Licensed DayCare vs. Private DayCare

[marylmr]

Do not let the State scare you with their anger talk. As long as you love the children - spend quality time with them - thats all that matters. What can they throw you in jail for? Oh you make MONEY!!? Seriously that's what this world is boiling down too - who makes the most money..

And reading topics before mine - unlicensed daycare is just as better as a licensed daycare?.. Yes I agree! I watch the news every day & hear licensed daycares having their licensed revoke due to neglecting child(s) - physical abuse and so on. I'll tell you this - back in the 1970's before the law past that anyone oroviding care for more than two families are required to be licensed!. WELL watching the news everyday for number of years, I see more & more children being sexually, physically & emotionally abused in a licensed daycare. So in another words - back in the years before the law past to be licensed, children were better off in a private home daycare.Being a licensed daycare is STRESSFUL because they're so many strict regulations & the more money you make - the more taxes you have to pay back to the government! And with a license certificate - the state can come to your home anytime they want & you are not allow to lock them out or you'll have your license revoked.

Being a license family home provider - you have to run the daycare the way the state wants you too. I'm not talking about spanking a child because that is ABUSE!. I'm talking about semi-structure - close to running a preschool some what.Being licensed with the State - The State OWNS YOUR HOME & has access to your home anytime..So with the State being all over you and owning you - it does make it hard to be licensed & its not fair to the children to fear you,(that your nervous). As a mother myself to four beautiful children - a granddaughter, I do not have a record of being a child abuser. I have a CPR certificate in children and adult. I know how to raise children properly. So many, many family home licensed daycares are opening everyday & alot of those licensed daycares are getting their licensed revoked everyday! Your better off running a private home daycare.

I was licensed once and refuse to renew my licensed because it is stressful working with the State and having my family & friends investigated and pissed off about it.The State for one can tell you who can be at your home & who can't. Even when you do not provide weekend Childcare - the State still tells you who can be at your home and who can't. Seriously I do not want anything to do with child abuser or crimmals but when you have your good friends,(like a few of mine that are LPN's investigated by Childcare), I get disturbing phone calls from my friends,questioning why I had to have them investigated by Childcare? So I told my friends that I'm not getting licensed again after my licensed is due for renewal..What a embarraassment to me and my friends.Having to give the State of childcare my family/friends their social security number/age/birth date/complete home adress & place employment. YES the State does own you/your home and you do not have no privacy.The State is your BOSS & you have no control over them.Talk about invasion of privacy to you and your friends. If you suspect your being investigated because your running a daycare - don't fear because your nothing comparing to those licensed daycares that are being shut down everyday!. My yard is protected with safe equipments & I have been running a private daycare for years. Parents that have their children in my daycare prefer a unlicensed daycare anyways and refuse to talk to the state because they know they're out to look for trouble..I except checks to and have cashed them for years. What the State doesn't find - you'll be alright. Like I said - it's all money talk and bull**** walks.

I mention above - I watch the news everyday,(read the newspaper where the Stare has revoked daycares and were cited into court where the Daycares have got their licensed back).YES the state HAS revoked daycares for wrong reasons and have lost court cases and had to give the daycare providers their licensed back... Believe it or not, they're SO MANY, MANY in home daycares licensed with no High School dIploma.Any High School drop out can get licensed with the State to run a daycare. So again, your better off to be private. Its less headaches to deal with the State owning your home & you. I have had suspious vechiles watching me & cops coming to my house. Without a warrant, the cops have to leave. And being watch, I have just as much rights to have them leave.Its Stalking & against the law!. Without evidence and being a proud parent and a Daycare parent - thats all it matters. Your fine & I'm still running a private daycare in my home,(have been for years) & I love it!!. Children have their freedom, especially during the summer vacation when school is out. But being licensed with the State - children have less freedom and have to have semi school all year around with no break!. Is that fair to the children?...My daycare children can not wait to come to my home & believe it or not, the kids actually kick their parents out. LOL

They are happy- go lucky kids..By the way - think AGAIN if you want to be licensed by the state to become a daycare provider, because Barack Obama is CUTTING ChildCare cost! Putting your child in a licensed DayCare COST ALOT more money & with ChildCare fundings being cutted, childcare providers will still ask parents to pay more out of their pockets to meet their Childcare cost! BUT with private daycare's, it does cost LESS & I go by the parents income. Parents deserve to have spending money to them self. Why in the world do people work? They need money to live and I help them save by deciding to go private. And with the Children in my care, my child care cost went down & parents are very relief and happy that I do not have the State,(boss breathing over my shoulders 24/7). The ChildCare field investigators can & will investigate ChildCare even with no reasons. Investigate to check up on them, even with no complaints. So do you want to still get licensed?

[Unregistered]

unlicensed daycare

I agree with you more than ever. So how many kids do you think is too much for my private daycare? I have fourkids of my own and two of them are in school all day and haven't had a daycare in my home before. Could use your help.

[Unregistered]

unlicensed daycare

I would also like to know how many children are allowed besides your own. I have a 2 year-old. I also homeschool my 15 year-old, and live in the state of Mississippi. So am I thinking this right, you don't have to have a state license if you keep a certain amount of children in your home? I really didn't want to have to do that either. Wasn't sure I had a choice though. Thanks for your help!

Alyssyn

[Carole's Daycare]

Wow. That isn't just a defense of unlicensed caregiving, but an attack on licensed caregivers and any state or regulatory process involving childcare. Licensed caregivers found /cited in abuse neglect or injury cases make the news, but that's no excuse to bash all licensed caregivers. You hear about more cases of abuse because the media is now willing to talk about it, and law enforcement and social services do a better job of investigating and prosecuting it. Years ago it was kept "private" and not an issue at all in the public forum. In fact, licensed caregivers GET CAUGHT because of that state interference you are complaining about- which protects children, makes the public aware of potential hazards(which hopefully encourages them to be more involved in their child's care) and lets bad providers know they will be caught. Licensing investigates anyone who spends the night or frequents a daycare home during hours for the protection of the children, including my husband ( deputy sheriff) my teenaged honor student, and any friends that have access to the children. If that makes your friends uncomfortable, too bad.

As for the supposed lack of education- I'm certain just as many unlicensed providers were unsuccessful students or non-graduates as licensed ones. The difference is licensed providers are REQUIRED to participate in further training. Many unlicensed providers are educated and provide quality care, and choose to not license for many reasons. There are also some are blithering idiots that I wouldn't let watch my dog. They do not undergo ongoing training, and, since they are unlicensed, are not required to, nor are they "on the radar" so that anyone knows for certain what their qualifications might be. There are licensed providers that aren't terrific also. Hopefully that is changing, as in Minnesota we are implementing QRS (voluntary at the moment)- which is a quality rating program that allows licensed daycares to have independent observers evaluate their program and rate it on different areas. For example- How does the home/environment measure up based on the environmental rating scale? How much education does the provider have? What type of curriculum or educational opportunity is provided? How is parent communication handled. Etc Etc. Families will be able to get more information prior to enrolling children on how the daycare measures up, and choose caregivers that score higher in areas that are more important to them. A parent may not care if they have bulletin boards or newsletters, but really want a place with a lot of dedicated daycare space. Another parent may not consider separate daycare space as important as the providers education and training.

I don't think the "argument" about licensing VS unlicensed care is about whether unlicensed providers can be a good provider. For those of us who license- and I, at least, work in training and on boards related to children's issues, its about safety and consistency and quality- and how much influence and responsibility the state has for ensuring the safety of children in care. In MN over 80% of children under school age are in daycare or preschool programs. Statistics show nationally over 48% of available daycare options ARE NOT GOOD FOR CHILDREN. I promise you there are people who blame the state whenever there is a lack- and if it was totally unregulated and your child was hurt in any daycare, or even if they went to school unprepared, the state would get the blame for not ensuring the safety of a business caring for children. Should childcare providers have fewer requirements than workers caring for our elderly as home care or nursing home workers? Yet they must be licensed, and in fact take and pass a licensing exam, while daycares do not. It really isn't about making life hard for the provider, or the STATE owning your business. It does not require year round preschool, or any curriculum specifically. It requires basic safety and health precautions, and a knowledge and practice of basic quality care in terms of child development and positive discipline. It can be inconvenient- I just had my surprise food program visit this morning. The hope is to find a way to ensure consistent, quality care. No regulatory system can guarantee 100% effectiveness, but the hope is to empower providers to see themselves, and be treated, as professionals, thereby increasing their access to training, grants and professional development, as well as having some oversight as to basic safety and quality.

I respect all of the providers opinions, licensed or not, and have received encouragement, ideas and help from both, so it is not my intent to disparage anyone. I do think the vitriol and animosity towards the state of this original poster, makes me question their motives somewhat. Also, however eloquently they stated their case, it is apparent to me this individual has no business criticizing the education of other providers. Graduate or not I would not have this person as a primary language influence on my child. Also the extreme anti-establishment rhetoric makes me uncomfortable. I'm one of those parents who would choose education and curriculum over other factors. That's just how I am. I try hard to balance what I know they need to learn, and what I know they need for healthy emotional, psychological and social development, which is why I run a home daycare instead of a more institutional center. Another person may be uncomfortable with a childcare run by a geek that focuses on education- preferring a more laissez fare approach. Ultimately the amount of state influence over any business is always up for debate, but the unfortunately as the world changes and the cost of education goes up, and early childhood education is more and more a factor in long term success, there will be ongoing expectations of ensuring quality in the family daycare home.

[Unregistered]

license vs private

Bravo!!! I agree 100%
I was licensed through the state and had my license suspended.....why? I was falsely accused of bein on drugs I had 3 different drug test performed and all three came back clean however DHS can't be prevent wrong. I have a case against them not because I want my license back but to clear my name. I Ryan a private daycare and I can finally breathe again and the children have the freedom to be children. My advise is to not get license. My son had to get rid of his lizards he had had for years because the state said no. They tell you and your family members what they can or can't do. I understand them wanting to know who lives in the home so I provide all that for my new parents now with background checks. Oh and if they want they can come in and take your own kids from you if they feel like it. Keep the state out of your house because you will never have a home.

[Springdaze]

I know this is old, but in a way I agree. I am licensed, my state gives no benefits to being licensed by way of allowing you to have more kids if you are. I do it because it is really the only way a parent can hope that you are qualified. I know it doesnt take much to be licensed, but at least you have to have a background check and such. If I didnt have to, I probably wouldnt but I feel that it "looks better" to a parent who doesnt know me from the next person.

[Unregistered]

Childcare question

Hi I would like to help parent out whit there daycare fees can some tell me if I was going to charge a parent by there income how would I charge them and what should be included

[mbullette]

I am not sure what state you are in but in Wisconsin if you are not licensed you can have 3 kids plus your own.

[Unregistered]

Licensed Day Care vs. Unlicensed Day Care

To me my view is to each his own.
The following is why I just dropped from being a Licensed Family Child Care Center (that's what they call it now a center), that is being forced maintain the same rules that a regular Day Care Center that has multiple employees does. The paperwork is outragious, the background checks now have to be done quarterly for myself and yearly for each member of my family. I have never even had anything on my record. The Licensers that are being sent to each establishment all have their own / interpretation of the Day Care Rules.
I have been providing daycare for over 33 years, my first 20 years I had no idea there was such a thing as being Licensed. At that time I would have up to 12 children including my own 2 boys. My Idea, still to this day is, I want my Family daycare to be "family" based. The children came and still do come and become one of my extended family, never treated any different. We went/go for walks, we made meals and snacks together, we drove to school and such if weather was bad outside. I just installed a child safety alarm in my van that my husband and I didn't want to have to deal with turning off when by ourselves shopping etc., but that was a MAJOR part of my daycare, I actually was becoming depressed in the loss of my idea of daycare. I have always been a semi-structured, learn while playing, learning how to get along in a setting with other kids. My kids have always sang the ABC's while washing their hands, we have always had calender time. My daycare!!! It was the right decision for me!!!! Again to each his own. Just love the children with all your heart!!!!!

[Unregistered]

I am unlicensed and actually had planned to get licensed my first year. But the parents I have been providing care for do not support it. They don't want the state in their business or mine. I live in IL. Two of the parents I have as clients have jobs that you would think they would be more supportive of the state. One is a cook county detective and the other is a lieutenant for the fire department. They both believe the state does anything for money and prefer their children in a privately run home daycare. I'm not against licensed home daycares at all. But I think some people have a point about the state being too involved in our homes and lives.

[Unregistered]

Seriously? I live in IL and have never had any problems with licensing. It's a lot of work, but what business owner doesn't have a lot on their plate? I honestly feel like a licensed home daycare looks better. I actually think they should raise the standards to become and stay licensed! If you have nothing to hide, what are you worried about?

[Imagination's Creations]

Seriously? I live in IL and have never had any problems with licensing. It's a lot of work, but what business owner doesn't have a lot on their plate? I honestly feel like a licensed home daycare looks better. I actually think they should raise the standards to become and stay licensed! If you have nothing to hide, what are you worried about?

Whoops! I wasnt logged in!

[ReniaS]

Liscensed for 20 years now bullied by the Govt.

I am currently a licensed provider and after 20 years of no complaints social service has me under probation because my daughter-in-law and her child and 2 kids she watches comes to my house to do group activities, storytime crafts ect. Social Service says her kids count in my license when they are present even though they have an adult there responsible for them. I was told it may be silly to not allow 2 people with 9 kids versus 1 with 6 but they don't care it's the rules. I was told I cannot have any visitors period. Now they have come back 3 times in the last month and when I had my normal numbers the social worker said "Well then. let's do another walk-through" and proceeded to write me up for violations such as a baby falling asleep in my swing and me not moving her to a crib and that was only about a 3-4 minute span. I have ran an impeccable childcare for 20 years and now feel like I am being bullied and forced out. What are my rights can anyone tell me?

[NoMoreJuice!]

Annoyed

I am seriously annoyed at anyone who chooses not to follow the rules. In Kansas, it is illegal to watch more than 2 children unrelated to you more than 20 hours a week. On my street alone, there are three unlicensed daycare homes that I know of. It is not that difficult to do the right thing and be licensed, UNLESS you have something to hide. Yes, the state can be a pain, but if you are an honest human being, you shouldn't have a problem with them. By the way, in KS you do have to hold a high school diploma to operate a licensed daycare.

Several of the posts in this thread make me very suspicious. What are you doing watching other people's children when the parents don't even want the state to get involved?

I've been falsely accused of things before, that's just the nature of doing business with the public. But I am damn sure going to comply with all state rules because, for the most part, they are for the SAFETY of the children in my care. Why on earth would parents trust someone who is never inspected, doesn't have to follow any safety rules, and has no accountability as to the quality of care they provide?

OF COURSE you're going to hear of abuse and neglect in licensed daycare....because they're the ones who are CAUGHT. Are you aware of how many unlicensed daycare home providers abuse and neglect children without ever being caught? It is totally unreasonable to think that licensed providers are the only ones just because you see it on the news.

I will always fight to turn in unlicensed providers, and not only because they are attacking my business. It is for the safety and well being of the kids.

[MommaB3]

I have been both a licensed and unlicensed home provider. When I was licensed I felt everyone should be licensed or be shut down because I felt if I had to follow certain standards then everyone should. Currently I am not licensed. I run the same daycare that I did when I was licensed just without the license.

The biggest reason I didn't want to be licensed anymore was due to being told the things I needed to do to my home. This is my HOME, yes I run a business out of it. The children are safe here. I raised my kids here. I'm not going to have anything that would be unsafe for a child. I still have my CPR certification and do ongoing trainings. I have a degree in ECE. I totally understand all the rules for a center. That is a business that is run at a business not someone's home. I just feel some of the things that they require for a home provider is ridiculous. I don't want my home to look like a daycare center anymore than it already does. If that makes me a bad provider then I guess I am.