Q. I am looking for child care for my three year old. Do you have any openings?

A. We are not a preschool or a child care center. We work with early childhood programs throughout the city. To find out about openings in early childhood programs, call the Parent InfoLINE at Child Care Resource Center, (617) 547-1063 x72, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 3PM. You can also call some of the organizations listed our pamphlet, "Looking For Child Care?" (See link at right.)

Q. I cannot afford to pay for most of the child care programs I have seen. What should I do?

A. When you call the Parent InfoLINE at Child Care Resource Center (617-547-1063 x72), ask about tuition assistance programs. You can also ask to speak to the subsidy manager for Cambridge Community Partnerships for Children at (617) 547-1063 x212. Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs also offers scholarships; call Chandra Green at 627-349-6254. Also, contact Cambridge Head Start at (617) 577-7880.

Q. How do I know if a program will meet my child's needs and my needs?

A. A pamphlet called "Looking For Child Care?" includes a section with suggestions for parents and guardians including what to look for when you visit a center or a family child care home and some questions you may ask them. This pamphlet is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Kreyol, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese. Copies are available at our office (call 617-349-6484) and at Cambridge Community Partnerships for Children (call 617-868-2900 x106 or x120). To read this in English, please see the link on the right.

Q. What can I do at home to encourage my young child's interest in books?

A. Early Childhood Connections has a hand-out for parents about reading with your child at home. To read this handout, follow the link on the right.