Waiting for the Best Child Care

Parents seeking child care want to find a safe, nurturing environment where their little ones will be happy and learning.  This kind of high-quality child care is greatly in demand, and parents often find that the school or center they believe will be best for their child doesn’t have space. Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger provides an inside peek into the process of child care wait lists.

Shellenbarger notes that “rules governing wait lists are roughly the same for all of them: Slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Infant care usually has the longest wait lists.”

This can be a frustrating time for parents who are looking for the very best care and education for their children, so I’d like to offer a few suggestions:

• When possible, plan ahead and start your search 9 to 12 months before you want or need your child to be enrolled.
• Once you’ve selected the one that you know is the right fit for your family, let the owner or director know that their center or school is your first choice and fill out any necessary paperwork required to secure a spot on the waiting list.
• It’s a good idea to check in regularly—perhaps once every month or two—to show your continued interest.  Always make sure the school or center has your most updated contact information.