CDD provides two ways to help you find a regulated child care provider.
Things to Consider when Looking for Child Care
Child care is an opportunity to enhance the healthy growth, development and learning of young children. High quality early care enables children to enter kindergarten with the good health and skills they need to be successful.
Below are some tips to help you find quality care:
Gather information about programs you're interested in.
Check the program’s regulatory information, accreditation, and STARS status by:
- Reviewing program information on the Bright Futures Information System
- Calling the Child Care Consumer Line at 1-800-649-2642 or (802) 241-3110.
Visit several programs.
Nothing is better than seeing a program first hand. Watch how the provider interacts with the children and what activities are offered. Ask questions!
Get recommendations from people you know.
Talk to people you trust about their experiences with child care programs. Remember that every child is different – what works for one family might not work for another.
Look for indicators of high quality.
Look for programs that are high quality, including those with national accreditation and those that have been recognized by the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS).
Additional Resources
- The Child Care Aware website has information that can help you locate quality child care in your community.
- Once you find a child care provider, read the Using Regulated Child Care Booklet.