In a society where the majority of mothers and fathers are working outside the home, the need for quality childcare is growing at a rapid pace. A large contingent of the population is beginning to realize that center-based daycare is not their only option. Since it is now being acknowledged that the first three years of a child's life are the most important of their formative years, parents of young children are discovering that family child care can provide the individualized attention that children of this age need. Just what is family childcare? In short, it is childcare that is offered in the provider's home. Home daycare providers are NOT babysitters! Actually, quality family childcare is so much more then that! Quality providers are entrepreneurs who take pride in their small businesses and continually challenge themselves to remain at the leading edge of the child care profession. Quality childcare providers choose home daycare as their careers because they enjoy being around children and they enjoy helping children to get that good start in life that they deserve. One of the major benefits family childcare offers that center-based care simply cannot, is a small group. Any parent of a young child knows that the fewer people their child is exposed to, the less likely they are to become ill. Center-based care may offer seperate rooms for different age groups, but the fact of the matter is, that when large numbers of people, children as well as their parents walk through the center's doors, as many as 100 people a day could be bringing their cold or flu germs into that environment! Factor in all of the center's employees and the potential for exposure to illness seems staggering. More often parents are choosing family childcare because they know that increased time and attention can be tailor made for their children. It allows small groupings in an atmosphere resembling their own home, and its flexible scheduling adapts to each family's individual needs. Because providers must adhere to state guidelines, they can offer loving care without having to sacrifice the quality of their programs. Due to the low ratio of children in each program to begin with, and the even lower number of infants allowed, parents can really appreciate the individualized attention that is offered in these homes, and know that what is being offered really is serving their child's best interests. How can parents find quality family childcare? Just as you would ask your friends for personal referrals when looking for a new doctor or home decorator, thats also one of the best ways to seek out good family childcare as well. Most providers credit the bulk of their business to word-of-mouth personal referrals, as well as referrals obtained through professional organizations or corporate networks. Ask the provider for references from other daycare parents who have had their child(ren) in the providers care for awhile. While finding an exceptional provider may seem like a daunting task, rest assured that they do exist in large numbers! The search is well worth the effort. After all, don't we all want to give our children the very best in everything!?!