How to Choose Quality Child Care in Kentucky: A Parent's Checklist

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:42:53 GMT

How to Choose Quality Child Care in Kentucky: A Parent's Checklist

Few decisions feel as personal as choosing who will care for your child, and it often happens on a deadline. The good news is that quality care has clear signs you can look for. This checklist walks you through the process.

Step 1: Know what your family needs

Before touring, get clear on the basics:

Schedule: the hours and days you need care.
Location: near home, near work, or along your commute.
Budget: what you can spend, and whether you might qualify for help.
Your child's needs: age, plus any medical, allergy, or developmental needs.
Setting: a center with larger groups, or a smaller group in a provider's home.

Step 2: Check licensing and quality ratings

You can look up any regulated Kentucky provider before you visit. The state's child care search, linked on our Resources page, lists licensed and certified programs near you.

The main types are:

Licensed Type I: usually a center in a non-residential building.
Licensed Type II: care in the provider's home for 7 to 12 children.
Certified Family Child Care: care in the provider's home for up to 6 unrelated children, 10 total.
Registered Relative Provider: care by a family member.

Providers caring for 3 or fewer unrelated children aren't regulated, so ask more questions there.

Also look for a rating in All STARS, Kentucky's quality rating system. A higher rating is a helpful signal, but use it alongside what you see in person.

Step 3: Visit in person

Go during regular hours, when children are active. While you're there, notice:

Interactions: Are caregivers warm, patient, and down at children's eye level?
Activity: Are children playing, reading, and exploring, or mostly waiting?
The space: Is it clean, safe, and stocked with age-appropriate toys and books?
Safety: Look for secure entrances, safe sleep practices for infants, and a clear pickup process.

Step 4: Ask the right questions

A good provider will be glad you asked:

What training do your caregivers have?
Are staff certified in CPR and first aid?
How many children does each caregiver look after in my child's age group?
How long have your teachers been here?
How will you communicate with me during the day?
Can I drop in unannounced?

Step 5: Watch for red flags

Keep looking if the program discourages visits or questions, children seem unsupervised or distressed, staff can't explain safety procedures, or policies aren't in writing.

Step 6: Ask about cost and help paying

Ask for a written list of all fees, and whether the program accepts state child care assistance. Kentucky's Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible families pay for care, so it's worth checking even if you assume you won't qualify.

Once you've chosen, ease in with shorter days if you can, share your child's routines with caregivers, and keep the conversation going.

You don't have to do this alone

The Child Care Council of Kentucky has supported families and early care professionals since 1984. Our Resources page brings the state's child care search, assistance program information, and developmental tools together in one place.

Want help with your search? Our staff are available to assist you with an enhanced child care search, matching your family's needs to programs in your area. Call (859) 254-9176 or contact our team to get started.

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How to Choose Quality Child Care in Kentucky: A Parent's Checklist