Childcare choices

Choosing child care is an important and sometimes difficult decision.

Keep these points in mind when choosing child care:

• Does your child like large groups, small groups or do they like one-to-one attention?
• Do you think they will be happy at home with one caregiver?
• Having brothers or sisters at home helps.
• Does your child like going out and having lots of things to do, or do they prefer quiet activities?
• Do you need care full-time, part-time, or for only a few days a month?
• Can you get your child to daycare or does the caregiver need to come to you?
• Do you need care for the same days each week?
• Will you need someone who can come at short notice or stay at night?
• How many hours of child care do you need each day? Think about travel time to and from daycare.
• Can you find child care close to your workplace?
• How much can you pay?

Finding in-home care

One way to find in-home care providers is to get a recommendation from friends. You can also call a placement or nanny agency, check newspapers and bulletin boards, or call child-care resource centres.

Ask for references and talk with previous parent employers. You can also ask for a criminal record check to be completed and for information on their driving record.

In-home care

In-home child care may be the right choice for you and your child because your child stays in the place they know best, with one person to care for them. You will not need to think about travel to child care and the time this takes, so you may have more time to spend with your child in the morning and evening.

Interview questions

When interviewing, as questions such as:

• What is your training?
• What recent work experience do you have with children? (Ask about the ages they have worked with, the number of children, years of work and reasons for leaving.)
  What do you feel is important about caring for children? For example, what are your views on discipline, play, toys, nutrition, siblings, activity, television?
• Do you have first aid or infant CPR training? If so, do you have a current certificate?
  How do you handle an emergency?
• Do you have religious practices or holidays that may be different from my own?

More information on subsidies

For information on child care subsidies, contact your local Ministry of Children and Families office.

A child care place, be it in a family home or in a centre, must meet licensing requirements for the ages and number of children allowed for each caregiver, staff qualifications, space and equipment, criminal record checks, nutrition, smoking, discipline, emergency procedures, and programs and activities.

Choosing licensed child care means regulations and policies are in place to help ensure the health, safety and well-being of your child. If you choose a legally unlicensed facility, you will need to satisfy yourself about its safety and rules.

Signs of good out-of-home child care

• A valid licence is displayed in plain view.
• Visiting your child at any time is easy and you can go into any part of the day care.
• The caregivers are warm and caring and help your child to learn.
• Toys are safe, fun and help the children learn.
• The day care is clean, has enough light, and is safe.
• You can talk with the caregivers about your child.
• You are asked what immunizations your child has had, and about any health problems.
• Car seats are available for the ages and sizes of all the children who will be going on trips in the car or van.
• You are asked for the names of people who may pick up your child for you.
• You are asked how the day care can find you in an emergency and who to contact if you cannot be found.

Use the Child Care Search tool to search for child care facilities by city, by postal code and by licence category. Or, search for support and referral Services in your community. The Child Care Resource and Referral Program offices provide support, resources and referral services to caregivers and parents in over 170 communities throughout British Columbia. Click here to find the program office nearest you.

For information about applying for child-care subsidies, contact your local Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance office through the Enquiry BC number.

Other resources

Download the booklet A Parent's Guide to Selecting Child Care.

For more information on child-care services in the province, click here.

Child Care Subsidy