Quality Child Care Environments

Quality child care programs go beyond the minimum licensing requirements when creating healthy and safe settings for the children in care.

There are two types of elements to the child care environment. The structural elements of quality are the physical environment are those we are more likely to think about: the building, the indoor and outdoor space, cleanliness of bathrooms and kitchen and so forth. Additionally the ratio of adults to children is a critical part of the child care environment. Having a higher adult:child ratio is strongly associated with quality.

In California the licensing ratios vary according the ages of the children as well as the type of licensed facility (center vs. licensed family child care homes). Group sizes are also limited and vary by age group. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommends higher adult: child ratios when compared to licensing requirements.

Process elements of the environment involve the adult-child interactions and the children's interactions with the learning materials. A child care provider who is knowledgeable in child development will be able to offer plenty of engaging materials and developmentally appropriate activities for the children in their care. Quality child care providers will offer a balance of planned and spontaneous educational experiences within a predictable schedule. They will also offer opportunities for individual and group play in addition to plenty of opportunities for free play and the ability to move with indoor and outdoor activities.

Parents can learn a great deal about the child care environment prior to enrolling their child simply by visiting and observing. Use our child care checklist during your visits to keep a record to help you in your search for quality child care.

If you are a child care provider in El Dorado or Alpine County contact our agency if you are interesting in improving the quality of your child care environment. We have a variety of resources and supports to help you meet your goal. If you are a child care provider in another county in California visit the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network's search device to locate your local Resource & Referral agency.