How Do You Know What You Need?

I l @ ve RuBoard

Before you can decide on the kind of child care you will choose, figure out what you require and how much you can afford. Child care is an expensive proposition but one that may help you to get ahead at work or firmly establish your home business. Take a look at this child care worksheet and use it to see what option makes the most sense for you.

• How many children do you have? _______________________________________

• How old are your children? _______________________________________

• How many days do you need coverage? _______________________________________

• How many hours in a day do you need coverage? _______________________________________

• Do your children have special needs? _______________________________________

  Allergies _______________________________________

  Transportation to afternoon specials _______________________________________

  Homework supervision _______________________________________

  Special dietary needs _______________________________________

  Physical, emotional, medical, or mental concerns _______________________________________

• Do you travel often? _______________________________________

• Do you have evening meetings? _______________________________________

• Do you need someone to provide transportation for the kids ? _______________________________________

• Do you need someone to prepare meals for the kids? _______________________________________

• Do you want child care in your home? _______________________________________

• Do you want child care outside your home? _______________________________________

• Does your work permit interruptions? _______________________________________

• Does your work require you to spend a lot of time on the phone? _______________________________________

• How much can you afford to pay each week? _______________________________________

Ultimately, the kind of child care you choose for your children will depend on how much you can afford and your comfort level. As parents, we are not the same. Some of us are at ease about nannies or au pairs in our homes , while others see it as an expensive invasion of privacy. Some prefer the structure and consistency of a day care center while others feel it's too formal a setting for young children. Still others will only allow a trusted family member to care for their young children. It all depends on what makes sense to you in your world.

As your children grow, your child care needs will change. Both Erica and Kathy's children are now in school all day so tripping over pull-toys and sippie cups is a thing of the past. Late afternoons can be a bear, but those are the hours that neither one of us expect to get much accomplished. Instead, we're picking kids up from school, shuffling them off to afternoon specials, running errands, supervising homework, and making dinner. (That's all.)

I l @ ve RuBoard