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April 17, 2025

Why Accreditation Matters for Child Care

 

As parents, you always want what’s best for your child. From nutritious food to enriching activities, there are countless ways to support their growth and development. Your choice in child care is chief among them.

But your options can be overwhelming. That’s why daycare accreditation is an important differentiator.

To help you make an educated decision, we’ll cover the basics of child care accreditation and why it matters.

Is Daycare Accreditation Required?

Daycare accreditation is not a requirement—but rather a voluntary, rigorous process that requires a program to meet and maintain high standards.

While there are licensing requirements mandated by each state that all daycare centers must adhere to, these focus on compliance as opposed to quality. Licensing requirements include general guidelines for the supervision and safety of child care programs.

Daycare accreditation allows programs to go above and beyond the minimum requirements to demonstrate their professionalism and receive validation for best practices.

How to Verify Accreditation

Your child’s growth and development is a top priority, and accreditation indicates that a facility is dedicated to delivering this. Here are easy ways to confirm a center’s accreditation:

  • Ask to see the accreditation certification: If you’ve scheduled a tour or have an appointment to enroll your child in a childcare center, simply ask about accreditation. Most centers are eager to share this information with prospective families.
  • Visit the center’s website: Because accreditation is worth bragging about, many learning centers include these details on their website.
Why Does Accreditation Matter?

Child care accreditation is validation by a third party that a child care provider’s practices and facilities meet established standards.

When a daycare center is accredited, you can expect:

  • Higher quality standards: Accredited programs are required to meet standards that often exceed state minimum licensing requirements. This ensures a higher level of quality in all aspects of care and education.
  • Comprehensive evaluation: The accreditation process involves a thorough assessment of the program, which includes staff qualifications, curriculum, environment, health and safety practices.
  • Focus on child development: Accredited programs implement curriculum that nurtures the whole child, including cognitive, emotional, language, physical, and social skills.
  • Qualified staff: Accredited centers employ staff with appropriate educational backgrounds and provide continuous training and professional development.
  • Safe and healthy environment: Accreditation ensures that programs provide a safe, clean, and well-organized environment for children.
  • Research-based practices: Accreditation bodies ensure that programs use the latest research and best practices in early childhood education.
  • Continued Improvement: Accreditation affirms a program’s commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement.

Doodle Bugs! is accredited by the Middle States Association (MSA). MSA is recognized around the world as an indication of trustworthiness, educational quality, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

To see this accreditation in action, schedule a tour of the Doodle Bugs! center nearest you. It’s easy to see our priority to safety, learning through play and happiness!