Child Care 101

High-quality child care keeps children safe and healthy. Get the basics with our Child Care 101 questions and answers.

Why is child care and early education so important?

High-quality child care keeps children safe and healthy. In addition, it helps children develop skills they will need for success in school and in their lives outside of school:

Social, emotional and communication skills
Pre-literacy and basic mathematical skills and concepts
An awareness of their environment and the roles of the people in it

What does high-quality child care look like?

When watching high-quality child care, you should see that:

The child care providers are responsive to the needs of each child.
There are open, supportive and engaging experiences for children.
Interactions between providers and children are warm and positive.
Learning opportunities are developmentally appropriate, interactive and plentiful.
Health, safety and welfare are absolute priorities.

What is the difference between regulated and unregulated child care?

Regulated child care means that the caregiver has been licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Child Care (OCC). In order to be licensed, child care providers must meet minimum health, safety and program requirements including the following:

The child care facility must pass an inspection to show that it is safe, clean and appropriate for child care.
There must be an adequate supply of safe and age-appropriate activity equipment and materials for children.
The caregiver and program staff must undergo criminal background checks, child abuse and neglect clearances, physical examinations and have substantial training in child care.
For added protection, the Office of Child Care checks the Sex Offender Registry to ensure that registered sex offenders are not working in a child care facility.

Only regulated care guarantees that the minimum legal requirements are met. Ask to see a child care provider’s license or certificate of registration to show that they are regulated. Using unregulated care can be dangerous and put children at risk because the provider has not met the health, safety and professional standards required of regulated providers.

What is informal child care?

You may choose to have a friend or a relative provide care for your child in your home. Or you may wish to have a relative care for your child in the relative's home. These are informal kinds of child care, and they are exempt from regulation under Maryland law. A friend or neighbor who occasionally "baby sits" your child in her home for short periods is also exempt from regulation -- The care provided is less than 20 hours per month.

What are the different kinds of regulated care?

Maryland has two kinds of regulated child care facilities: licensed child care centers and registered family child care homes. In both cases, the facilities are initially authorized to operate for two years. After that, they may apply for a non-expiring license or registration. Unannounced inspections are conducted annually to ensure the facilities meet the legal requirement for regulated child care.

Licensed Child Care Centers

Licensed Child Care Centers are professionally staffed facilities which generally serve large groups of children. While centers vary greatly in size, each one must remain within the maximum child capacity established for it by Office of Child Care. This means that no more than a specified number of children may be present in a given center at one time (see below). Centers operate for part or all of a day at least twice a week on a regular basis.

Some centers primarily provide care for infants and toddlers. Other centers care only for preschool or school-age children. Most centers provide care for a range of ages.
In many centers, children are usually grouped with others of the same age. Other centers use mixed-age groups (for example, infants or toddlers grouped with pre-school age children, or pre-school age children grouped with school age children).
Small group centers have a maximum capacity of 12 children and may be located in private residences.
School-age child care centers offer programs before and/or after school hours and during school holidays, vacations and out-of-school programs for inclement weather.
Nursery schools are educational programs for children two years through four years old. These programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. Most are also licensed by Office of Child Care as child care programs.

Child Age Group	Staff-to-Child Ratio	Maximum Size
0-18 months	1:3	6
18-24 months	1:3	9
Two years	1:6	12
Three to four years	1:10	20
Five years or older	1:15	30

Registered Family Child Care Homes

Registered Family Child Care Homes are also operated by professional caregivers, but within private residences, usually the primary caregiver’s home. Some of the legal requirements around these facilities include:

There cannot be more than eight children present for care in the home at one time.
No more than two of those children – including the caregiver’s children – may be under two years old unless there are additional staff members present.
There may never be – under any circumstances – more than four children under the age of two, regardless of how many staff members are present.
Family child care homes typically operate for at least eight hours per day and usually offer flexible scheduling.
Like child care centers, some family child care homes provide care for mixed groups while others focus on particular age groups.

What are the requirements for both child care centers and child care homes?

Some of the physical requirements for both kinds of care providers include:

Receiving approval of the Office of Child Care, the fire department and local agencies
Providing care in approved areas of the facility only
Posting license or registration so it can be seen easily by parents
Offering a program of both indoor and outdoor activities that are appropriate to the children’s ages, needs and capabilities
Discipline procedures must be appropriate to the children’s age and maturity levels; no corporal punishment is allowed

What are your responsibilities as a consumer of child care?

You play the most important role in your child's growth and development. Deciding on the right kind of child care for you and your child is difficult. But it is a decision that only you can make.

Here are some of your responsibilities as a consumer of child care:

When you find a facility that fits your needs and feels right for your child, talk with the provider again. Good communication with your provider is important right from the start. Tell the provider about your child and the kind of care you would like for your child. This is especially important if your child's care will require any particular conditions. It will also help the provider know what you expect for your child.
Work out arrangements with the provider before your child begins the program. Be sure to discuss who is responsible for providing meals and snacks, when fees are due, what happens if fee payment is late and the days that the facility is closed. Signing a contract or service agreement will help to settle these arrangements. But first, read the contract or agreement carefully to make sure it covers all the items that you believe it should. Please be aware that any dispute that may arise later over details of the contract or agreement must be resolved between you and the provider -- child care regulators have no jurisdiction in contract disputes.
If you are unhappy with something about the facility after your child has started there, discuss the situation with the provider as soon as possible. Doing so may make it easier to work out a solution.
You can help the provider care for your child by telling him or her if something unusual happened at home the previous night or weekend. That way, the provider can plan to be on the lookout for differences in your child.

What are your rights as a consumer of child care?

When you choose regulated child care, you have several rights which are protected under Maryland law. You:

Have the right to expect that the care your child receives meets the requirements set by Maryland child care regulations
Have the right to visit the facility any time your child is in care without making an appointment
Have the right to see the rooms and outside play area where care is provided during program hours
Are to be notified if someone in the family child care home smokes. In child care centers, smoking is not allowed
Have the right to receive advance notice when a substitute will be caring for your child in a family child care home for more than two (2) hours at a time
Must give written permission before a provider or teacher may take your child swimming, wading or on field trips
Are to be notified immediately of any serious injury or accident. If your child has a non-serious injury or accident, you must be notified on the same day
May file a complaint with the Office of Child Care if you believe that the provider or teacher is violating child care regulations. Any complaint you make about the child care facility or the care being provided there (whether it involves your child or not) will be promptly investigated. Your complaint may be filed verbally or in writing. You should address it to the Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office that has jurisdiction over the area where the facility is located, since that is the office that will conduct the investigation. Once its investigation of the complaint is complete, the Regional Licensing Office must, at your request, inform you about the results of the investigation
Have the right to review, at the Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office, the public portion of the licensing or registration file on the child care facility where your child is or was enrolled, or where you are considering enrolling your child.

What are the requirements for child care facilities around children with disabilities?

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all child care providers make reasonable efforts to accommodate individual needs of children with disabilities. Examples of services include:

Schedule adjustments for children who take medication
Having staff who are trained in sign language
Putting signs in Braille on the belongings of children who are blind
Removing physical barriers or offering alternative means of access for disabled children.

What if you need help paying for child care?

The Child Care Scholarship Program issues vouchers to eligible families to help them pay their child care costs. To be eligible, families must meet certain need and income requirements. To learn more, call CCS Central at 1-227-0125 or follow this link to the program.

Child Care Contract Basics

Choosing a child care provider is an important decision for parents, and having a clear agreement in place is key to a successful child care arrangement. A contract outlines the terms and conditions of the agreement between you and your child care provider, ensuring everyone is on the same page. In this blog post, we'll break down the basics of child care contracts in simple terms.

Key Elements of a Child Care Contract:

Costs:
- The contract should clearly state the rate you will pay for the child care services.
- Specify the frequency of payment, whether it's weekly or monthly.
- Any additional fees, such as registration or materials costs, should be outlined.
Payment Details:
- Clearly mention when payments are due.
- Specify acceptable forms of payment, whether it's cash, check, or electronic transfer.
Late Fees:
- Understand any late fees that may apply if payments are not made on time.
Hours of Operation:
- The contract should outline the regular operating hours for child care services.
Program Closures:
- Specify days when the child care program may be closed for holidays, vacations, or scheduled closings.
- Clarify whether payment is required for those days, even if the program is closed.
Termination Policy:
- Agree on how much notice is required if either party decides to end the child care agreement.
- This ensures a smooth transition for both the parent and the child care provider.
Signatures:
- Conclude the contract with signatures from both the parent and the child care provider, confirming mutual agreement to the terms.

By understanding the basics of child care contracts, parents can establish a transparent and positive relationship with their child care providers. It's crucial to discuss and clarify these details to prevent misunderstandings and ensure a harmonious child care experience for both parties. If you want to learn more about child care policies and contracts, don't hesitate to ask your child care provider for further information and learn more about child care policies and contracts here.