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Health-and-Safety-care

Child Care Health & Safety

Basic things to look for when choosing child care:

  • Child Care Licensing permit • or letter posted
  • CPR and First Aid certificate
  • Health and safety training
  • Good hand-washing practices
  • Daily review of indoor/outdoor environments
  • Fire extinguisher and/or smoke detectors
  • Fire drills practice
  • Child-proofing
  • Emergency or evacuation plans
  • Continuous child supervision
  • Nutritious meals and snacks
Training for Parents
Quality-Care

Child Care Quality

Look, Listen, Count, Ask

Look

  • For reading and learning opportunities
  • For both teacher and child-directed activities

Listen

  • To the children laughing, singing, and playing
  • To the teacher’s tone of voice
  • To the teacher and child interaction
  • To the teacher redirect children’s behavior

Count

  • The staff-child ratios and group size guidelines specified by Child Care Licensing are important in all age groups, especially for infants!

Ask

  • About teacher-child development training
  • About child-to-teacher ratio and group size
  • About ability to care for children with special needs
Provider-Types

Provider Types

Licensed Child Care

Licensed Child Care Centers

May care for 13 or more children under the age of 14 for less than 24 hours per day.

Licensed Child Care Homes

May care for 7-12 children under the age of 14 for less than 24 hours per day.

Registered Child Care Homes

Provide care for up to six children under the age of 14 in the caregiver’s home; they may also care for up to six more school-age children. The number of children allowed in the home is determined by the ages of the children.

Relative Care Providers

Some relatives care for children in addition to working outside the home. The arrangement for child care is with that individual relative only.

Texas-Rising-Star

Texas Rising Star (TRS)

Provider Requirements

Texas Rising Star (TRS) Providers meet requirements that exceed the State’s Minimum Licensing Standards for child care facilities.

TRS Requirements:

  • Director qualifications
  • Teacher staff qualifications
  • Staff orientation
  • Ongoing staff development
  • Smaller group size
  • Detailed curriculum and lesson plans
  • Teacher-child interaction
  • Physical environment
  • Health and safety
  • Nutrition and Indoor/Outdoor Activities
  • Parent involvement and Education

Download a list of Texas Rising Star Providers in the area.

View TRS Video

Visit the Texas Child Care Connection web site to search for a licensed Child Care Provider in your area, Texas Child Care Connection for Families.

Licensed Child Care Offices and Child Care Homes are routinely monitored and inspected by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Click on the Child Care Eligibility section below to see if you qualify.

Helpful Links

Eligibility

Child Care Eligibility

Click Here

Resources-for-Parents

Resources for Parents

Click Here