DCF CHILD CARE 2026 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔T or F?
The goals we have for children should be challenging and unattainable so they can be
the same for the entire year. - ✔✔False
Developmentally Appropriate Practice requires caregivers to know their children well
and meet them where they are. In doing this, they are able to create learning
experiences that are challenging and achievable.
✔✔T or F?
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on what is
typical of children at the same age. - ✔✔False
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child as a unique
individual. Age appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on
what is typical of children at the same age.
✔✔T or F?
When a caregiver considers what is typical for a child within a given age group, this is
known as individual appropriateness. - ✔✔False
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child as a unique
individual. Age appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on
what is typical of children at the same age.
✔✔T or F?
Developmentally appropriate programs have clearly defined individual activities for each
child in care. - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
In developmentally appropriate classrooms, children actively explore their environment
and materials under the watchful eye and guiding words of a responsive, caring adult. -
✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
One critical challenge that impacts early childhood practices is initiating and combining
preschool and elementary school programming. - ✔✔False
Three critical challenges impacting early childhood practices are:
1. Addressing differences in school success and achievement
*2. Integrating and aligning preschool and elementary school programming
3. Improving teacher preparation, professional development and ongoing support
✔✔T or F?
,Individual appropriateness highlights the idea that every group is made up of individuals
who have different strengths, weaknesses and developmental needs. - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
In the United States, there is growing concern that many children do not enter school
ready to learn. - ✔✔True
✔✔Indicators of quality include: - ✔✔both structural and process measures.
Quality child care programs consistently maintain licensing standards and demonstrate
responsive caregiving practices.
✔✔Quality Early Care + Quality Education = - ✔✔Quality Outcomes for Children
✔✔Quality child care lays the foundation for - ✔✔a lifetime of success.
✔✔A lack of quality care has negative effects on - ✔✔children's school readiness and
development.
✔✔Since poor quality care can actually harm children, we need to do a better job. We
can do this by - ✔✔by informing parents about the importance of choosing quality care
and making quality care affordable and accessible.
✔✔High-quality care means - ✔✔children are getting the solid foundation they need to
be healthy, happy, and successful throughout life.
✔✔The limbic system - ✔✔is in the back of the brain and is the area that is responsible
for emotions.
✔✔The cortex is in - ✔✔the front of the brain and is responsible for high-level thinking.
✔✔When you yell at a child, they have trouble thinking logically because - ✔✔their
limbic system is controlling the brain. This is often called "fight or flight."
✔✔According to the Florida Statutes: - ✔✔Children shall not be subjected to discipline
that is severe, humiliating, or frightening
Discipline shall not be associated with food, rest, or toileting
Spanking, or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited
✔✔The disciplinary practices of your program - ✔✔must obey state and federal laws at
all times and should promote social and emotional health for the children in care.
✔✔True or False?
Investing in quality early childhood programming leads to saving money later. - ✔✔True
,What this means to society is that investing in quality early childhood programming
leads to saving money later. In one study, the benefits were a savings of $7.14 for every
dollar spent in a preschool program.
✔✔True or False?
Since most children receive the same level of quality experiences early in life, they
typically enter school with the skills they need and are ready to learn. - ✔✔False
There is growing evidence that many children do not receive the same level of quality
experiences early in life, and therefore, they do not enter school with the skills they
need, nor are they ready to learn.
✔✔True or False?
Licensure is a structural indicator of quality care. - ✔✔True
Examples of structural indicators:
Licensure
Lower ratios
Smaller group size
Caregiver qualifications
Professional development for staff
Health and safety regulations
Inclusive environment
✔✔True or False?
Quality early care alone leads to quality outcomes for children. - ✔✔False
Quality Early Care + Quality Education = Quality Outcomes for Children
✔✔True or False?
The Perry Preschool Study included children birth to age eight. - ✔✔False
In the study, three- and four-year-olds (all economically disadvantaged) were studied -
½ attended a quality preschool, ½ did not attend a preschool at all.
✔✔True or False?
Structural indicators include smaller group sizes, caregiver qualifications, and health
and safety regulations. - ✔✔True
Examples of structural indicators:
Licensure
Lower ratios
Smaller group size
Caregiver qualifications
Professional development for staff
Health and safety regulations
Inclusive environment
✔✔True or False?
, Licensure, professional development, and exclusive environments are all examples of
structural indicators. - ✔✔False
Licensure, professional development, and Inclusive environment (not exclusive)
✔✔True or False?
The outcomes of quality experiences early in life include increased graduation rates and
high salaries during adulthood. - ✔✔True
Examples of outcomes of quality experiences early in life include:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
Better cognitive and language skills
Adults who spend less time participating in social programs or on welfare
✔✔True or False?
Curriculum is a structural indicator of quality child care. - ✔✔False
Curriculum and established routines are process indicators
✔✔True or False?
Some benefits of quality early child care are increased athleticism and superior fine
motor skills. - ✔✔False
Examples of benefits:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
Better cognitive and language skills
Adults who spend less time participating in social programs or on welfare
✔✔True or False?
There is mounting evidence that child care quality impacts a child's ability to grow
intellectually and socially. - ✔✔True
There is mounting evidence that suggests child care quality impacts a child's ability to
grow intellectually and socially.
✔✔True or False?
Providing quality early experiences can potentially lead to lower delinquency rates. -
✔✔True
Studies suggest quality experiences early in life lead to better outcomes for children.
These experiences lead to:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔T or F?
The goals we have for children should be challenging and unattainable so they can be
the same for the entire year. - ✔✔False
Developmentally Appropriate Practice requires caregivers to know their children well
and meet them where they are. In doing this, they are able to create learning
experiences that are challenging and achievable.
✔✔T or F?
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on what is
typical of children at the same age. - ✔✔False
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child as a unique
individual. Age appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on
what is typical of children at the same age.
✔✔T or F?
When a caregiver considers what is typical for a child within a given age group, this is
known as individual appropriateness. - ✔✔False
Individual appropriateness means considering the needs of each child as a unique
individual. Age appropriateness means considering the needs of each child based on
what is typical of children at the same age.
✔✔T or F?
Developmentally appropriate programs have clearly defined individual activities for each
child in care. - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
In developmentally appropriate classrooms, children actively explore their environment
and materials under the watchful eye and guiding words of a responsive, caring adult. -
✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
One critical challenge that impacts early childhood practices is initiating and combining
preschool and elementary school programming. - ✔✔False
Three critical challenges impacting early childhood practices are:
1. Addressing differences in school success and achievement
*2. Integrating and aligning preschool and elementary school programming
3. Improving teacher preparation, professional development and ongoing support
✔✔T or F?
,Individual appropriateness highlights the idea that every group is made up of individuals
who have different strengths, weaknesses and developmental needs. - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F?
In the United States, there is growing concern that many children do not enter school
ready to learn. - ✔✔True
✔✔Indicators of quality include: - ✔✔both structural and process measures.
Quality child care programs consistently maintain licensing standards and demonstrate
responsive caregiving practices.
✔✔Quality Early Care + Quality Education = - ✔✔Quality Outcomes for Children
✔✔Quality child care lays the foundation for - ✔✔a lifetime of success.
✔✔A lack of quality care has negative effects on - ✔✔children's school readiness and
development.
✔✔Since poor quality care can actually harm children, we need to do a better job. We
can do this by - ✔✔by informing parents about the importance of choosing quality care
and making quality care affordable and accessible.
✔✔High-quality care means - ✔✔children are getting the solid foundation they need to
be healthy, happy, and successful throughout life.
✔✔The limbic system - ✔✔is in the back of the brain and is the area that is responsible
for emotions.
✔✔The cortex is in - ✔✔the front of the brain and is responsible for high-level thinking.
✔✔When you yell at a child, they have trouble thinking logically because - ✔✔their
limbic system is controlling the brain. This is often called "fight or flight."
✔✔According to the Florida Statutes: - ✔✔Children shall not be subjected to discipline
that is severe, humiliating, or frightening
Discipline shall not be associated with food, rest, or toileting
Spanking, or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited
✔✔The disciplinary practices of your program - ✔✔must obey state and federal laws at
all times and should promote social and emotional health for the children in care.
✔✔True or False?
Investing in quality early childhood programming leads to saving money later. - ✔✔True
,What this means to society is that investing in quality early childhood programming
leads to saving money later. In one study, the benefits were a savings of $7.14 for every
dollar spent in a preschool program.
✔✔True or False?
Since most children receive the same level of quality experiences early in life, they
typically enter school with the skills they need and are ready to learn. - ✔✔False
There is growing evidence that many children do not receive the same level of quality
experiences early in life, and therefore, they do not enter school with the skills they
need, nor are they ready to learn.
✔✔True or False?
Licensure is a structural indicator of quality care. - ✔✔True
Examples of structural indicators:
Licensure
Lower ratios
Smaller group size
Caregiver qualifications
Professional development for staff
Health and safety regulations
Inclusive environment
✔✔True or False?
Quality early care alone leads to quality outcomes for children. - ✔✔False
Quality Early Care + Quality Education = Quality Outcomes for Children
✔✔True or False?
The Perry Preschool Study included children birth to age eight. - ✔✔False
In the study, three- and four-year-olds (all economically disadvantaged) were studied -
½ attended a quality preschool, ½ did not attend a preschool at all.
✔✔True or False?
Structural indicators include smaller group sizes, caregiver qualifications, and health
and safety regulations. - ✔✔True
Examples of structural indicators:
Licensure
Lower ratios
Smaller group size
Caregiver qualifications
Professional development for staff
Health and safety regulations
Inclusive environment
✔✔True or False?
, Licensure, professional development, and exclusive environments are all examples of
structural indicators. - ✔✔False
Licensure, professional development, and Inclusive environment (not exclusive)
✔✔True or False?
The outcomes of quality experiences early in life include increased graduation rates and
high salaries during adulthood. - ✔✔True
Examples of outcomes of quality experiences early in life include:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
Better cognitive and language skills
Adults who spend less time participating in social programs or on welfare
✔✔True or False?
Curriculum is a structural indicator of quality child care. - ✔✔False
Curriculum and established routines are process indicators
✔✔True or False?
Some benefits of quality early child care are increased athleticism and superior fine
motor skills. - ✔✔False
Examples of benefits:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
Better cognitive and language skills
Adults who spend less time participating in social programs or on welfare
✔✔True or False?
There is mounting evidence that child care quality impacts a child's ability to grow
intellectually and socially. - ✔✔True
There is mounting evidence that suggests child care quality impacts a child's ability to
grow intellectually and socially.
✔✔True or False?
Providing quality early experiences can potentially lead to lower delinquency rates. -
✔✔True
Studies suggest quality experiences early in life lead to better outcomes for children.
These experiences lead to:
Lower delinquency rates
Increased graduation rates
Adults who earn higher salaries
Increased home ownership
