What exactly is the proper definition of childcare? Essentially, the nurturing and direct supervision of a child, from a young age through his or her teen years, providing more structured and formal adult services as organized child care facility and less casual and less formal care given by a single parent. Childcare is different than day care because a day care facility will have workers who are trained to interact with children on a much more intimate basis, but childcare is more directed at developing and educating young minds in the ways they should be developed. Day care may be a necessary option for older kids who are unwell or simply cannot attend school, but organized childcare is an excellent choice for any child to receive.
Organized child care is very similar to what happens in a day care facility except that there is a greater focus on developing and educating the child’s intellectual capacity. Day care workers are not allowed to offer direct supervision or teach the child; instead, the child is left to attend classes at set times and then the parents watch over him or her at other times. Much of this teaching can occur in the home, but some of it does not, which is where many parents feel that a more structured approach is needed. Parents may feel that they can better instruct their child if they can see them doing it themselves.
Many state governments mandate that parents providing child care services have obtained certification to do so. Parents are required to attend courses in basic first aid and CPR, learn how to properly bathe and feed their children, and learn how to teach their children the basics of healthy eating. While some states have minimal requirements for child care facilities, every state requires that licensed child care workers be properly trained. To ensure that the child care workers have proper training, most states require them to take and pass a licensing test. Some of the training requirements are specific to child care workers, but in general, all state licensing agencies require some sort of training or certification.
States that do not require Daycare Center workers to be licensed generally allow licensed child care providers to participate in the state regulated child care program. In order to participate, parents need to meet the requirements for licensure. In most cases, the provider must be a resident of the state. For example, if an applicant was born and raised in Ohio, he would need to pass a licensing exam to become a daycare provider in that state. Once he passed the exam, he would be able to work in the state.
The education and development of child care workers is often part and parcel of their employment. Day care providers are required to complete education courses that cover education and development. These courses generally last between two and four weeks. However, there are some childcares who have a longer or more comprehensive child development program that may encompass both classroom education and on-the-job training.
Childcare workers also need to be knowledgeable about their own health and the health of their child. Day care staff are required to follow federal health and safety guidelines. Day care workers also need to be trained to work with children who have special needs. Providing this type of specialized care can be extremely beneficial to both parents and children.
