Choosing a Child Care Provider
Topic:
- Parenting
Finding a safe and nurturing child care environment is essential for your child’s growth and development.
Here are some questions to consider when choosing a child care center or family day care home:
- Is the facility licensed by the State of Florida?
- Are all teachers up-to-date on training requirements?
- Does the facility meet staff-to-child ratios?
- What type of curriculum do they offer? Is it developmentally appropriate for your child’s age?
- Does the staff have positive, nurturing interactions with the children?
- Do the children seem happy and comfortable?
- Are the children constantly supervised?
- How do they keep parents informed about progress and updates?
- Is the facility clean and safe?
- Do they provide healthy snacks and/or meals?
You can find more information about providers by checking their profiles, which include important details like:
- Name, address, and license number
- Provider type and capacity
- Days and hours of operation
- Services offered
For more details, visit: Florida Child Care Provider Search
Child Care Staff-to-Child Ratios
Center-Based Care Ratios:
- 4 infants (under 1 year): 1 caregiver
- 6 one-year-olds: 1 caregiver
- 11 two-year-olds: 1 caregiver
- 15 three-year-olds: 1 caregiver
- 20 four-year-olds: 1 caregiver
- 25 five-year-olds and older: 1 caregiver
Home-Based Care Ratios:
- 4 infants (under 1 year): 1 caregiver
- 3 infants + 3 additional children (maximum 6): 1 caregiver
- 6 preschool-aged children (older than 1 year): 1 caregiver
- 10 children (no more than 5 preschool-aged and no more than 2 under 1 year): 1 caregiver
To learn more, click here.
