CMC RESOURCES GUIDE:
CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS
Note:
Many (most) of
the following
references to
child care
resources
are
applicable to preschool as
well.
Child Care
Aware
Non-profit
organization focused
on helping parents
find the best
information on
locating quality
child care and child
care resources in
their community.
800 424-2246
www.childcareaware.org
Child Care
Bureau
The Administration
for Children and
Families
US Dept of Health
& Human Services
202 690-6782
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb
MaChildCare.Com
Online resource for
local child care
information,
including referral
service
www.machildcare.com
Massachusetts
Office of Child Care
Services
Answers to important
questions about
child care and early
education in
Massachusetts
617 626-2000
www.qualitychildcare.org
Massachusetts
State Licensing
Regulations for
Child Care
Facilities
www.qualitychildcare.org/regulations.shtml
nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/MA/massachusetts.htm
NannyNetwork.com
Internet resource
for finding quality
nanny agencies and
information about
hiring and employing
a nanny
www.nannynetwork.com
National
Network for Child
Care
Internet source of
over 1000
publications and
resources related to
child care
www.nncc.org
National
Resource for Health
& Safety in
Child Care
Links to health
and safety
information
application to child
care settings
nrc.uchsc.edu
Tips for choosing
a Preschool
Tips from CMC Moms
for selecting a
preschool for your
child.
Chelmsford
Area Preschools
Listed by Town
Extracted from the
Massachusetts Office
of Child Care
Services database.
BOOKS
Smart
Start: The Parents'
Complete Guide to
Preschool Education
by Marian Edelman
Available in the CMC
Lending
Library
ONLINE
ARTICLES
How
to find a good
preschool
Identify your
priorities; Do your
research; Visit and
interview; Check
references; Kid-test
it; Get on the
waiting list.
Massachusetts
Early Care and
Education Study
The
Massachusetts Early
Care and Education
Study is a group of
inter-related
research projects
with a common
interest in
understanding the
state of early care
and education in
Massachusetts today.
Choosing the Right
School
Tools, Articles, Ask
the Experts, Life
Stories, Bulletin
Boards, Polls
The
top preschool
programs and how
they differ
What type of
preschool is right
for your child? Find
out the difference
between a Montessori
and a Waldorf
school, for
instance, and
pinpoint an early
education philosophy
that will best suit
your child. Why
Is Preschool
Important?
Preschool isn't
something that
occurs before
school, it is
school. The focus of
preschool shouldn't
be on preparing a
child to succeed at
"real"
school later, but
instead should
concentrate on her
educational needs
right now.
WEB RESOURCES
National
Association for the
Education of Young
Children
Locate programs that
have been accredited
by the NAEYC.
www.naeyc.org/default.htm US
Dept of Education
Early Childhood
Education
Information
www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=pn
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