If you’re searching for quality child care in South Carolina, look no further than the ABC Quality program. If a provider is in ABC Quality, the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system, you can expect the highest quality services. Every program that has earned a rating does more than provide the basics of child care. A letter rating (of any level) proves a program goes above and beyond to provide the kind of child care children need to thrive. 

That’s the good news. But unfortunately, the more challenging aspect some families find in their search for quality child care is finding a provider with room for new children in their program.

What is a waitlist?

Since child care providers can only provide care to a set number of children (based on what type of provider they are), they can only have a certain number of children in each classroom at one time. Therefore, if a provider is already at their maximum number of children, they will often start a waitlist, a list of interested families who get the next spot as it becomes available.

As many families and caregivers know, many accredited child care centers typically operate at total capacity. Moreover, most child care providers also operate on a first-come, first-served basis when admitting new children with infant care, typically being the most extended wait category.

However, there are some tips that parents and caregivers can follow to help better navigate admission to a quality child care facility.

• Sign up for a desired child care center when you know you are expecting a baby.
• Waitlist your child for at least a year or more before you expect to need care.
• Get on—and stay on—the wait list of your first-choice center, even if it seems hopeless.
• Look for child care centers where you might be entitled to priority admission, such as those sponsored by employers, churches, or universities with which you have a personal or professional connection.
• Enroll all your kids at the same center. Siblings of already enrolled children typically get first dibs on openings to keep families together. Signing up an older sibling for after-school care or summer camp at your target center may be enough to earn a younger sibling a place.
• Get on waitlists at more than one center and check in with all centers regularly to ensure you’re still on the waitlist.
• Because waitlisted families or caregivers may only have a couple of days to respond to an offer of admission, make sure all centers have your current contact information — especially if you travel or leave town regularly.
• Try to enroll in the summer months since more slots are often available during that time.

Begin your search for a quality child care provider with the ABC Quality search tool.