Winning the Child Care Challenge by Patience Adibe

About the book

Winning the Child Care Challenge is a true story about how to find quality child care centers or efficient baby-sitters for your children. For eleven years, from 1986 - 1997, I went through the challenge of finding quality child care for my four children, while combining college education and work. This book shows readers how to manage relationships with child care providers base on both professional and personal insights.

Child care issues are a major concern for parents. For example, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies found that 62 percent of working parents report major problems finding quality child care to meet their needs. In addition, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has reported that only few children are enrolled in day care centers accredited by NAEYC. Pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and Craig T. Ramey have indicated that quality child care significantly affect school readiness and language skills among children.

In this book, there are tips to help parents find quality child care centers. National and local child care resources that can help parents determine licensing requirements for child care providers are offered. Tips on how to cope when your child is sick, on a snow day, or school vacations are included. Information on how to organize yourself at home is offered.

There are two sample forms, one for interviewing a child caregiver and the second is provided to help your caregiver give your children medication, if necessary. This book will help parents to know the differences in child care resources. Child care costs are discussed to give not only parents but policy makers an idea of the challenges facing society with regards to child care issues.

The personal story in this book will show parents the type of toys, meals, and the environment that count as quality child care based on both professional and personal suggestions. One of the most important things that this book will do for parents is to help them in their challenge to find quality child care for their children.

About the author

Patience Adibe was born in Nigeria, West Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Community Services and a Master's degree in Family Studies. Both degrees are from Michigan State University. She is also a staff member at Michigan State University. Patience lives with her husband and four children in East Lansing, Michigan