Child Care Guide

Learn what makes a quality child care program and get tips on safety, learning, care options, and family support.

CHOOSING QUALITY CHILD CARE

It’s important to know how a child care program fits your family’s needs. We’ve provided information to help you ask about location, transportation, daily activities, learning opportunities, and safety so you can choose a program that’s right for your child. Be sure to watch the video guides and review the questions you should ask before deciding.

Key Questions to Ask When Choosing Child Care

Key Questions to Ask When Choosing Child Care

How Close Is Child Care and Do They Provide Rides?

Ask if the child care is close to your home or work. This makes dropping off and picking up your child easier and faster. Ask if they provide rides to and from your child’s school. If they do, make sure the rides are safe and reliable for your family.

What Learning Activities and Materials Does Child Care Offer?

Ask if the child care gives healthy meals and snacks to your child. Find out if they can take care of any special needs your child has. Ask how many children are in each group and how many adults take care of them. Check if there are separate areas for different activities like reading, playing, and resting. Also, ask if there is enough space for kids to play inside and outside.

How Is the Child Care Environment?

Ask if the child care gives healthy meals and snacks to your child. Find out if they can take care of any special needs your child has. Ask how many children are in each group and how many adults take care of them. Check if there are separate areas for different activities like reading, playing, and resting. Also, ask if there is enough space for kids to play inside and outside.

How Safe Is the Child Care?

Ask if the child care is clean and safe all the time. Find out how they store things that can be dangerous, like guns, cleaning supplies, and medicine. If there is a swimming pool, ask what safety rules they have to keep kids safe around water.

VIDEOS: Selecting Child Care and Parental Access to Child Care

TYPES OF CHILD CARE

There are different types of child care and early education programs, and we’ve provided information to help you understand how they work, what makes them safe, and the learning opportunities they offer.

Licensed Child Care Facilities

Licensed Child Care Facilities

Some child care programs are licensed, which means the state sets rules to keep kids safe. Licensed programs include:

Child Care Centers: Larger facilities, often in schools, churches, or commercial buildings. They care for many children, with group sizes based on age and staff.
Family Child Care Homes: Care that happens in someone’s home. Small homes care for up to 8 children. Large homes care for up to 14 children, with an extra adult helping.

Licensed-Exempt Child Care Facilities

Licensed-Exempt Child Care Facilities

License-Exempt Programs: These programs don’t have a state license but still provide care. They include school-based programs, district-run child care, and centers like the YMCA. They may follow different rules than licensed programs, so ask how they keep children safe and cared for.
License-Exempt Individual Care: Some caregivers care for children in their own homes without a license. They may be relatives, friends, or neighbors. Ask how many children they care for and if they’ve passed a TrustLine background check.

Early Education Programs

Early Education Programs

Early Education Programs: These programs help children learn and get ready for school through planned activities in reading, math, or science. They include:

Early Head Start for infants and toddlers
Head Start for preschool-age children
Preschool programs for ages 3–5, including Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Other structured learning programs

Ask what early education programs are available and what activities your child will do. For more information, visit: PUSD Early Educational Programs

COMPLAINTS, REPORTING CHILD ABUSE, BACKGROUND CHECK

There are ways to make sure a child care provider is safe and trustworthy. We’ve provided information on how to report concerns, check for abuse, and review background and licensing reports.

Child Care Provider Complaints

Child Care Provider Complaints

If you report concerns about a child’s safety or licensing issues, your complaint will be sent to the licensing agency. While the complaint is being reviewed, the provider may be temporarily removed from the referral list. If their license is taken away, paused, or put on probation, they will be removed from the referral database. The provider can request a review by Community Care Licensing.

To make a complaint, visit this website: https://childdev.pusd.org/apps/pages/complaint.

Report Child Abuse

Background Check on a Child Care Facility

Background Check on a Child Care Facility

Ask the child care provider or facility for a background check.

Under Oliver’s Law, licensed child care providers must share their licensing reports with the public, including site visits and complaint investigations. You can also view more detailed files at the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division, and you have the right to review any public information in these files. For help, call the San Bernardino County Office at (951) 782-4200 or the Los Angeles County Office at(323) 981-3350.