Every Child Deserves Quality Care
Quality child care is something every working parent desires and every child deserves.
Child-care arrangements directly affect parental job performance. Studies show that parents are happier and more productive on the job when they are satisfied with the care their children receive.
Two excellent resources are available to help parents in their search, the first focusing on school-age child care, the second on infant and preschool child care; both resources are informative and reasonably priced.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18.2 million children between 6 and 17 require supervision before and after school. The Child Care Action Campaign and School-Age Child Care Project have published “Parents’ Guide to School-Age Child Care” designed for parents to learn about available options and resources.
The guide suggests three ingredients to look for when selecting quality child care: a safe environment, opportunity for the child to form stable relationships with caring adults, and age-appropriate activities that will interest the child.
The guide gives criteria for selecting school-age child care, lists available resources nationwide, and describes how parents can organize after-school programs in their communities. It also features a comprehensive list of questions parents should ask to ascertain the quality of a program and staff.
The guide is $5, payable to: Child Care Action Campaign, 330 Seventh Ave., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Two award-winning producers from Quartet Creative Services understand that the process of finding early childhood care is often time-consuming and overwhelming.
Their video, “Finding Quality Childcare: What Every Parent Needs To Know,” will turn parents into educated consumers able to make informed choices that will place their children in safe, healthy environments.
The comprehensive 45-minute video covers health, safety and curriculum issues of child-care facilities. Interviews with educators and professionals discuss important factors such as child-to-adult ratios, open-door polices and provider qualifications.
A checklist is included with the video that can accompany parents on their visits to various child-care facilities.
The video is $19.95, plus $4 shipping; to order, call (800) 859-5105.
World Marriage Day
Renew your wedding vows with couples around the globe in celebration of World Marriage Day on Feb. 10. A Mass, open to all faiths, will be given at 5:15 p.m. at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, 330 E. Boone.
A reception and dance will follow the service in Cataldo Hall on the Gonzaga University campus. Admission is free for an evening of music, refreshments and prizes.
The event is sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, which also offers weekend retreats for couples of all faiths to strengthen their marriage through improved communication.
A retreat is planned for Feb. 16-18; accommodations are provided.
For more information on World Marriage Day, call Dan and Judy Leach at 325-3263; for the Marriage Encounter Weekend retreat, call Jon and Tracy Jordan at 484-5683.
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MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.