The Essentials: Providing High-Quality Family Child Care

Basic, practical information for your family child care program

Family child care homes are a vital part of child care, serving nearly 3 million children in the United States. This book lays the groundwork family child care providers need to run a successful program in a warm, welcoming setting for children and their families. 

Find out more about how to:

• Develop and manage a well-organized family child care program
• Nurture children’s learning and development in multiage groups
• Intentionally use positive guidance and encourage healthy social interactions
• Foster strong partnerships with families
• Balance your personal and professional needs 

Expand your knowledge and skills with the guidance in this resource to effectively offer the highest quality early care and education to children ages birth through 8.

Marie L. Masterson, PhD, is Director of Quality Assessment at McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, where she oversees evaluation for Illinois’ quality rating and improvement system. Marie is an educational consultant to state departments of education, schools, child care centers, and social service and parenting organizations. She is a national speaker, child behavior expert, researcher, and author of multiple books and articles that address behavior guidance, early care and education, parenting, and high-quality teaching.

Lisa M. Ginet, EdD, is the director of Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative. She has been an early childhood educator for more than three decades—as a professional educator as a classroom teacher, child care provider, parent educator, home visitor, teacher trainer, and adjunct faculty.