Understanding Early Care

Child care programs, like many other businesses, must follow certain rules and operate under specialized regulations. Understanding all the ins and outs of child care licensing, early learning and best practices can be confusing.

Contact CCR&R Parent Services and Referral if you have questions about child care or need additional information about topics listed below.

• Learn About Child Care Licensing

  Child care licensing is a form of consumer protection that reduces the risk of children are being cared for in an unsafe environment. North Dakota state and county laws regulate child care licensing.

• Learn About Early Learning Guidelines

  Early Learning Guidelines are research-based, measurable descriptions of the things young children are expected to know and be able to do at each age and stage of development. This "road map" provides parents, teachers, caregivers and policy makers with common language and expectations that they can use to plan, execute, and evaluate early childhood environments and services.

• Accredited Child Care Programs

  Programs seek accreditation because they want to be recognized for offering a higher standard of care. Accreditation is optional and standards vary depending on accreditation standards of the organization. Independent accreditation organizations include:
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • National After School Association (NAAWEB)
  • National Association for Family Child Care(NAFCC)