
High-quality care and education, starting in infancy, has been proven to build a strong foundation for learning, emotional intelligence and better health for the rest of a person’s life. Choosing a child care provider is one of the most important decisions that working parents will make, and while the search can be overwhelming, we’re here to make it easier.
As a part of the Nebraska Department of Education, the mission of Step Up to Quality is to help great child care providers in our state become even better. For families, we’re proud to offer a free provider search tool that helps you narrow down your search and feel confident in your choice among hundreds of high-quality child care providers.
As you begin your child care search, you may have some questions, including timing, what to look for and how to tell if a provider is the right fit for your family.
It’s almost never too early to begin your child care search, but pregnant parents should begin searching for infant care as early as 20 weeks into a pregnancy. Because infant child care providers are required to have a low teacher-to-child ratio, there are fewer available infant spots.
Beginning your search during the second trimester will provide cushion time for likely waitlists, and it’ll also allow time for research, tours and provider interviews. Here are some questions to ask yourself — and providers — when considering a program for your infant:
Every family has different child care needs. Download Step Up to Quality’s infant checklist as a starting point for your visit.
If you don’t plan to enroll your child in care until they’re a little older, begin your search at least one year ahead of your start date. If you currently have a toddler or preschooler, the time to begin your search is now! You don’t need to commit to a provider right away, but it’s important to know your options.
Inevitably, you may be in a situation where your ideal provider isn’t available. Don’t worry if you need to go with your second choice in the interim — you never know when a spot may open up.
Here are some questions to ask during your visit:
Learn more questions to ask in Step Up to Quality’s toddler and preschool child care checklists.
Congratulations! By reading this blog, you’ve already begun your child care search. Ready to take the next step? Use our child care provider search tool to filter by age group, program type and distance to find a high-quality Nebraska child care program near you.