Daycare Supply List

[Carole's Daycare]

I think they are both equally important. I wouldn't send my children to an elementary school or high school where the teachers do not have a degree, I see no difference with preschool.

I also think that, while experience is highly valuable, it does not necessarily equal quality.....I have met many providers with 20+ years of experience and many of them have the worst run, dirtiest and highest turnover rates of children of any programs I have ever visited....and I have visited many.

On the other hand, I have also met providers without a degree and lots of experience who run fabulous programs, and many with very little experience who start and run awesome programs.

I think it depends on the individual provider. And, I also think it depends on what the parent wants/expects in a program.

I agree. Parents get to shop around and choose a daycare that fits their family and priorities. For some, teachers with a degree and an accredited preschool curriculum is important- and some are willing to pay for it. Here in MN having a CDA or higher (2 yr degree or more) entitles you to a 10% increase in your pay through county programs, and many charge a similar rate to cash clients. That said- I have met some "teachers" that were horrible providers, and some great childcare professionals with nothing beyond High School and whatever traing and seminars they attend that were wonderful, dedicated childcare professionals. A great provider will be made even better by furthering their education and training- and someone who shouldn't work with kids will likely remain unsuitable regardless of education.

[SilverSabre25]

So he can spread measles to a family with an infant at home too young to be immunized. 164,0000 children die from measles each year.

I just want to point out that you meant either 1,640,000 OR 164,000 children die each year from measles. I don't care which figure you're quoting, though, because both are wrong. Deaths in the US are fewer than 1 a year. There were only 140 cases reported in 2008 (the most recent year I found data for) and there are only 1-3 deaths per 1000 reported cases in the US. Even in the decade before the vax was introduced, there were 4-5 MILLION cases, and only 400-500 deaths. http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080821.htm

Okay, I did find the 164,000 figure in a document from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5847a2.htm (it's near the bottom of the first paragraph) but it's a worldwide figure from 2008 and is total deaths, not CHILD deaths. This document was published less than a year ago and predicts worldwide deaths this year to be less than 73,000.

Sorry to jump on you, but I really, really, REALLY hate to see statistics thrown around will-nilly. Especially when they're wrong.

Edit: I also feel the need to point out that these numbers are TOTAL reported cases, not just cases/deaths in children.

[Michael]

Many would be surprised to see the global death from the flu:

Although difficult to assess, these annual epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe illness and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths every year around the world.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/2003/fs211/en/

Again, mostly elderly but a HUGE amount.

[Unregistered]

Costly Childcare Centers

Sounds like you want to send your child to a more elite care center - and those cost money; if it requires uniforms for a 2 year old it's for snobs, and you can expect to pay for everything. My question is why? Do you think sending your child there will give you an elevated status? Perhaps you don't think what's good enough for the rest of our children is good enough for yours? Really, it's a ridiculous question, if you're spending that much money then expect your child to be educated. The money you pay is for teacher salaries and day-to-day operations - just like a private school. Don't be so incredulous that they would ask for supplies, just like a private school would were your child at that age (and I have no doubt your child will NOT be attending a public school).