Great Resource for Schools

There is a great web site that gives you lots of information on schools from API scores to parent reviews to parent discussion groups and tips for kids. The site is called Great Schools. You can even get newsletters sent to you and can compare schools in your area. We may not have much of a choice in the schools are children attend, as it is largely based on your residence. But, it still gives you things to think about and questions to ask while starting a new school. Good Luck!

Where to Start with Childcare

Where do you start looking when you need to put your child into daycare? Well, you ask friends and family for recommendations but then what? There are many daycare facilities out there but it is difficult to navigate through the information to decide which ones are the best for your child. Even though cost is an issue, let's face it, we are talking about our children. The care is the most important. A good resource is the Child Care Coordinating Council for the 4c's. There is one in each county. Although they don't recommend daycare facilities, they are non-profit offices that provides free child care referrals and information about choosing child care. You can receive a report of all daycare facilities in your area and go from there...Good luck! But, don't discount the value of personal recommendations. That is way I ended up with my daycare provider.

4 C's of Alameda County: http://www.4c-alameda.org/
4 C's of Santa Clara County: http://www.4c.org/