Why are centers preferred when ...?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Centers are open more hours than home providers . Also we have children in rooms based on age. Some people prefer that their child is in a room with 7 other 2 year olds, as opposed to 7 other children of various ages. Also siblings are usually not together, which helps some families, so the kids aren't arguing all day at daycare . There is always someone watching the workers at daycare. We are also very strict with rules from the state and licensing . Centers also go out of their way to adapt to special diets , most home daycare a don't have the staff or means to do that. I would guess that it depends on what you value, small intimate care or a large group with lots of classes . There is enough of both to go around '

Unfortunately, I have to disagree that there is ALWAYS someone watching the workers at daycare centers. I have worked in two while I was getting my teaching degree and I had very poor experiences with both (affluent area, fancy looking centers, camera systems in all rooms, etc.) in witnessing children not be treated well. Always means always. I would say...sometimes.

[melilley]

I am offended by your assessment of infant room teachers. I am one of the lead teachers in the infant room. All our lead teachers have degrees, have been at the center at least 5 years, and are very close with all infants. We are sad when one moves up to the next class, because we genuinely miss them. I am not saying all centers are like ours, but not all centers are like the one you describe either.

This is how I was when I was a lead infant teacher. I loved all (well almost all) of the babies that I took care of! Most of the infant teachers also babysat outside of dc hours too and a lot of them became family friends.
But, I have also seen teachers who weren't like me or some of my co-workers, working with the infants too. I understand what Shell is saying to some degree, but I wouldn't say that about ALL centers or staff.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Sugar, you are definitely the exception to the common misconception parents have about centers.

It's not fair that you get lumped in with the big centers that seem to dictate the negative thought process some people have about centers.

lovethis You run a VERY unique program and one as a parent I would seek out if I lived near you.

I agree. I don't view you on the same playing field as big centers with multiple locations at all.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I think that there is a huge difference between "corporate centers" vs "private centers". I would love to come to your center!

Thank you, and BC too, for the kind words.

The paper on my wall says "licenced center" so I do get upset with sweeping generalizations. (yes, I'm the jerk who added that tag).

OP, you are asking a forum of home daycare providers. You are going to get mostly only their perspective here. I'm the only center Director here on a regular basis, that I know of.. There are others registered, but I rarely see them. There are several center employees, so I hope some will chime in.

[nannyde]

NOT ONE WORD OF THIS APPLIES TO MY CENTER.

You could sprinkle in.a "some centers" or "generally" or "many centers" or a "not all centers are like this" in there somewhere.

Shug I wasn't referring to a small family center that has the capacity of a large group home day care. I'm referring to centers with thirty plus kids.

What you offer is more akin to Iowa's Category C1 registration. We have a capacity of 19 kids with two workers and a helper. I know you have to abide by your states center rules but with the small capacity and being ran by your family it is more like a large family home child care some states offer in regards to turnover, holiday, who decides to term, hours set etc.

I don't want to feel obligated to use hedging words like some, generally, etc... I think the average reader here knows there are exceptions to generalizations. Giving me the all caps shout isn't something I deserve. I don't appreciate that one bit.

[CedarCreek]

Just adding that I love whoever tagged this thread.

[Unregistered]

Okay, I retract my former statement, it is not a good discussion. For that matter I retract my question too since it was mostly lost early on.
I had not thought of this forum as only for home providers. Plus I did not intend to bring out a home vs center mentality. I am a family child care provider but I do not view centers antagonistically, any more than I view other home providers that way.
Taking my marbles and going home now

[CedarCreek]

There have been posts about centers not usually terminating children, when lots of home providers say they would term.
Does it seem that centers do not refer families for help with issues, when home providers do? Or terminate children if families will not seek help? And if so, why are centers preferred by the majority of families?

Okay, I retract my former statement, it is not a good discussion. For that matter I retract my question too since it was mostly lost early on.
I had not thought of this forum as only for home providers. Plus I did not intend to bring out a home vs center mentality. I am a family child care provider but I do not view centers antagonistically, any more than I view other home providers that way.
Taking my marbles and going home now

I don't think anyone thinks you intended for the thread to go that way, it just naturally does on a forum that is mostly home providers and centers get brought up.

I didnt answer your question very well either, did I?

My answer to your original question would be: I have not noticed that centers do not refer out for issues. But I have not had a lot of experience with that.

[drseuss]

Regarding behavior problems and terming, I have a lot of years of experience as a family provider, and I have only had to term once for behavior-both the child's and the parents'. I do not term willy nilly.

[cheerfuldom]

One other thing I have noticed is that many parents in my area do NOT want their children going on any field trips even if it is a walk to the park. Some have requested (to me and my provider friends) that their children do not even go in the backyard. They want to know exactly where their child is at all times and prefer it to be in the one playroom all day. They can find that service easier at a center because unfortunately, many local places dont take non-walkers outside at all and some have very minimal outside time for walkers and older. This is really sad to me and I would never provide that service. I am coming across more and more kids that do not run errands with parents or even use their own backyards

[racemom]

I think that there is a huge difference between "corporate centers" vs "private centers". I would love to come to your center!

Maybe this is why the center I work in is not what you all think of when you talk of centers. I work in a small privately owned center, Sugar Magnolia's description of her center is the type of center I work in. Small (30-35 kids max) in a house that is used strictly for daycare, but cozy and a warm inviting atmosphere. I have never worked in a corporate center, so I cannot comment on how they are and my comments are from my own experience at a small center.

[melilley]

Maybe this is why the center I work in is not what you all think of when you talk of centers. I work in a small privately owned center, Sugar Magnolia's description of her center is the type of center I work in. Small (30-35 kids max) in a house that is used strictly for daycare, but cozy and a warm inviting atmosphere. I have never worked in a corporate center, so I cannot comment on how they are and my comments are from my own experience at a small center.

The corporate centers that I have worked in had approximately 60+ kids. In all three that I worked at, formal curriculum was forced upon us, even in the infant rooms! The activities for the infants and other rooms were supposedly created by "professionals in the chdv field, but most activities, especially for the infants were so out there and most of them were teacher lead or done. It was far from family like and the teachers and I used to complain that they were so concerned at doing parent pleasing things and "school" like things that we felt like it took away from the time with the kids. Most of us did try to bond and spend as much time with the kids as we could, but it was difficult with the number of kids in the room (our infant room could have up to 16 kids and was usually full and the ratio is 1:4, same with the toddler room that could have up to 20). In the last center that I worked at and actually the one before that (which just closed down), our director was always pressured to get the enrollment up and was often threatened her job if she didn't. It was sad. It seemed they just cared about money. And at the last center, we were NAEYC accredited, but as soon as they got accredited, it seemed like they didn't care as much because the had that stature and could advertise that they were accredited. And funny that when our regional boss would come, our director would freak out and all of a sudden, everything had to be up to par; when it should have been kept like that in the first place, it that was the kind of center they claimed to be.

Sorry, I am rambling on and on... I'm not saying that every corporate center is like this, but a majority are. The family like atmosphere is definitely lost. You are lucky to be working at a small center that is family like! My dream one day is to open up my own!

[Baby Beluga]

One other thing I have noticed is that many parents in my area do NOT want their children going on any field trips even if it is a walk to the park. Some have requested (to me and my provider friends) that their children do not even go in the backyard. They want to know exactly where their child is at all times and prefer it to be in the one playroom all day. They can find that service easier at a center because unfortunately, many local places dont take non-walkers outside at all and some have very minimal outside time for walkers and older. This is really sad to me and I would never provide that service. I am coming across more and more kids that do not run errands with parents or even use their own backyards

Same thing here. I had one mom a few months ago ask if we play outside. I told her that yes weather permitting we play in the backyard daily. Mind you it is completely fenced in. She didn't want her 4 year old outside to play! I was mortified.

I have also noticed that parents don't take their children on errands anymore. Sometimes I can understand this. But staying home with a babysitter every weekend so mom can run to the supermarket? That's just silly. Or the parent who has to pick up late so she can run to the store and grab dinner. Here's an idea - get your child and take them with you! Being out in public is an excellent learning opportunity for littles.