DCF CHILD CARE 2026 CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔True or False?
As a caregiver, you can keep parents informed and connected by having resources and
information available. - ✔✔True
Another way to keep parents informed and connected is to have resources and
information available.
✔✔True or False?
You can help relieve separation anxiety through teamwork with parents. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False?
It is important to require all families to participate in the program in the same manner so
caregivers are treating everyone fairly. - ✔✔False
Working with families requires us to respond in a way that is flexible so that we can
individualize our actions to best meet the needs of every child.
✔✔It is essential we are intentional about the way we partner with families - ✔✔in order
to raise healthy, competent children.
✔✔Quality Care Benefits Everyone - ✔✔The benefits associated with high-quality care
are linked to a child's ability to be successful in school and in life.
Parents and communities who have access to quality care tend to have a more stable
workforce.
✔✔High-quality care - ✔✔helps parents to be better employees and it helps employers
to retain a stable workforce, which in turn helps the entire community.
✔✔The number of children being raised by single parents, foster parents, or
grandparents as the primary caregiver - ✔✔is larger than ever before.
✔✔To be an effective teacher - ✔✔early childhood professionals must recognize that
families are a valuable resource. They have in-depth knowledge about their child, home,
and the community in which they live. This information needs to be shared. This critical
information is needed to make informed decisions and lays the foundations for
establishing a positive, reciprocal relationship.
✔✔Forming partnerships with parents - ✔✔is one of the ways we support healthy
growth and development in children.
✔✔Knowing relationships are complex, both caregivers and parents - ✔✔to have a
safe, secure environment that allows them to express and explore their own feelings
and the feelings and viewpoints of others.
,✔✔Working with children and families transitioning into group care requires -
✔✔patience, understanding, and reassurance.
✔✔Children attach to people who are - ✔✔responsive and provide comfort and
reassurance through quality interactions!
✔✔Children who form secure attachments with adults - ✔✔have a better chance of
becoming secure adults.
✔✔When both parents work, often times they feel tremendous guilt for having to place
their child in out-of-home care. - ✔✔Parents want to feel as though you love and care
for their child as you would your own.
✔✔What are some common concerns parents may have about leaving their child in
child care? - ✔✔Have I failed as a parent?
Will my child be safe?
Will my child be happy?
Will I miss out on important "firsts"?
Will taking them to child care have an effect on their learning?
✔✔How can you make every parent and child look forward to coming into your
classroom each day? - ✔✔Greet each child at the door, if possible.
Make eye contact with the children, or position yourself at their eye level, to let them
know you are really listening.
Create a comfortable and inviting environment.
Share observations about children with parents.
Call each child by name.
Have activities for the children to do when they enter.
✔✔Parents often have an overwhelming need to be reassured that - ✔✔their caregiver
knows what he or she is doing and why he or she is doing it.
✔✔The best way to deal with parents' worries is to show them you understand and are -
✔✔informed, honest, and available.
✔✔The parent is the child's first teacher; your role is - ✔✔to provide support and
complement his/her efforts.
✔✔When you are consistent, respectful and open, you communicate - ✔✔a spirit of
willingness to partner and negotiate more effectively.
, ✔✔What are some of the things teachers can intentionally do to help establish a
positive, reciprocal relationship with families? - ✔✔Create an environment where
parents and children feel welcome and included.
Provide opportunities for open dialog and two-way communication.
Respect parents' preferences, choices and concerns for their children.
Identify the parents' strengths and weaknesses. Stay on neutral ground, leaving strong
emotions out as much as possible.
✔✔Becoming aware of the messages we "send" is - ✔✔one way to open the lines of
communication.
✔✔Information parents can provide to caregivers - ✔✔Health and growth history
Relationship with other family members
Family history (divorce, separation, remarriage, sources of family stress)
Child's likes/dislikes
Eating/sleeping trends at home
Allergies/medical information
Family culture/lifestyle
✔✔Information caregivers can provide to parents - ✔✔Interaction with other children
Progression in development
Child's interests
How they slept and ate while in care
Diapering/potty information
What the child did during day
Information about the child's friends
✔✔Establishing a partnership with parents requires - ✔✔consistent communication.
Caregivers and parents need to acknowledge and deal with differences in child-rearing
beliefs and practices in a constructive way. The common goal should be the
development of the child!
✔✔Developmentally Appropriate Practice emphasizes the need for - ✔✔teachers to
become more intentional about what they do. This includes building a positive
relationship with each child and family within the context of their culture and through the
inclusion of children with special needs.
✔✔Working with families requires us to respond in a way that is - ✔✔flexible so that we
can individualize our actions to best meet the needs of every child.
✔✔To partner effectively with families, you need to use unique ways to get them
interested and involved. - ✔✔Caregivers need to think of creative ways to include them
in your program's activities. Ask parents if you may send home things for them to do,
such as typing, creating newsletters, cutting out bulletin board, etc. But, don't give up.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔True or False?
As a caregiver, you can keep parents informed and connected by having resources and
information available. - ✔✔True
Another way to keep parents informed and connected is to have resources and
information available.
✔✔True or False?
You can help relieve separation anxiety through teamwork with parents. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False?
It is important to require all families to participate in the program in the same manner so
caregivers are treating everyone fairly. - ✔✔False
Working with families requires us to respond in a way that is flexible so that we can
individualize our actions to best meet the needs of every child.
✔✔It is essential we are intentional about the way we partner with families - ✔✔in order
to raise healthy, competent children.
✔✔Quality Care Benefits Everyone - ✔✔The benefits associated with high-quality care
are linked to a child's ability to be successful in school and in life.
Parents and communities who have access to quality care tend to have a more stable
workforce.
✔✔High-quality care - ✔✔helps parents to be better employees and it helps employers
to retain a stable workforce, which in turn helps the entire community.
✔✔The number of children being raised by single parents, foster parents, or
grandparents as the primary caregiver - ✔✔is larger than ever before.
✔✔To be an effective teacher - ✔✔early childhood professionals must recognize that
families are a valuable resource. They have in-depth knowledge about their child, home,
and the community in which they live. This information needs to be shared. This critical
information is needed to make informed decisions and lays the foundations for
establishing a positive, reciprocal relationship.
✔✔Forming partnerships with parents - ✔✔is one of the ways we support healthy
growth and development in children.
✔✔Knowing relationships are complex, both caregivers and parents - ✔✔to have a
safe, secure environment that allows them to express and explore their own feelings
and the feelings and viewpoints of others.
,✔✔Working with children and families transitioning into group care requires -
✔✔patience, understanding, and reassurance.
✔✔Children attach to people who are - ✔✔responsive and provide comfort and
reassurance through quality interactions!
✔✔Children who form secure attachments with adults - ✔✔have a better chance of
becoming secure adults.
✔✔When both parents work, often times they feel tremendous guilt for having to place
their child in out-of-home care. - ✔✔Parents want to feel as though you love and care
for their child as you would your own.
✔✔What are some common concerns parents may have about leaving their child in
child care? - ✔✔Have I failed as a parent?
Will my child be safe?
Will my child be happy?
Will I miss out on important "firsts"?
Will taking them to child care have an effect on their learning?
✔✔How can you make every parent and child look forward to coming into your
classroom each day? - ✔✔Greet each child at the door, if possible.
Make eye contact with the children, or position yourself at their eye level, to let them
know you are really listening.
Create a comfortable and inviting environment.
Share observations about children with parents.
Call each child by name.
Have activities for the children to do when they enter.
✔✔Parents often have an overwhelming need to be reassured that - ✔✔their caregiver
knows what he or she is doing and why he or she is doing it.
✔✔The best way to deal with parents' worries is to show them you understand and are -
✔✔informed, honest, and available.
✔✔The parent is the child's first teacher; your role is - ✔✔to provide support and
complement his/her efforts.
✔✔When you are consistent, respectful and open, you communicate - ✔✔a spirit of
willingness to partner and negotiate more effectively.
, ✔✔What are some of the things teachers can intentionally do to help establish a
positive, reciprocal relationship with families? - ✔✔Create an environment where
parents and children feel welcome and included.
Provide opportunities for open dialog and two-way communication.
Respect parents' preferences, choices and concerns for their children.
Identify the parents' strengths and weaknesses. Stay on neutral ground, leaving strong
emotions out as much as possible.
✔✔Becoming aware of the messages we "send" is - ✔✔one way to open the lines of
communication.
✔✔Information parents can provide to caregivers - ✔✔Health and growth history
Relationship with other family members
Family history (divorce, separation, remarriage, sources of family stress)
Child's likes/dislikes
Eating/sleeping trends at home
Allergies/medical information
Family culture/lifestyle
✔✔Information caregivers can provide to parents - ✔✔Interaction with other children
Progression in development
Child's interests
How they slept and ate while in care
Diapering/potty information
What the child did during day
Information about the child's friends
✔✔Establishing a partnership with parents requires - ✔✔consistent communication.
Caregivers and parents need to acknowledge and deal with differences in child-rearing
beliefs and practices in a constructive way. The common goal should be the
development of the child!
✔✔Developmentally Appropriate Practice emphasizes the need for - ✔✔teachers to
become more intentional about what they do. This includes building a positive
relationship with each child and family within the context of their culture and through the
inclusion of children with special needs.
✔✔Working with families requires us to respond in a way that is - ✔✔flexible so that we
can individualize our actions to best meet the needs of every child.
✔✔To partner effectively with families, you need to use unique ways to get them
interested and involved. - ✔✔Caregivers need to think of creative ways to include them
in your program's activities. Ask parents if you may send home things for them to do,
such as typing, creating newsletters, cutting out bulletin board, etc. But, don't give up.
