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Types of Early Childhood Programs

2

Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website.

Key Concepts

• All the many types of child care programs 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.


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.

• Differentiate between the types of center sponsorship.

continued


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.• Discuss instruments used to measure the

quality of child care.


Family Child Care• Family child care provides 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


Child Care Centers• Child care centers are the most popular type of

service• Programs based on provider skills and state

licensing requirements


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


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


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


Head Start• Nutrition

– One snack and one hot meal every day

• Health services provided– Dental– Medical including immunizations– Mental health

continued


Head Start• Parental involvement

– Recruiting new children– Assisting in the center– Taking part in policy meetings


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.


Kindergarten• Kindergarten is part of

most private and public school systems

• Schedules include– half-day– full-day– full-day/alternating day

sessions

continued


Kindergarten• Program goals and objectives include

– literacy skills that include oral language, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and print knowledge

– math skills that include number sense, measurement, geometry, and calculating

– life science that focuses on animals, the human body, and plants

– earth science that focuses on weather and recycling

continued


Kindergarten• Program goals and objectives include

– social studies skills that focus on family life, lifestyles, and responsibilities to peers and society

– social learning skills that foster the development of self-esteem and self-worth; following directions, using time wisely, positive peer interactions, and developing independence

continued


Kindergarten• Curriculum may vary from school to school• It can include

– preacademic skills– social development– creative activities


School-Age Child 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


School-Age Child Care• Check-in services are provided for parents of

older children– Call the home and check whether the child has

arrived safely


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


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


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


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


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


Sponsorship of Early Childhood Centers• Public, private, or employer-sponsored child

care centers• Public sponsorships include

– Head Start– public university child care centers – publicly funded preschools, laboratory schools,

and high school child care programs

continued


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


Universal Prekindergarten• Universal prekindergarten (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


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


The Selection Process

Searchchild care referral agency

online/phone bookfriends and relatives

Investigatecallingvisiting

Choose


Discuss

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


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


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


Discuss

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


Brainstorm

Curriculum Fees Schedule

A D A D A D

Family childcare

Child care centers

Head Start

Montessori schools

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


Quality Rating Systems• Help parents judge quality

– Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS-R)

– Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale– Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale– School-Age Care Early Rating Scale


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.

types of early childhood programs 2 copyright goodheart-willcox co., inc. may not be posted to a...

Documents

accessible website

quality child care

quality of child care

daycopyright goodheartwillcox

types of child care

head startthe head

types of center sponsorship

head startparental involvement