5 Strategies for Building a High-Quality Private Child Care Program Families and Teachers Choose
High-quality private child care programs grow enrollment and retain teachers by doing five things well: showing families what quality looks like, investing in staff, building two-way family partnerships, using research-based curriculum and assessment consistently, and leveraging their reputations. With so many choices available to families—and competing demands on teachers—it’s essential to stand out as a high-quality child care program that families want to choose and educators want to join.
What Is a High-Quality Child Care Program?
A high-quality child care program is one where children, families, and teachers all thrive. These programs go beyond meeting minimum standards and create environments that are safe, nurturing, and intentionally designed for learning.
Key characteristics of a high-quality child care program include
- a safe, well-prepared environment where children feel secure;
- developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum that supports the whole child;
- assessment tools that help educators individualize learning for each child;
- teachers who are supported with regular, meaningful professional development; and
- strong communication with families that builds trust and partnership.
When these elements work together, families see your program as a place where their children will grow, and teachers recognize it as a workplace that values and supports them.
Why Quality Matters in Child Care
Quality matters because it impacts everyone in your program. For children, a high-quality experience lays the foundation for school readiness and lifelong learning. For families, choosing a quality program provides peace of mind and confidence that their children are getting the right start.
And for programs, quality is the factor that drives teacher retention and family satisfaction—two essentials for long-term stability and growth. In our webinar, Making Quality the Standard, child care leaders discussed practical ways to elevate quality—here are five you can apply right now.
1. Communicate Your Program’s Quality to Families
Families often don’t see all the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into creating a high-quality environment—things like staff support, consistent practices, and family engagement. What they do notice are the ways you make those efforts visible.
Make your program’s quality clear by
- offering classroom tours where families can see teaching and learning in action,
- sharing curriculum plans and examples of children’s work, and
- highlighting success stories that show how children are supported and growing.
When you communicate what quality looks like in your program, it is easier for families to feel confident in their choice.
2. Increase Teacher Retention by Investing in Your Staff
Teachers are the heart of every child care program. They interact daily with families, build relationships with children, and bring curriculum to life. Supporting and retaining them is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your program’s quality.
Ways to invest in your team include
- providing mentorship opportunities for new staff,
- offering ongoing professional development that connects directly to classroom practice,
- creating space for teacher collaboration and shared problem-solving, and
- recognizing and celebrating their contributions to children’s learning and family trust.
When teachers feel valued, they’re more likely to stay—giving your program stability and a strong reputation with families. The Professional Development Teacher Membership gives teachers access to live and on-demand classes and courses, experts and mentors, and courses for CCDF and CDA training.
3. Build Trust and Connection With Families
Families don’t just want care—they want a partnership. Building trust starts with open, consistent communication.
Consider using these ideas to foster partnership between families and your program:
- hosting engagement events where families feel included in the learning journey;
- sharing regular updates on children’s progress, both informally and through structured tools; and
- making families feel heard by asking for their feedback and input.
This connection builds loyalty, and loyal families become your best ambassadors, helping you increase child care enrollment through word of mouth.
4. Differentiate Through Research-Based Practices and Tools
Families want to know their children are learning in ways backed by research. Research-based practices and tools ensure your program has a strong foundation, build trust with families, and help teachers feel supported.
Ways to put this into action include
- using a research-based curriculum so families know children are experiencing proven approaches to learning,
- implementing consistent assessment tools that show clear evidence of children’s growth over time,
- providing teachers with resources and training that connect directly to daily practice, and
- aligning across classrooms so families see a cohesive program no matter which teacher or room their child is in.
Solutions like The Creative Curriculum and GOLDFinch can help ensure consistency while still giving teachers the flexibility to meet children’s unique needs.
5. Leverage Your Reputation to Grow Enrollment
Word travels fast in communities. Programs that demonstrate quality and consistency often see their reputations grow—making recruitment and retention easier.
To make the most of your reputation,
- share positive stories and testimonials from families and staff,
- highlight success stories on your website and social channels, and
- encourage current families to refer new ones.
Your program’s reputation as a high-quality child care option will become one of your strongest marketing tools.
Standing out as a high-quality program doesn’t happen overnight, but by investing in teachers, building family trust, and staying consistent in your practices, your program can become the first choice for both families and educators.
For more information on how to create a high-quality program, watch the full webinar replay here: Making Quality the Standard.
About the Author
Discover how our Private Child Care Solution can help your program build quality, support teachers, and attract families.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building High-Quality Private Child Care Programs
Quality is the result of many connected pieces working together. High-quality programs combine safe, engaging environments with research-based curriculum, consistent assessment to show child growth, strong family partnerships, and teachers who are supported through ongoing training. Programs that bring all of these elements together as an ecosystem stand apart in their communities.
Families often can’t see all the work that goes into creating a high-quality environment. Communicate it clearly by offering quick, focused tours that highlight your curriculum in action; posting simple snapshots of children’s progress; and sharing how your program supports teachers and families. When you consistently showcase your ecosystem—curriculum, assessment, and family engagement tools—you make your commitment to quality visible.
Teachers are the heart of quality. Programs that invest in mentoring, professional development connected to daily practice, collaboration time, and meaningful recognition create stability for families and children. When teachers have access to a supportive ecosystem of resources and training, they are more confident, more effective, and more likely to stay.
Culture defines the everyday experience of both families and staff. Programs that prioritize respect, collaboration, and consistent tools create environments where teachers feel supported and children thrive. Investing in culture doesn’t just lower turnover—it ensures continuity of care and learning, which is a key marker of a high-quality program.
Quality is your most powerful marketing tool. When families see engaged teachers, consistent practices, and clear evidence of their children’s growth, they share their experiences with others. Programs that integrate curriculum, assessment, and family engagement into one cohesive ecosystem build reputations that attract both new families and talented teachers.
