Is This What Daycare Used to Be Like?

[mommyneedsadayoff]

My mom owned a daycare center when I was growing up (80s and 90s). I found her old policy manual and was sort of shocked by how small it was. She charged an hourly fee per child and other than a few rules, there was very little else. It was tiny compared to some of the policy manuals I have seen these days. She didn't charge vacation days and they only paid when they came. I never remember my mom having kids when their parents were not working. Today, it seems to be a common thing. It made me think of a few things and maybe some of you, especially the veteran providers, can answer my questions.
Was it normal to have a large policy manual and to charge 52 weeks a year back int he 80s and 90s? If not, when did you change and start beefing up your policies and implementing the pay, regardless of stay policy? Do you think having to pay for daycare regardless of attendance is a main reason parents bring kids whether they work or not? What changed the most between doing care 20 years ago and now? Is it the parents? Is it the daycares and their price? Is it just the new societal norm to pay other people to care for your kid almost 24/7?

I just see so many posts of providers upset because the parents bring their kids to daycare everyday regardless of whether they need it or not and it made me wonder when it became the norm for kids to be in care so much. It never seemed that way at my mom's daycare growing up, so is it a relatively new thing? Thanks for your insight! (Oh, and maybe I should lay off the coffee..thinking too deep on this Monday morning!:

[Cat Herder]

20+ years ago latch key was legal, neighbors helped one another, both parents working full-time wasn't as common, daycare was private, YMCA after school and summer camps were everywhere and kids hung out at the local library.

These are hundreds of other reasons I can think of, but I only have 6 minutes before art begins...

[Cat Herder]

Book recommendation: A Mother's Job: The History of Daycare.

No intent to exclude fathers or male providers, just a very interesting history book. I did not pick the title...

[spedmommy4]

It's been more than 20 years but I know I only went to daycare when my parents worked. I also periodically went to my grandmothers house to visit instead of going to daycare. I am not sure if my parents had to pay or not.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I'm new in this but I was home with Grandma. Daycare was the norm for some kids but my mother, who had children back in the 80's said that she was contracted hours, she had a half for travel. But the daycare only served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, my mom had to supply milk, and breakfast was not served. Snack usually was a graham cracker split in half and that was it.

The centers back then in my mom's opinion were terrible so she didn't stay long at one. I wasn't a daycare kid but my sister was. My mom was also a single mother. My grandma also watched kids in the neighborhood for working moms. There was one family that was a two income household.

I think society has changed. Both mom and dad have to work in most situations. I have a family member who doesn't need to work but watches children for friends and family and charges what I charge but she isn't licensed so she is free to do what she wants. She takes the kids out places and such.

[Blackcat31]

Child care has changed to meet and fill the needs of current parenting trends/methods.

In the early 80ies/90ies both parents didn't HAVE to work.
Priorities within a family were much different than they are today.

The portrait of the typical "American family" seems to change with each generation.

[Baby Beluga]

Child care has changed to meet and fill the needs of current parenting trends/methods.

In the early 80ies/90ies both parents didn't HAVE to work.
Priorities within a family were much different than they are today.

The portrait of the typical "American family" seems to change with each generation.

I also remember it being frowned upon if you did more things without your children than with your children. Now, the norm in my age group (30's) seems to be to do very little things with your children leaving grandparents, providers, etc to do most of the child rearing for you.

[Blackcat31]

Was it normal to have a large policy manual and to charge 52 weeks a year back in the 80s and 90s?

I've always charged a full year. The only difference is I used to allow families up to 2 weeks for their own vacations. I did not require them to pay.

If not, when did you change and start beefing up your policies and implementing the pay, regardless of stay policy?

Somewhere around the 15 yr mark I eliminated that free off time. I made that change because kids were attending longer hours than in previous years and I hadn't raised my rates in just as many years. It was small move towards a more consistent income.

Do you think having to pay for daycare regardless of attendance is a main reason parents bring kids whether they work or not?

No. Not for my current clients. Past clients were mostly state assisted families so cost wasn't really a factor for them and the clientele I serve now all seem to expect payment year round (without discounts or credits) as a norm and don't ever question it.

What changed the most between doing care 20 years ago and now? Is it the parents?

The expectations from families in regards to what services I provide. Bathing, dressing, medicating, etc...there no longer seems to be a list of parent responsibilities. Parents all seem to think that I will do things that should be a parents job. Parents used to take pride in doing those things themselves.

Dressing your child appropriately, feeding them well, keeping them clean and healthy as well as providing a good consistent routine at home seemed to be the defining aspects to what makes a good parent.

Now its the number of "likes" on Facebook, the brand of clothing displayed on their tushies and the number of extra curricular activities the child is enrolled in before age 2.

The absence of hand's on and/or active participating fathers also plays a huge role in the changes as well.

Is it the daycares and their price?

Nope. My state has not had an increase in child care reimbursement rates since 2006. The difference between the rate I charged when I first opened and what I charge now is pocket change.

Is it just the new societal norm to pay other people to care for your kid almost 24/7?

I think it's the societal norm to not really be responsible for anything...including yourself. Look at ANY message board or facebook group and 99.9% of all replies, posts or comments contain some sort of excuse as to why someone can, can't, did, didn't, won't or will.

Very little attention or praise seems to be provided for those who can.

Now we reward, everyone. even if they can't.

....because we wouldn't want anyone to be offended or upset.

[Unregistered]

I started in the 80s. There were always parents who brought kids no matter what. Always parents who paid late and picked up late. Always some golden parents too.

52 weeks paid was common here when I started, as well as pay whether or not child attended. I think this is and was dependant on your area.

Much less licensing regulation, and providers could do much more of what parents requested regarding food, sleep, etc. Only 2 forms required for enrollment, so much less paperwork to keep track of. Licensing was a support system for providers then, as opposed to now when it us much more adversarial. There was no charge for licensing then.

Food program paperwork was simpler. You didn't list kids at each meal, just the number of kids. The food program sponsored low cost food "give aways" of subsidy cheese and butter, providers paid a small handling cost. Yogurt was not creditable.

In general, providers were thought of as valued service providers to the families and the community. A much higher percentage of children were enrolled in family care than center care, and centers were thought of as producing children with poorer social skills and behavior. Because of that, centers began to try to emulate family care by breaking children into small groups with consistent caregivers and a designated "home" area within the large room that the center generally was back then.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I'm new in this but I was home with Grandma. Daycare was the norm for some kids but my mother, who had children back in the 80's said that she was contracted hours, she had a half for travel. But the daycare only served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, my mom had to supply milk, and breakfast was not served. Snack usually was a graham cracker split in half and that was it.

The centers back then in my mom's opinion were terrible so she didn't stay long at one. I wasn't a daycare kid but my sister was. My mom was also a single mother. My grandma also watched kids in the neighborhood for working moms. There was one family that was a two income household.

I think society has changed. Both mom and dad have to work in most situations. I have a family member who doesn't need to work but watches children for friends and family and charges what I charge but she isn't licensed so she is free to do what she wants. She takes the kids out places and such.

Oddly enough, I also went to my grandma's quite frequently too. Even though my mom had a large daycare, somehow grandma's super small trailer was way more fun than a huge building full of kids and toys Of course, she also spoiled us and let us eat whatever we want, so that may have influenced us always wanting to go there::

I kind of forgot how important my grandma was in my early years. She did so much and nowadays, I don't see that as much. If my own mom was alive, I feel she would have been the same, but my kids' grandparents on my husband's side are so much different. They will baby sit when we ask, but they definitely do not spend near as much time with them. They are busy with their own lives and enjoying their golden years, so I have no issues with it, just never really realized how much grandparents played a roll in my life. My husband went to his grandma's every day too, but his parents are definitely not people we would count on for even part time child care.

[Country Kids]

I started in June 1997 and charged $1.50 an hour for several years.

I didn't charge if they weren't here or I took a day off. I believe I was open on alot more holidays-Veterans Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day and maybe another one.

No parent handbook, a one page contract and a very small registration form.

I do have one of my income forms from back then and what looked like so much money then is a very small amount now.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I've always charged a full year. The only difference is I used to allow families up to 2 weeks for their own vacations. I did not require them to pay.



Somewhere around the 15 yr mark I eliminated that free off time. I made that change because kids were attending longer hours than in previous years and I hadn't raised my rates in just as many years. It was small move towards a more consistent income.

Why did they start coming longer hours? Was it due to longer work hours or commuting time?


No. Not for my current clients. Past clients were mostly state assisted families so cost wasn't really a factor for them and the clientele I serve now all seem to expect payment year round (without discounts or credits) as a norm and don't ever question it.



The expectations from families in regards to what services I provide. Bathing, dressing, medicating, etc...there no longer seems to be a list of parent responsibilities. Parents all seem to think that I will do things that should be a parents job. Parents used to take pride in doing those things themselves.

Dressing your child appropriately, feeding them well, keeping them clean and healthy as well as providing a good consistent routine at home seemed to be the defining aspects to what makes a good parent.

Now its the number of "likes" on Facebook, the brand of clothing displayed on their tushies and the number of extra curricular activities the child is enrolled in before age 2.

The absence of hand's on and/or active participating fathers also plays a huge role in the changes as well.

This so true and I never even thought about it! The time before and after daycare has changed so much. No more sit down breakfasts or suppers together. It is kind of like everyone is trying to get by with the minimum. I have to feed the kid, but rather than sit down for a home cooked meal, we get take out and eat in the car. I have to bathe them, but once a week is good enough. I have to bring them fed to daycare, but a pop tart in the car should do.


Nope. My state has not had an increase in child care reimbursement rates since 2006. The difference between the rate I charged when I first opened and what I charge now is pocket change.





I think it's the societal norm to not really be responsible for anything...including yourself. Look at ANY message board or facebook group and 99.9% of all replies, posts or comments contain some sort of excuse as to why someone can, can't, did, didn't, won't or will.

Very little attention or praise seems to be provided for those who can.

Now we reward, everyone. even if they can't.

....because we wouldn't want anyone to be offended or upset.

I completely agree! The responsibility factor is so "old school" nowadays:confused:

Thank you for the insight!

Oh and I asked a few more questions above in blue

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I started in June 1997 and charged $1.50 an hour for several years.

I didn't charge if they weren't here or I took a day off. I believe I was open on alot more holidays-Veterans Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day and maybe another one.

No parent handbook, a one page contract and a very small registration form.

I do have one of my income forms from back then and what looked like so much money then is a very small amount now.

What made you change it up? Were you losing money or feeling taken advantage of or just wanted to a more stable income/business life?

[Blackcat31]

Why did they start coming longer hours? Was it due to longer work hours or commuting time?

I think parents started figuring out that they could leave their child all day and no one judged them. Or atleast not as much as they used to...kwim?

Once one parent started being a daycare dumper and that parent spread the word to others, ("hey Janie your daycare is open 10 hours a day, why not just leave them until closing time? I do.")

Now Janie and her friend Suzie are hitting the beach together without kids and other moms are going "Hey! Where are your kids?"

You know... kind of a monkey see, monkey do type thing.

I honestly do not believe it has anything to do with costs or having to pay. I believe it has everything to do with societal acceptance. As long as someone else is saying it's okay, then it's okay.

We, as a society no longer hold ourselves accountable according to personal moral or ethical guidelines but instead use peer acceptance as a method of influencing and condoning our actions. (in general...not meant as a inclusive statement for everyone).

[Annalee]

I also feel daycare is different today in expectations for children and parents. When I started 20 plus years ago, children were taught/expected to do what ms. xxx said and to be respectful to ms. xxx. the parents also respected ms. xxx. Now, I feel parents are the ones needing coddled which trickles down to the children. I have said before that I use more of my sociology/psychology education than my early childhood education.:: BC is right on the money with her post!!!!!!!!