You are on this page: As you think about child care…
Choosing good child care is an important decision. Safe and positive child care sets the stage for healthy growth and development. It takes time, patience, and an understanding of what to look for when selecting child care.
Learn about different child care options and visit programs before making a decision. Call and make an appointment. Look around the child care setting carefully. Watch how the children and adults interact with one another. Ask questions. Listen. Talk to parents who use the program.
Once you have selected a child care program and your child is in care, keep asking questions. Always check to make sure the program still meets the needs of your family. It’s a lot of work, but your child is worth it.
Resources
Video
As you Think About Child Care: Thinking About Child Care MP4 | Thinking About Child Care WebM | Thinking About Child Care WMV
Publications
Select a publication below to see the available language options.
- Pub. 1115A - As you think about child care…
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- Pub. 1115A English | PDF | 1.8 MB
- Pub. 1115A-AR Arabic | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-BN Bengali | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-TC Chinese, traditional | PDF | 1.2 MB
- Pub. 1115A-Dari Dari | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-FR French | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115A-HC Haitian Creole | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115A-IT Italian | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115A-KO Korean | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-Pashto Pashto | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-PL Polish | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115A-RU Russian | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115A-S Spanish | PDF | 434 KB
- Pub. 1115A-UR Urdu | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115A-YI Yiddish | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115B - As you think about child care for your infant or toddler…
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- Pub. 1115B English | PDF | 2.3 MB
- Pub. 1115B-BN Bengali | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115B-TC Chinese, traditional | PDF | 1.3 MB
- Pub. 1115B-HC Haitian Creole | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115B-KO Korean | PDF | 1.1 MB
- Pub. 1115B-RU Russian | PDF | 1.0 MB
- Pub. 1115B-S Spanish | PDF | 5.5 MB
- Pub. 1115C - As you think about child care for your 3- to 5-year-old…
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- Pub. 1115C English | PDF | 5.9 MB
- Pub. 1115C-BN Bengali | PDF | 2.5 MB
- Pub. 1115C-TC Chinese, traditional | PDF | 2.4 MB
- Pub. 1115C-HC Haitian Creole | PDF | 2.2 MB
- Pub. 1115C-KO Korean | PDF | 2.4 MB
- Pub. 1115C-RU Russian | PDF | 2.2 MB
- Pub. 1115C-S Spanish | PDF | 6.7 MB
- Pub. 1115D - As you think about child care for your school-age child…
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- Pub. 1115D English | PDF | 5.2 MB
- Pub. 1115D-BN Bengali | PDF | 674 KB
- Pub. 1115D-TC Chinese, traditional | PDF | 612 KB
- Pub. 1115D-HC Haitian Creole | PDF | 324 KB
- Pub. 1115D-KO Korean | PDF | 443 KB
- Pub. 1115D-RU Russian | PDF | 434 KB
- Pub. 1115D-S Spanish | PDF | 293 KB
- Related Publications
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Pub. 4628: Kieran’s Law
A brochure on the responsibilities and services available to you as an employer of an in-home caregiver.
Contact
For a copy of the New York State child care regulations and/or more information on selecting child care, contact your local child care resource and referral agency, visit the New York State Office of Children and Family Services website at ocfs.ny.gov, or call the New York Parents’ Connection at: 1-800-345-KIDS (5437).
Call the Child Care Complaint Line at 1-800-732-5207 with concerns about a program.
To report child abuse and neglect call 1-800-342-3720.