ChildCareGroup | Resource & Referral: Child Care Options


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Child care options

Choosing child care is a very important decision. Our Resource and Referral specialists are available to provide information and guidance by phone, through the internet or in person to meet your family's individual needs. This program is not a placement or rating service. We do not recommend or endorse any child care program or service, nor do we evaluate or set standards for providers. However, we can provide information to guide you in making the best child care decision for your family.

Below, you will find a brief description and the pros and cons of the different child care options. For helpful information and Tips for Choosing Child Care, click here.

Licensed Child Care Centers | Licensed & Registered Child Care Homes
In-Home/Nanny Care | Camps and After School Care

Licensed Child Care Centers
are licensed by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) may care for children birth to 12 years of ages provide opportunities for learning offer full-time and part-time care may receive government funding, including Early Head Start and Head Start
Pros	Cons
Are consistent and reliable Are open Monday-Friday, year round	May not meet needs of parents with unusual or long work schedules
May offer a curriculum based on principles of child development	May be less able to accommodate sick children
Some have a parent involvement program	May have larger group sizes and fluctuations in staffing
Have trained staff Offer opportunities for children to interact with children their own age	For part-time children, it may be difficult to form relationships and have a sense of continuity

Licensed and Registered Child Care Homes
are licensed by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) may care for children birth to 12 years of ages provide opportunities for learning offer full-time and part-time care may receive government funding, including Early Head Start
Pros	Cons
There are fewer adults for the children to adjust to during the day May be able to accommodate sick children	Back-up care will be needed for times when the caregiver is ill, on vacation, or otherwise unable to care for the children
May better meet the needs of some children because of lower ratios being in a home-like environment	Reliability may be dependent on caregiver's health and life circumstances
Provides the opportunity for each child to form a close bond with the caregiver	Caregivers tend to be very isolated and lack support systems, leading to burnout
May be more flexible for families with unusual or long work schedules May be somewhat lower in cost than centers or in parent's home	Conflicts may occur if values and child-rearing styles differ greatly

In-Home Care (Nanny Care)
children are cared for in child's home there is no regulation individual may care for children of any age opportunities for learning are the responsibility of the parent
Pros	Cons
Allows child to remain in familiar environment	May be more difficult to monitor quality
Exposure to illness from other children is reduced	Consistency and reliability tend to be lower than for other types of care
Provides maximum flexibility for parents with unusual or long work schedules	Cost may be prohibitive for many parents Higher turn over rate
Can provide sick child care May be less costly for families with more than one child in care	Back-up care will be needed for times when the caregiver is ill or unable to work
Children only have to adjust to one caregiver May be a better option for children with special needs	If care is provided by live-in caregiver, communication and maintaining the relationship require a lot of effort
	Parent must screen, hire, keep records, and file all appropriate tax forms
If you are interested in hiring a Nanny, we have developed a Telephone Screening form for you to use when interviewing.

Camps and After-School Care
regulation is not required indoor and outdoor activities full time and part-time available