time for parents to get to work on time. Many camps are private, but some are sponsored by the recreation department in a town, or by a YMCA, YWCA, Girl and Boy Scouts.

Summer programs within a child care center are centers that may have provided before and after school care during the school year, and will provide special programming for school age children during the summer. They may incorporate special field trips, sports activities, and theme weeks. In addition, they are open the hours of the center and are sure to be available.

Residential camps offer programs where children can stay from a week to two months. Again, some residential camps cater to a specific interest (sports, arts), but most offer a variety of activities. This type of camp is best suited for children who enjoy sleep-overs or children who have a solid understanding of what it means to be away from home for an extended time period.

Community programs offer specific activities and workshops, like swimming, computer, music, or theater programs. While these programs are not full time, they may be of interest to your child and may work in combination with other arrangements

Many families do not want to plan their summer completely. Having a college student or other caregiver come to your home may be the best solution. Some families get together and share child care during the summer.

The Cost of Summer Child Care

Once your child entered school, you probably thought you were done with high child care costs. When summer comes, you find yourself paying for full time child care again. Summer camps are expensive so plan ahead for cost. What are your options if cost is an issue? The recreation programs in the town where you live generally offer the most reasonable price for town residents. Be sure to check the hours of the program; many recreation programs are not available for a full day. A typical day may operate from 8:30am-4:30pm.

Some summer programs offer scholarships. Child Care Connections maintains a list of camps that offer scholarships, so if you are finding the fees out of reach, please call for this list.

The voucher program at ACAP RDC assists parents with the cost of child care. If you have questions about these guidelines, you may call our voucher department at (207) 396-6566.

If your child is under age 13, and is in a day camp (not residential), you can still qualify for the Federal Child Care Income Tax Credit or your employer's Dependent Care Assistance Program. Be sure to get receipts for your payment.

Before Making a Deposit

ASK QUESTIONS! You won't be able to visit, like you could when looking for child care for your preschooler since summer programs operate only in the summer. Call the camp director and ask lots of questions. Camp personnel, like child care workers, are happy to hear from parents and want to respond to your concerns. If there is an open house before camp begins, be sure to attend and bring your child with you. Please refer to ACAP RDC set of questions for summer programs.

Some Final Thoughts

Once you have chosen a summer child care program, always be current on your work phone numbers, in case of an emergency. Work with staff in the event of disabilities, allergies, or other problems that might arise. As with any program in child care, communication is extremely important.

Summertime can be easy for you and your family with a little research and good planning. 

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