Before You Start
- Have your child care needs and preferences ready
- Know your child's age and care schedule requirements
- Have information about any special requirements (language, transportation, etc.)
- Expected start date for care
Understanding the Filters
Essential Filters to Start With
Referrals
Start by selecting "Accepting Referrals" to see programs currently sharing their contact information
This ensures you can reach out to programs you're interested in
Child Age
Enter your child's age to see only programs licensed for their age group
This is crucial as programs have specific age ranges they're equipped to serve
Vacancies
Check this if you need immediate care
Programs actively update this to show current availability
Schedule Filters
Child Weekly Schedule
Choose based on your needs:
Full Time: Traditional weekday care
Part Time: Fewer hours or days per week
Before/After School: Care around school hours
Evening/Overnight: Non-traditional hours
Drop-In: Occasional care
Rotating Schedule: Flexible scheduling options
Weekends: Saturday/Sunday care
Child Yearly Schedule
Select based on when you need care:
Full year: Year-round care
School year only: Following academic calendar
Summer only: Summer programs
Program-Specific Filters
Type of Care
Choose between:
Centers: Commercial facility-based care
Family Child Care: Home-based care with smaller groups
Pro tip: Consider your child's personality when choosing. Some children thrive in larger groups, while others prefer intimate settings.
Program Type
Consider your priorities:
Academic programs for structured learning
Play-based for experiential learning
Montessori or Reggio Emilia for specific educational approaches
Bilingual/Language Immersion for language exposure
Religious programs for faith-based care
Language of Care
Select programs offering care in your preferred language(s)
Important for maintaining cultural connections or language development
Additional Support Filters
Transportation
Check if you need pickup/drop-off services
Particularly useful for before/after school care
Special Needs
Select if your child requires:
Specific accommodations
Medical support
Behavioral support
Development support
Subsidies
Select programs accepting your type of financial assistance
Options include various government and employer-sponsored programs
Tips for Effective Filtering
Start Broad, Then Narrow
Begin with your most critical needs (age, schedule, location)
Gradually add more specific filters to refine results
Prioritize Your Needs
Focus on must-haves first
Keep nice-to-haves as secondary filters
Consider Flexibility
If you get too few results, try removing less critical filters
Some programs may be willing to accommodate special requests even if not indicated
Common Issues and Solutions
Problem: No results showing
Solution:
- Remove some filters and start with the most important ones
- Expand your search radius if possible
- Consider alternative schedule options
Problem: Too many results
Solution:
- Add more specific filters based on your preferences
- Use program type filters to narrow down philosophical approaches
- Consider additional criteria like languages or transportation
Next Steps
After finding matching programs:
Create a shortlist of programs to contact
Prepare questions for providers
Schedule visits to your top choices
Need Help?
If you need assistance using the filters or finding care:
- Contact our support team
- Visit our FAQ section
- Check our guide on questions to ask providers
Remember: The perfect child care match balances your practical needs with your values and preferences for your child's care environment.