Finding high-quality childcare is one of the biggest decisions you may be faced to make when balancing school and family. While we are unable to offer on-campus childcare or financial assistance, we would like to equip you with the knowledge you need to navigate your many options for licensed childcare.
Child care centers are multi-classroom programs located in a non-residential facility. Children are typically grouped with same-age peers in groups or classrooms; some centers may have mixed age groups for parts of the day and because child care centers typically have a larger staff, there's less likelihood of disruption in availability. If you're interviewing care centers, be sure to ask about:
Family child care programs care for a mixed age group in a person's home. Although in a residential home, the indoor and outdoor spaces used for child care must meet the same standards as center-based programs. Family child care can offer more individualized care, can be well-connected to your community and offer a learning environment that truly reflects the families enrolled.
If you're considering a family child care program, consider:
If you are located outside of Seattle, we recommend connecting with the following resources for childcare assistance:
There are many other options for child care available including babysitting services, preschools, and friends/family. This type of care can be much more flexible and financially-friendly but might not have the same oversight as licensed options. If you are considering these types of care, it is important to consider advantages and disadvantages.
Information credit: Child Care Resources, 2018. https://childcare.org
Goodwill Connections supports low income student parents by providing assistance with childcare costs to enable these parents to complete 2 and 4 year degrees.