Types of Early Childhood Programs

2. 2 Types of Early Childhood Programs

3. Key Concepts • There are many types of child care programs, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. • Child care programs can have public, private, or employer sponsorship. • Licensing and accreditation are important in the selection of child care programs.

4. Objectives • List and describe the various types of early childhood programs available to parents and their children. • Assess the advantages and disadvantages of each type of program. • Name the three types of center sponsorship. continued

5. Objectives • Explain steps families may take in choosing quality child care. • List indications of quality in early childhood programs. • Recognize licensing rules and regulations that help keep centers safe. • List the components of center accreditation.

6. Family Child Care Homes • Family child care homes provide child care by people other than a relative or parent • Often in private neighborhood homes • Some states require licensing • May attend up to 12 hours a day

7. Child Care Centers • Child care centers are the most popular type of service • Programs based on provider skills and state licensing requirements • Some offer whole child curriculum • Some offer custodial care

8. Montessori Schools • Montessori schools focus on self-education in a prescribed sequence • The Montessori approach stresses • independence with little help from teachers • practical life experiences • sensory training mastered before academics are introduced

9. Head Start • The Head Start program was designed by the federal government in the 1960s to overcome the negative effects of poverty on young children • Provides child care for infants, toddlers, and four- to five-year-olds from low-income families • May be full- or part-time; in a center or home • Provides medical and social services continued

10. Head Start • Education • Curriculum is designed to build self-esteem that will lead to future success • Family involvement is key • Curiosity • Self-confidence • Self-discipline continued

11. Head Start • Nutrition • One snack and one hot meal every day • Health services provided • Dental • Medical including immunizations • Mental health continued

12. Head Start • Parental involvement • Recruiting new children • Assisting in the center • Taking part in policy meetings

13. Did You Know? Head Start is administered under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Two-thirds of the nearly 1,335,600 individuals who volunteer are parents.

14. Kindergarten • Kindergarten is part of most private and public school systems • Schedules include • half-day • full-day • full-day/alternating day sessions continued

15. Kindergarten • Program goals and objectives include • respect for the contributions, property, and rights of other children • development of positive feelings about school • development of positive self-concept • growth in language, social, physical, and creative skills continued

16. Kindergarten • Program goals and objectives include • achievement of problem-solving and cognitive skills • development of independence, shown by working alone on a task or developing self-help skills • development of interpersonal skills • appreciation of objects of beauty continued

17. Kindergarten • Curriculum may vary from school to school • It can include • preacademic skills • social development • creative activities

18. School-Age Care • Children from ages 5 to 10 most often attend school-age child care programs • Before- and after-school care • Sponsored by schools, religious organizations, or child care centers • Programs supplement regular classes continued

19. School-Age Care • Checking-in-services are provided for parents of older children • Call the home and check whether the child has arrived safely

20. Parent Cooperatives • Parent cooperatives allow parents to • prepare budgets • hire teachers • set program policies and goals • assist in the classroom • utilize full- or half-days • Developmental experiences for adults as well as children continued

21. Parent Cooperatives • Advantages • Teachers can devote more time to curriculum, while parents take care of the administrative activities • Special relationship between parents and teachers • Disadvantages • Teachers have less control; rules set by parents continued

22. Parent Cooperatives • Sessions • Two to three hours per day • Two to five days a week • Fees • Less than other programs • Paid head teacher, with parents performing all additional duties

23. Laboratory Schools • Laboratory schools are university- and college-affiliated programs • Train future teachers • Serve as a study group for research • Have highly qualified staff • Have well-planned curriculum • Use excellent equipment

24. High School Child Care Programs • High school child care programs train future child care professionals • Laboratory facilities for students to work with preschoolers while supervised by a teacher • Operate two or three days a week • Curriculum is planned by high school students • Students observe and work directly with children

25. Sponsorship of Early Childhood Centers • Public, private, or employer-sponsored child care centers • Public sponsorships include • Head Start • public university child care centers • publically funded preschools, laboratory schools, and high school child care programs continued

26. Sponsorship of Early Childhood Centers • Private sponsorships may be operated by • houses of worship • hospitals • charitable organizations • child care corporations (national chains) • Employer sponsorships offer • child care sponsored on-site or nearby for employees’ children

27. Universal Pre-Kindergarten • Universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) is a state-sponsored program for three- and four-year-olds • High-quality, literary-rich environment • Eagerness to learn in kindergarten • Early learning experiences for disadvantaged children

28. Selecting a Child Care Program • Factors to consider • Promotes children’s safety and comfort • Quality of program, cost, and location • Promotes all areas of child development • NAEYC recommended • Staff training, experience, and turnover ratio • Adult-child ratio and group size • Condition of facilities

29. Search child care referral agency online/phonebook friends and relatives Investigate calling visiting Choose The Selection Process

30. Discuss • If you were selecting a child care program for your child, what are some other factors that you would consider?

31. Licensing Rules and Regulations • Licensing rules and regulations • affect the safety and health of the children • protect parents, employers, and employees • A child care license is a state-provided certificate granting permission to operate • a child care center • family child care home

32. Center Accreditation • The best indicator of high-quality early care and education is being accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs • Improves the quality of programs • Helps parents find high-quality child care • Assures parents their children are receiving quality care

33. Discuss • What are the requirements to receive accreditation for a child care program in your state?

34. Brainstorm • What are some advantages and disadvantages of these child care programs?

35. Review • List five types of child care programs. • What are the three types of sponsorships for child care programs? • True or false. Licensing and accreditation are not important in the selection of child care programs.

36. Glossary • accredited. Having a certification that states a set of standards has been met. • checking-in services. Program assigning workers to call children in self-care to make sure there are no problems.

37. Glossary • child care centers. Full-day child care facilities that focus on basic nutritional, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs. • child care license. A state-provided certificate granting permission to open and operate a child care center or family child care home.

38. Glossary • custodial care. Type of child care that focuses primarily on meeting the child’s physical needs. • family child care home. Child care that is provided in a private home.

39. Glossary • Head Start. A program developed by the federal government to strengthen the academic skills of children from low-income homes, and designed mainly for four- and five-year-olds.

40. Glossary • laboratory schools. Schools located on a postsecondary or college campus with a primary purpose of training future teachers and serving as a study group for research. • licensing rules and regulations. Standards set to ensure that uniform and safe practices are followed.

41. Glossary • Montessori approach. Schools provide children freedom within limits by a rather structured approach, and a fixed method in which materials are presented. • parent cooperatives. Child care programs that are formed and run by parents who wish to take part in their children’s preschool experience.

42. Glossary • school-age child care programs. Programs often sponsored by schools, houses of worship, or child care centers that provide care for children before and/or after school.

43. Glossary • universal pre-kindergarten (UPK). A state-sponsored program designed to introduce three- and four-year-old children to a literary-rich environment. The goal is to enable every child with skills needed to succeed in school.