Finding child care you trust can be tricky. How do you know which family child care or child care center is best? Are Google reviews a good way to tell how well a facility will take care of your child? Should you get references? Ask your friends? Take a tour and trust your gut?
This post is sponsored by Colorado Shines, however, all opinions are mine alone.
Thankfully, it’s been a while since I had to worry about finding child care, but I remember how stressful the process was. Who can I trust? Am I making the right choice? These questions plagued me even after I had picked a child care facility and dropped Madison off for the day.
Back then, I was pretty much on my own when it came to figuring out which child care center was best for me. But now, parents in Colorado have a better way to evaluate child care options for their kids.
The state of Colorado recognizes the challenges parents face finding reliable child care for their little ones. That’s why they’ve created Colorado Shines – a program that gives parents the peace of mind that they’re making the right choice when it comes to child care programs. Routines have changed dramatically for most families – but it’s still vital to make sure that your child is in a nurturing, safe space with caring adults (whether that’s you or another family member in your household).
Colorado Shines is a great resource for families who are on the hunt for a safe, quality child care program they can trust. Your child’s early years are critical for learning and development, so it’s important your child is in an environment that will prepare them for success. By leveraging the Colorado Shines database of licensed, fully-vetted, regularly-inspected child care providers, you can rest assured that your little one is in good hands.
You can search their database of Colorado-based child care providers to find a list of programs in your area that meet the State’s high standards. Providers are rated on a scale of 1 – 5. Those with a 1 or 2 rating meet the state’s health and safety standards, are licensed, and meet a couple of additional criteria. Providers with 3, 4, or 5 ratings have gone above and beyond to support health, train staff, partner with parents, and provide a supportive learning environment.
Colorado Shines isn’t just a database of Colorado child care providers. It’s also a great resource to help you understand what to expect from a developmental perspective for residents and non-residents alike.
The state of Colorado wants to make sure its youngest residents get a head start when it comes to education, and they’ve created resources to support parents through their child’s foundational early years. The Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines website is another resource from the state, and it’s a must-read for parents of young children – even if you don’t live in Colorado. There, you’ll find tips, videos, activities, and games to support your child’s learning. Now that many child care centers and schools are closed, it’s also a great resource for those who are distance learning at home.
Is it time to teach your five-year-old some basic math concepts? Want to make sure they’re interacting with other children appropriately? The guidelines will outline what’s appropriate to expect from your child at their age, as well as ways you can help your child master the subject or skill.
Check out Colorado Shines today and see how you can leverage this resource to find child care and stay on top of your child’s developmental needs! And even though the world looks different right now, Colorado Shines is there to help you keep the big picture in mind – helping your child grow up happy and healthy.
