All providers require license

The Feb. 13 Associated Press article, “With on-site day care rare, working parents must weigh other options,” raised a very important issue for many working parents: finding affordable, accessible, high-quality child care. This can be a challenge, especially when child care costs are high. However, it is important to note that a few of the solutions offered in the article are illegal in our state.

In Washington, individuals who stay home to watch others’ children must have a license. They follow state health and safety rules, and get continual training about healthy child development. Licensed family home child care providers generally start with six children, including their own, and may not exceed 12 children under the age of 12. These rules help ensure children in licensed child care are in safe, healthy, nurturing places.

In one example in the article, parents traded child care on a regular basis, watching each other’s children in their own home. This is not legal in our state. (Of course, parents who just watch each other’s children for an occasional night out are exempt from this requirement.) The article also suggests parents get together and hire someone to watch all the children. This, too, would be against the law. That person would need to be licensed.

There are resources to help find the right child care arrangement for your children. Start by calling your local child care resource and referral agency at 425-258-4213 (800-633-3183 if you live in Snohomish County). In Skagit County, the numbers are 360-416-0939 or 800-503-0011.

The state Department of Early Learning has a wealth of information about child care licensing on our Web site: www.del.wa.gov. Together, we can make sure Washington families have access to safe, healthy care for their children.

Mernie Graham

Child Care Licensing Supervisor

Washington State Department of Early Learning