Quality early learning means providing a safe, healthy, caring, and educational environment where young children can learn and grow. It supports all areas of a child’s development and well-being.
Children in quality early learning programs tend to perform better in school and life. These programs support your child’s physical, social, emotional, and mental growth, providing a strong foundation for their future. Additionally, as a parent, you’ll experience reduced stress knowing your child is well-cared for in a nurturing environment.
Signs of Quality Early Learning
Understanding what to look for in quality early learning can help you make the best choice for your child. Here are key indicators:
- Teacher-Child Interactions: Providers who talk, play, read, laugh, and interact positively with the children in their program. These interactions help develop your child’s critical thinking skills, language, and curiosity.
- Ratio and Group Size: Small group sizes with a low number of children per adult, ensuring each child gets the attention they need.
- Learning Activities: A mix of creative, fun, and developmentally appropriate educational activities that are suitable for a child’s age, meet their individual needs, and help them learn new skills.
- Staff: Caring and knowledgeable staff with extensive training. Providers should have taken classes or earned degrees in Early Childhood Education.
- Environment: A rich learning environment with varied materials and activities, to address children’s interests. Areas are healthy, clean, and safe.
- Program/Curriculum: Providers use a curriculum that meets learning needs and may conduct parent-teacher conferences.
- Child Health & Development: Providers make sure children receive health screenings to ensure that children are developing on track.
How to Find and Choose a Quality Early Learning Program
Finding the best program for your child can be challenging. There are different options for licensed early learning programs for children ages 5 and under, including: Child Care Centers, Home-Based Family Child Care Programs, and Preschool Programs. Each type of program offers unique benefits, but the signs of quality are the same across all.
To assist you in selecting the best program for your child, the following resources are available:
- CocoKids: Contra Costa County’s child care resource and referral agency. They offer free referrals to early learning programs, online resources, and tip sheets to help families find and choose a program. Financial assistance is available for low-income working families.
- Use the following resources to understand what to look for and to keep track of your findings during your search:
- This checklists can help you monitor the quality of your chosen early learning program and ensure it meets your child’s needs.