| Obtaining quality child care is very important to families across South Dakota. The thought of finding a quality child care provider can seem overwhelming. Be sure to start looking for a provider as early as possible. Finding the right child care can take time. All sorts of questions need to be answered—how much will it cost? Is the care giver in a good location? And, most important, is the child care provider of high quality? In the sections below you will find answers to these and other questions about child care. |
Choosing Child Care
Two resources that are very helpful are the Child Care Guide and the Choosing Child Care in South Dakota handbook. In them you will find questions that are important to ask when looking for quality child care along with other factors to consider.
Another resource for choosing child care is the Child Care Aware website. Click here to read more. As you look for child care it is important to know the difference between child care and babysitting. To learn more about this difference click here.
Licensing Requirements
In South Dakota there are three types of child care as defined by the state. At one end are child care centers which serve 21 or more children. In the middle are group family day care homes which have between 13 and 20 children. Both the center and the group family day care home must be licensed by the state. Individuals with 12 or fewer children in their home have the choice as to whether they wish to be registered with the state. For more information on the requirements of child care providers click here.
Financial Information
The cost of child care is another factor to consider when looking for child care. The first question is whether to stay home with your child or to return to work and obtain child care. Click here for a tool to help you as you think about this question. For families who qualify for financial assistance, help is available through the Child Care Subsidy Program if your child is at a licensed or registered provider. There are also federal tax breaks available.
Parent Resources
There are other valuable resources about child care. The world of child care uses many different words. Click here for a dictionary of these words. Child Care Aware has publications available at little or no cost. Information on child care, in Spanish, can be found by clicking here.
Click here to post questions on our Forums about child care.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD CARE IN YOUR AREA CALL 1-800-227-3020 OR IN SIOUX FALLS OR RAPID CITY DIAL 211.
© 2008 KELO-TV -- KELOLAND.COM -- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 