If you want some time alone with friends or your spouse, you’ll need to find some place for the kids to go. You should probably spend a bit of time looking into the local Seattle child care providers, so you’ll have someone to call when you need to blow off some steam.
Children's healthy development depends on safe and positive experiences when they are very young. If you work or go to school, you want to know that your child is in good hands while you are away. You may choose in-home care, where the caregiver comes to your home. Or your child might go to the caregiver's home. Finally, there are child care centers. You need to choose the one that works for your family.
It is important to get to know your child's caregivers. They will be a big part of your child's life. The caregiver's training should involve:
- Knowledge of how young children learn and grow.
- Positive, consistent discipline.
- Knowledge of the signs that a child is sick.
- Cleanliness and safety practices to help keep kids from getting sick or hurt.
- Basic first aid.
Childcare.gov offers a wealth of resources for parents, child care providers, researchers, policymakers and the general public seeking information about federal government sponsored child care and early learning.
The Child Care Bureau supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes childhood learning by improving the quality of early care and education and after school programs.
You may wish to view information about Head Start and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Head Start is a child development program that focuses on assisting children from low-income families. TANF assists families with children whose parents or responsible caregiver cannot provide for the family's basic needs. TANF has replaced federal welfare programs and is now administered by state and tribal governments.
You may also wish to view answers to frequently asked questions about child care assistance, or you may wish to contact the Child Care Bureau by phone at: 1-202-690-6782.
Finally, information on how to file a complaint against your child's care provider is available.