Do you know what to look for to determine if your childcare provider is focused on your child’s development? Should you be looking for lots of toys? Lots of kid contraptions? Multiple language offerings? Ivy League-trained teachers and assistants?

No. No. No. And, NO!

Many parents do not realize that little ones can get the majority of their development skill-building needs addressed in a safe and simple learning environment.  If your childcare provider offers these then, you are much further along than you might think! If your provider offers a safe and simple learning environment, along with 1:1 attention and engagement, and independent (but supervised) exploration, then you’ve really scored! Anything else is just gravy, the cherry on top, bells and whistles.  Childcare 411 alert: The “extras” help more with marketing and advertising than your child’s early development. Especially for children under the age of 3. 

There are no studies that prove that more service offerings (beyond the essentials I just named) guarantee to catapult your child into the stratosphere of early learning superstardom. Those additional optional options exist to make you comfortable spending more money. It costs a lot of beans to pay for Ph.D. educated pre-school teacher. I’m not telling you this to “hate on” luxury childcare centers. A market exists for every business that is out there. The parents who choose those options know what they want to get out of them and can afford it. These parents will also go on to afford private schools, expensive experiences, and access to a network of other individuals with similar levels of wealth and influence. Though this post is not for or about this group of parents, I refer to them and the services marketed to them for one reason: to illustrate the importance of understanding what your child truly needs for his development. It can be both affordable, a provide a quality developmental experience.

Parents can easily fall into the trap of believing that such environments are the baseline for quality care. Consequently, they make the mistake of overlooking options that are better suited for their family, their lifestyle, and their budgets. Here are three ways to determine if your provider is locked into your child’s development.

#1 Your Provider Demonstrates Knowledge of Developmental Milestones

I want to be careful about how I discuss. I will always support loving grandmas/aunties and such who step in to help care for little ones. Many times these individuals are not formally trained in early childhood education. However, they have experience that shows that they know the basics of what is good for early childhood development. They speak to your child. They respond to your child’s cries, calls, or needs. They allow your child the freedom to explore in a safe environment. They spend time with their child outside. They provide safe toys or exploration objects for your child to handle, observe, and play with.  These are the same exact developmental supports you should expect from a childcare professional. They might offer more variation in how they execute these foundational skill-building activities. But nonetheless, the child gets what they need in both settings.

#2 Your Provider Plans Activities Around Your Child’s Development

Is your provider thinking of and planning activities for your child to actively engage in? For professional childcare providers, this might look like a weekly plan. Weekly, monthly, and quarterly themes with corresponding lessons and learning activities to supplement are the formal approach. In less formal environments, Auntie might save a small or large cardboard box for your little one to explore or build with. The more in tune your childcare provider is with your child’s developmental needs, the more thoughtful and planful they are about daily activities and the environment. If the only activities your provider has planned involve your child sitting in a stationary contraption while watching television, tablet, or phone, then they might not be equipped to properly support your child’s early childhood development needs.

#3 Your Provider Explains Your Child’s Developmental Accomplishments or Challenges

Does your provider share achievements and variations in your child’s development on a regular basis? Little ones develop so quickly that these brief updates should happen at least once a week. Your provider should be paying attention to the skills your child is building, without prompts or props. They should also introduce skill-building exercises that are age appropriate. A provider who is focused on your child’s development observes your child enough to know when they are struggling to build a skill that is typical for his or her age. The solution could be as simple as introducing a new activity to the daily/evening routine to practice the skill. In more extreme cases the solution might be evaluation or additional treatment/therapy with a pediatric medical professional. It’s not that the provider will know everything, but if they are attentive, they will observe and inform.

#4 Your Provider Partners with You

Not all childcare providers are “professionals”. Many times they are family or friends who step in to help us out. Many times they are not formally trained in early childhood education or development. They might not even have an interest in reading articles, books, or publications, for the purpose of learning more about early childhood education or development. But hear this, that might not matter at all. If your provider is willing to partner with you to make sure that your precious little one gets what they need daily to reach their development potential, then you have a provider who is focused on your child’s development. Here’s an example: Grandma provides loving care for your daughter, Baby Shay, full-time. She keeps Baby Shay in the walker, high chair, or swing almost all day to make sure that she is occupied and safe. You say to grandma, “Baby Shay needs tummy time/floor time to strengthen her core//neck/shoulders/arm for rolling over/crawling/walking, and so forth. How can I make it easier for you to keep her out of those contraptions as much as possible during the day?” If grandma shows interest in increasing “tummy or floor” time, and is willing to make at least some of the requested changes, then you’ve got someone worth working with. Put a plan in place to reduce “contraption time” until Baby Shay is only being constrained when absolutely necessary and for no more than 15 – 20 minutes at a time. Check in with Grandma each day to see how things are going and if there is any additional support she needs in order to maintain the plan consistently.

Finally…..

Sometimes well-meaning parents become convinced that a child care provider that is focused on early childhood development MUST INCLUDE multiple charts, excessive reporting and tracking, serial assessments, detailed curriculums, top-of-the-line expensive learning materials and toys, and a child care staff stacked with Ph.Ds. There is nothing wrong with any of these things but know that (1) they are rarely necessary (2) In the world of child care, just like any other service, you can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price for it. But again, that doesn’t mean that it is necessary.

Take some time to think about what your current provider offers. Are they meeting the criteria above? If yes, then great! If the answer is “No”, then your challenge could be resolved with a simple conversation to synch expectations with what your provider is willing/able to deliver. If you are not sure about how much focus your provider is giving to your child’s development, then ask. If the ask does not yield satisfaction, then schedule some observation time. As in all issues regarding your relationship with your childcare provider: “Respectful communication is your greatest ally.”  And that goes both ways.

Best wishes as you continue to partner with your village to support your child’s development