Child Care Resources

Donors

For Families

Overview & FAQ

Choosing a Care Provider

Licensed Care Providers

Accreditation & Standards

Care Rates & Financial Aid

Licensing & Filing a Complaint

Books for Parents

Links

Informal Care Options

Family Friend Neighbor Care

Nanny and Au Pair Care

Babysitters

Early Learning

Early Learning Options

School Age

School Aged Care

School Readiness

Parents in Transition

Parents Back to Work, School

For Child Care Providers

Community Information

Find a Job

Volunteer Opportunities

Helpful Articles..

Child Care Health Prep: Immunization and Medical Care

Choosing In Home (Nanny) Care

Families Are Not All Alike

For Families

We help families access and choose high quality child care and after school care. For parents we offer an online search of child care providers in King County Washington. Please click in the box just to your right to subscribe to the find child care search. Read what parents say..

Or you may call our telephone referral service at one of the offices listed at the bottom of this page.

The information found in this section for parents will help you learn more about the child care options available, how to choose and interview prospective providers so you can make the best selection for your child care needs.

Licensed Child Care Choices

There are two types of licensed child care. A Child Care Center offers full or part-time care in a same-age group setting. Family Home Care offers full or part-time care in a person’s home with mixed ages. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Read more..

Other Types of Care Choices

In-home care is when an individual (nanny) cares for your child in your home. Au Pairs are young people from Europe who live with American families and provide child care as part of their responsibility to their host family. Read more..

Family, friends, neighbors, and babysitters contribute to the care of children as well. Read more..

QRIS - Quality Rating Improvement System

The overarching goal of a QRIS is to boost the quality of childcare available to families, while giving providers the tools and support they need raise the level of quality they deliver in their programs.  Read more...
 

Parent Central

Join Parent Central. If you have a child under age 8, sign up to receive Parent Central Express, a monthly e-newsletter, full of tips for parents, with activities and ways to get involved in your community. You can also sign up to be alerted about opportunities to voice your concerns to local and national decision-makers.  Just click on the link below.