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High-quality child care: Luxury option or standard equipment? |
CreditsSourceNational Association for the Education of Young ChildrenForumsChildcare and KidsRelated ArticlesApproaches to School-Age Child CareHow Can I Find A High Quality Preschool Program? |
We may be able to forego luxury options when buying a car, deciding against cruise control or an expensive stereo system. But what about choosing an early childhood program? Shouldn't all characteristics of high-quality care and education be standard features in every program and center? In her article in the January issue of Young Children, Deborah Koshansky reminds us that "option packages" do not exist when it comes to a high-quality early childhood education. To ensure all children receive the kind of care and education they need to thrive, early childhood programs and centers must fully meet criteria of high quality. A "stripped down" model of a car may get us safely from place to place, but a "stripped down" model of child care and education means that children's learning and development will be compromised. How can any of these options be considered a "luxury" when it comes to high-quality care? Warranty—License and/or accreditation for the program Seat belts and air bags—Health and safety guidelines to protect the child from illness and accidents Fuel injection system—Nutritious meals and snacks Responsive handling—Small groups and teacher-child ratios to allow prompt and appropriate attention to the child's needs Shock absorbers—Teachers' sensitive assistance as the child encounters rough places on the road to maturity Preventive maintenance agreement—Teachers' knowledge of child development and early childhood education for recognizing problems and addressing them early Steering mechanism—Developmentally appropriate curriculum to guide the child's curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills Automatic transmission—Teachers' ability to change gears to meet the child's changing interests Comfortable interiors—Teachers' smiles, hugs, and appreciation that provide a cushion for the child's self-esteem Cruise control—Appropriate limit setting and strategies to assist the child in learning self-control Maneuverability—Opportunities for children to interact with each other and develop social skills Choice of color and style—Environment in which each child feels special and unique Radio, directional signals, horn, hazard lights—Opportunities for children to learn to communicate effectively Air conditioning—Opportunities for outdoor play and physical development Reliability—Good working conditions and an equitable pay scale to reduce teacher turnover, thus ensuring greater consistency of care Customer satisfaction—Parents involved in their child's program and seen by teachers as partners in a child's growth. In high-quality early childhood programs and centers, all of the above are standard features. But like all quality features, they cost money. No child's learning and development should be compromised because her parents cannot afford a high-quality early childhood program.Only by continuing our efforts to find alternate resources will we ensure that no child has to settle for a "stripped down" model of child care. When all children receive high-quality education and care, we will yield children equipped with the skills necessary for life in the 21st century. And that's an investment that won't depreciate. Adapted from "High-quality child care: Luxury option or standard equipment?" by Deborah Koshansky. Young Children 52 (2). Back to the Table of ContentsCreditsCopyright © 1997 by National Association for the Education of Young Children. For more information, contact:National Association for the Education of Young Children |
