Home Care vs Center

[DuckGirlJoey]

When parents ask you what the pros are in comparison to a licensed daycare center, (Kindercare, Goddard School, etc.) what do you tell them? I'm still new at this, and after having worked with in a center setting, my home simply cannot offer what the big places can. Can you help me be creative with this?

[thatdivalady]

The most important thing is the ratio of staff to children. The major complaint I have heard from interviews and current parents is that there are just too many children in centers and it contributes to over stimulation of the children there. Not enough of an ability of staff to give more individual attention. That's the biggest benefit.

[DaisyMamma]

I believe that the best place for young children is home with a parent. If that is not possible I offer the next best thing, a loving home environment. My day is flexible. I do not follow a rigid schedule like the centers do. I go with the mood of the kids. I can take them to the library, park, zoo, etc.
I find that I don't feel I need to compare myself with a center. It's a completely different environment. I don't like centers.

[DuckGirlJoey]

I find that I don't feel I need to compare myself with a center. It's a completely different environment. I don't like centers.

I'm with you on this completely! I don't feel that I need to justify it to myself, but when I am put in a position to make a comparison, I would like some more answers other than 'I just think I am better for your kids', . :confused: A lot of parents, I feel, like to check out home daycares because they can be a lot less pricey, but then they will go on and on about the bigger centers with their space, technology, teachers with master's degrees, access to funds for more toys, games, play equipment...and I know I can't compete with that. Even though I think my level of care is more personal and attentive.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

[cheerfuldom]

I'm with you on this completely! I don't feel that I need to justify it to myself, but when I am put in a position to make a comparison, I would like some more answers other than 'I just think I am better for your kids', . :confused: A lot of parents, I feel, like to check out home daycares because they can be a lot less pricey, but then they will go on and on about the bigger centers with their space, technology, teachers with master's degrees, access to funds for more toys, games, play equipment...and I know I can't compete with that. Even though I think my level of care is more personal and attentive.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

I think the main thing is that you ARENT competing with the centers....you are totally different service so its up to the parents to decide what is most important for their child and make a decision based on that. I dont compete with facilities, I offer something totally different. My daycare is not like a center, only cheaper. What I view as important is not even close to how many centers view it. I dont push kids to learn academics or technology...we have fun/play/explore for as long as possible. I dont have a masters degree, but I do have a lot of real life experience and a lot of love and attention to give to these kids. You cant learn that in a classroom. I purposefully keep our toys and equipment very simple to keep kids exploring, versus being entertained, and to provide a more calm, low key envirnoment versus the rush-rush-rush of trying to get 2 year olds to master preschool or kindergarten skills. I dont have a "school", I have a home away from home and try and do things as close as possible to what a child would be doing at home if their mother was there with them. We go for walks, not stay inside a room all day. The kids eat family style meals and become their own little family here, we dont have a ton of kids in and out constantly, never knowing who will be here one day and gone the next. I know each child very, very well and can use that knowledge to help them progess at their own pace and to provide preventative measures to avoid a lot of the behaviors I see at daycares....territorial behaviors like biting and hiting or attention seeking behaviors because the child is one of 25, instead of one of 8.

Here are some of the things I think I can offer that a center may or simply cant

*a low ratio
*strong bond with a provider, no turnover here with multiple staff members in and out and kids shuffled from teacher to teacher
*strong bond with other kids of various ages, security in knowing that your same little friends are here day after day, siblings can stay together, all children learn to be around multiple ages
*home like environment
*accommodating to special requests (within reason). I have no problem cloth diapering, following a parents already established routine as long as it doesnt interfere with a group setting, and other personalized services. If your child needs a bottle past one year, I dont take it away from him....in a center, kids have to follow the class rules whether it is best for them or not
*less exposure to germs and illness

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I taught in an excellent child-care center and then in public school for 13 years before beginning family child care, which I thought I would not like, but would endure in order to be home with my kids. Turns out I prefer it!

Ditto to the above answers.

Also, I love that the kids have the opportunity to participate in real life in a way not possible in centers. For example, in my home, food preservation is a huge part of our family life, and so is a huge part of the children's curriculum, as is cooking.

Another example: at home, I find we spend tons of time getting to know and observing people in the community: mail carrier, milk man, librarian, elderly neighbor, UPS guy, public works employees, etc, etc. In school you might do a "community helpers" theme; at home, community helpers are an integral part of your life and you know them in a far deeper way.

[DuckGirlJoey]

I think the main thing is that you ARENT competing with the centers....you are totally different service so its up to the parents to decide what is most important for their child and make a decision based on that. I dont compete with facilities, I offer something totally different. My daycare is not like a center, only cheaper. What I view as important is not even close to how many centers view it. I dont push kids to learn academics or technology...we have fun/play/explore for as long as possible. I dont have a masters degree, but I do have a lot of real life experience and a lot of love and attention to give to these kids. You cant learn that in a classroom. I purposefully keep our toys and equipment very simple to keep kids exploring, versus being entertained, and to provide a more calm, low key envirnoment versus the rush-rush-rush of trying to get 2 year olds to master preschool or kindergarten skills. I dont have a "school", I have a home away from home and try and do things as close as possible to what a child would be doing at home if their mother was there with them. We go for walks, not stay inside a room all day. The kids eat family style meals and become their own little family here, we dont have a ton of kids in and out constantly, never knowing who will be here one day and gone the next. I know each child very, very well and can use that knowledge to help them progess at their own pace and to provide preventative measures to avoid a lot of the behaviors I see at daycares....territorial behaviors like biting and hiting or attention seeking behaviors because the child is one of 25, instead of one of 8.

Here are some of the things I think I can offer that a center may or simply cant

*a low ratio
*strong bond with a provider, no turnover here with multiple staff members in and out and kids shuffled from teacher to teacher
*strong bond with other kids of various ages, security in knowing that your same little friends are here day after day, siblings can stay together, all children learn to be around multiple ages
*home like environment
*accommodating to special requests (within reason). I have no problem cloth diapering, following a parents already established routine as long as it doesnt interfere with a group setting, and other personalized services. If your child needs a bottle past one year, I dont take it away from him....in a center, kids have to follow the class rules whether it is best for them or not
*less exposure to germs and illness

Thanks for your outlook! That is helpful. I worked in a really great center and our ratios were never at 25, even for school age! They were 4-1 for infants, 5-1 for 1s, 6-1 for 2s, and 10-1 for 3s,4s, and school age. Usually there were 2 teachers in each room. I thought that was a state thing, but maybe some just don't follow it--not good. That is insane that other centers would let ratios get that high. And we always knew what children were coming everyday, we didn't allow drop-ins.

Thank you for pointing out the drawbacks of centers that I was not privy to as the one I worked at was good and our turn-over was very low. I left for reasons other than unhappiness with my job, and decided to try my hand at having my own home-based center. I thought my good experiences at my center were fairly universal, so it is good to know that I can offer something better than some of the others.

Thanks a lot. I am a pretty confident person usually, I just have a hard time talking myself up after coming from such a great place. At least now I know they aren't all so fantastic, and I help use that to bolster my strengths.

[Springdaze]

did anyone say no staff turnover? as long as they are there, you'll be caring for them!

[Blackcat31]

I think there are plenty of fantastic centers out there and there are plenty of home daycares too but the MOST important aspect of going with either choice is what is right for the child.

If I had a parent ask me the difference, I would not answer, but would encourage the parent to do the research for themself. Visit several centers and home child cares, observe, ask questions, do your homework because ONLY the parents knows what their child/family needs.

I have seen kids do horrible in both quality family care and in a quality center and NONE of the behavior had anything to do with the level of care in either place but had more to do with the child themselves. Some children thrive in busy environments with lots of stimulation to keep them busy and occupied. Other kids do better in quiet family style care environments that offer a slower pace and fewer choices for playmates.

My DD thrived in a center! She is such a social butterfly that one caregiver and a small mixed age group of kids would have bored her to death. My DS however was bordering on needing a nanny but did ok in family care where it wasn't so busy. Each of my children were uniquely individual and had totally different needs and none of those needs had anything to do with whether the family child care or center was better than the other.

I think family child care providers, centers, and parents need to stop comparing the benefits and negatives of one to another (as they all have their own pros and cons) but do the work and find what care setting/environment is best for THEIR child.

[justgettingstarted]

Just to throw another thought out there, a dcm of mine who switched from a center said that she really enjoys the ease of communication now. She used to have to call the office, then be transferred to his classroom only to sit on hold for a while. Now she can just send me a quick text and I get back to her within minutes. She also likes the flexibility. Dcb is a terrible sleeper at night and one morning he arrived looking like he could fall asleep on his feet. So I let him take a short morning nap while everyone else did freeplay. That never would have happened in a center.

[Annalee]

I worked in child care centers for three years before starting my own home child care twenty years ago. Personally, I feel home child care offers a nurturing environment. When families enter, they become a part of the child care family. Siblings are able to stay together along with children of mixed ages promoting peer learning. Home child care is equipped to enhance social-emotional, cognitive and physical skills for children preparing them for kindergarten. Sure, when I interview future clients, I express what my program has to offer and I present it in a way that displays my confidence/experience with family child care. In the end, it is still "the parent's choice".

[Sugar Magnolia]

The most important thing is the ratio of staff to children. The major complaint I have heard from interviews and current parents is that there are just too many children in centers and it contributes to over stimulation of the children there. Not enough of an ability of staff to give more individual attention. That's the biggest benefit.

Center here. 15 total students. 1:5 ratios. Specializing in individual attention

[Sugar Magnolia]

I believe that the best place for young children is home with a parent. If that is not possible I offer the next best thing, a loving home environment. My day is flexible. I do not follow a rigid schedule like the centers do. I go with the mood of the kids. I can take them to the library, park, zoo, etc.
I find that I don't feel I need to compare myself with a center. It's a completely different environment. I don't like centers.

Center here. Offering loving home environment, no RIGID schedule, but a schedule nonetheless, and a structured setting with curriculum. Sorry you "don't like centers", but you've never seen mine. I don't like generalizations.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'm with you on this completely! I don't feel that I need to justify it to myself, but when I am put in a position to make a comparison, I would like some more answers other than 'I just think I am better for your kids', . :confused: A lot of parents, I feel, like to check out home daycares because they can be a lot less pricey, but then they will go on and on about the bigger centers with their space, technology, teachers with master's degrees, access to funds for more toys, games, play equipment...and I know I can't compete with that. Even though I think my level of care is more personal and attentive.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

Didn't know technology, funding, teachers with degrees and more toys was a bad thing.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Here are some of the things I think I can offer that a center may or simply cant

*a low ratio
*strong bond with a provider, no turnover here with multiple staff members in and out and kids shuffled from teacher to teacher
*strong bond with other kids of various ages, security in knowing that your same little friends are here day after day, siblings can stay together, all children learn to be around multiple ages
*home like environment
*accommodating to special requests (within reason). I have no problem cloth diapering, following a parents already established routine as long as it doesnt interfere with a group setting, and other personalized services. If your child needs a bottle past one year, I dont take it away from him....in a center, kids have to follow the class rules whether it is best for them or not

*less exposure to germs and illness

I simply can, and do, offer all of that. Luv you Cheerful, but you know all centers are not alike. A small center can be everything a home daycare can be.