In British Columbia, there are many types of child care. Whether
or not a child care program needs a licence depends primarily on
how many children the program is caring for. By law, if a provider
cares for more than two children not related to them they must be
licensed. Quality child care programs that provide a safe, healthy
and nurturing environment for children can be found in a variety
of settings.
In-own-home care is when you arrange for someone to
look after your child in your own home. The caregiver may be referred
to as a nanny, an au pair or a babysitter. A parent using in-own-home
care is considered to be an employer and must contact the Canada
Revenue Agency and the BC Workers’ Compensation
Board to find out workplace requirements and obligations.
Family child care is the provision of child care in
a private home (other than the child’s own home) for one or
two children who are unrelated to the caregiver. Exceptions to the
number of children in care can be made for sibling groups.
LNR child care providers are not regulated by licensing regulations
or monitored by licensing officers, and parents are solely responsible
for monitoring the quality of care. LNR family child care providers
who have chosen to become a member of their local Child Care Resource
and Referral Services (CCRR) have gone through a screening process
(see Criteria and Benefits).
Licensed child care is monitored by licensing officers and must
meet the requirements of provincial child care regulations. Locally,
the Child Care Licensing Program is administered under BC’s
Community Care Facility Licensing legislation through the Fraser
Health Authority. Licensed child care providers must comply with
regulations regarding staff qualifications, child/staff ratio, health
and safety, space and equipment, and guidance and discipline. Anyone
12 or over who is ordinarily present at a licensed child care facility
must go through a criminal record check.
| · | Licensed family child care usually involves one caregiver
providing care to a small group of children (no more than seven)
in the provider’s own home. The childrens’ ages can
range from birth to 12 years. |
| · | Group child care involves a number of staff caring
for larger groups of children of a specific age group. There
are infant and toddler centres, centres that serve children from
30 months to school entry, and out-of-school centres. |
| · | Preschools also serve children from 30 months
to school entry; however, these are part-day programs (four hours
maximum) and usually only operate during the school year. |
Staff in group child care facilities have additional training requirements.
To learn more about this, and for more information on licensing regulations
and how they apply to the different types of licensed child care
settings, please refer to the online Parents’ Guide to Selecting
Child Care, at: http://www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/ccf/child/index.html#publications.
It takes time to find child care that is a good fit for your family.
Some considerations that you might want to take into account include:
Is it important that the child care be located along your transportation
route? Or are you willing to backtrack or go out of your way? If
so, will the extra commute time be a burden on your family or difficult
for your child?
Do you want child care located close to your work? Is it important
to you that your child is in physical proximity to you during the
day? Do you want child care that is located near your home, allowing
your child to develop social connections in their own community?
Do you want your child to be the only one being cared for, having
the undivided attention of the caregiver? Or do you value opportunities
for peer learning and socialization with other children? Do you prefer
a small home-like setting or a larger group setting? Are you looking
for child care for more than one child? If so, would you prefer your
children to be cared for together in the same setting?
Do you need full-time or part-time child care? What hours of care
do you need? Do you have a lengthy commute and a long workday? Do
you require care in the evenings or on weekends? Do you have rotating
shifts? Care outside of typical work days and hours can be more challenging
to find, so if this is the case, give yourself extra time to search.
Think about the methods of guidance and discipline you are comfortable
with. What methods do you feel help build your child’s self-esteem
and encourage positive social relationships? What are your child’s
individual needs? Will these be met? What kind of activities does
your child enjoy? Will there be opportunities for them to engage
in these? What type of communication and feedback do you need from
your child care provider?
Child care subsidy is available for those who qualify and are in need of child care. For information on the Child Care Subsidy program, please visit the government website at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/subsidy_promo.htm. If you think you might be eligible, call your local Employment and Assistance Center at:
Anmore, Belcarra, Coquitlam and Port Moody 604-933-2031
Port Coquitlam
604-927-2949
Burnaby 604-664-0135 or 660-9500
New Westminster 604-660-8100
Access to the Ministry of Human Resources is also available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week through the Automated Telephone Inquiry
Line at 1-866-866-0800 (toll-free).
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