Covington - Quality childcare is not just a matter keeping a child safe and happy, according to Phyllis Berry, associate executive director of Children Inc. in Covington. It really is an investment in the child's future.

"The actual wiring of the brain is still taking place from (from infancy) to 7," she explains. "We are building brain capacity for a lifetime. It's so important to provide the right kind of environment and the right kind of stimulation to maximize their brain capacity. We actually have to be helping them from the time they are born so they are prepared to do well in school."

One way to know you're getting quality childcare is to find out if providers have volunteered to obtain a star rating from the state. A star rating means that someone from the state has checked the site for specific quality indicators, she says. The higher the star rating, the better the provider has met, or surpassed, the established criteria by the state. To obtain the highest rating, a facility must have a higher percentage of staff with credentials.

Ratings range from one to four stars, and are based on several factors, including:

• Ratios of adult caretakers to children

• Curriculum-everything from daily lesson plans to written guidelines for family involvement

• Activities for the children

• Human interactions-not just how children interact with each other, but also how the caretakers interact with them

• Program structure-the schedule, routine and how time is managed

• Staff-how well they work together, and what credentials they have in the care field

Making a Quality Decision

Another good measure of quality is whether the facility has accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Its program parallels the Kentucky star-rating initiative, and many of the same indicators are examined, according to Berry.

"Accreditation is fairly difficult to get," she says. "Only six to eight percent of centers in the country actually have accreditation from NAEYC. These have to constantly be renewed." Currently, about 20 childcare programs in the Northern Kentucky area are accredited by the NAEYC. The NAEYC staff frequently returns to facilities to make sure accreditation standards are being maintained. A parent can ask a facility if it is licensed or certified by the state, as the standards for each are different.

For Juliana Kampinga, owner of the Goddard School in Fort Mitchell, the ratio of staff to children is probably the most important factor in selecting childcare. "Most of the time, you're going to see state ratios," she says.

She suggests parents drive by the center and see how clean the facility is and find out the strength of the curriculum, even for infants. At the Goddard School, she says infants leave their classrooms knowing some basic sign language.

Recognizing children's individuality is important, as well, says Kampinga. She suggests looking for an environment that is friendly to children, with materials in good condition that are age-appropriate. There also needs to be room for large-muscle play, as well as designated areas for reading and quiet time, so children will feel they want to be there.

Kampinga recommends against the use of television sets in the facilities, however. "In my personal opinion, I think most day cares that use a TV end up using the TV as the babysitter," she says.

As an owner, Kampinga says teacher turnover is very hard to control. "I have a high turnover," she says. "It doesn't matter where you go; you're going to run into turnover. Don't not enroll because of it."

Reading the Signs

Once the child is enrolled, pay close attention to make sure he or she is happy and looks forward to going to the program. The child's response to new care providers, however, might depend on his or her age, Berry says. "It is typical for an older infant to cry around a new provider. But, if a child is crying all day for a long period of time, something isn't right. It could be the child is just having an adjustment period, but there should be an effort made to help the child transition from home to a new environment."

Watch out, though, if you are asked to make an appointment for a tour, says Kampinga. "That's a red flag. I think parents should be wary if the management wants them to set an appointment. Then the provider can set everything up and make it look perfect just for the visit. "In my school, parents can drop by at any time, and the school should be running the same if somebody is looking or not looking. I make appointments at the parents' convenience (but) they can drop by any time and the school should be running the way it should be."

Another red flag, according to Berry, is if the environment isn't inviting to or set up for children, and if the provider isn't loving or kind to the children. "I think a provider should be encouraging to the child and meet the child where he or she is," she says.

Heidi Bright Parales, a local free-lance writer, is the author of "Hidden Voices: Biblical Women and Our Christian Heritage" (Smyth & Helwys, 1998).