Important advice for parents.

• Position: Evaluating child care services

A study conducted by the Families and Work Institute, New York, showed that, when it came to child care provided by relatives, 28% of the mothers said they were so dissatisfied with their family child care situation, they would use another option if it was available. Moreover, 60% of the relatives indicated that they care for children to assist the mothers, not because they want to. "When people don't want to be providers, the quality of care they offer--whether they are relatives or non-relatives--is likely to be of lower quality," the study concluded.

"These results speak volumes about the increasing need for parents to ask questions of all their child care providers--whether a family member or neighbor who cares for children in the home or a teacher at a child care center," stresses Duane Larson, president of Children's World Learning Centers, Inc., the nation's third largest child care provider. He suggests that parents

should make inquiries that fall into five broad categories:

Will my child be safe? Is the environment clean, safe, and comfortable? Do caregiver/child ratios meet or exceed state requirements? Does the caregiver know CPR and first aid?

How will you promote my child's health and nutritional needs? Does the caregiver wash hands...