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NCCIC Library

Creating Quality Child Care Facilities.
By Virginia Persing
January 10, 2000

Summary: This guide explores how physical settings affect the quality of early childhood programs, and shows what to look for and work toward in child care facilities. Good child care facilities: (1) are homelike because young children spend most of their waking hours in them; (2) are child-sized because this creates greater opportunities for success; (3) are a palette for children’s self-expression because this promotes pride, accomplishment, and recognition; (4) encourage children’s autonomy because it prepares them for increasing independence and responsibility; (5) have indoor and outdoor spaces for physical activities because this provides an emotional outlet and promotes self-esteem and good health; (6) are structured yet flexible because predictability and ownership create a sense of security; (7) have outdoor and indoor spaces for nature because these create appreciation for plants and animals and the world around us; (8) include appropriate spaces for teachers and parents because these enable them to function more effectively. Before buying, renovating, or building a child care facility, start by planning; define goals, decide who will be managing the project, ensure the facility is a smart investment, determine financing, and involve people in the community who will benefit from the program. A list of questions is presented to help plan for a quality child care facility.

Index Terms: Center Based Child Care, Facilities, Impact, Indoor Environment, Head Start, Quality Of Child Care

Publisher: The Early Childhood Facilities Fund

Publication Type: Training Materials

Pages: 16 pages
Language: English

Availability
National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
243 Church Street NW, Second Floor
Vienna, Virginia 22180
800-616-2242
800-716-2242 Fax
E-mail: info@nccic.org
http://www.nccic.org


 
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