In-Home Vs Centers

[daycare]

Daycare, great examples and comparissons you listed there!

I made the list nicer and added it to my handout folder when I give interviews...
I made a better list a few years ago but cant find it....

[Unregistered]

Center all the way

Center based all the way. Originally, I would have said home based until preschool age, then center for group preschool class. After reading the posts by providers on this site, I've changed my mind to center based - I encourage you to read posts on the provider site. In almost all conflict situations, it seems the in home providers advised to terminate or add a new rule to their handbook. If these same issues came up at a center, the child would have never been terminated and rules would not have been changed - the center would have worked with the child and family through those normal stages children go through. Only in extreme circumstances do centers recommend termination. The only way I'd do in home anymore is if it were a relative of mine. That being said, all centers are not created equally either. First, I'd go with recommendations of your close friends or co workers who use centers. Then I'd look to see what their violations are. Then I'd request a tour and interview and handbook to get the details. And remember, scrap your visual first impression of the building and grounds. Picture perfect facilites can be worse than run down buildings - really find out where the director's and teacher's priorities are - children education and teacher pay or facilities and appearances. Rarely do you find a good combo of both in a center based environment - if you do, then I think you've found the "unicorn" of daycares! Looking back, I would also see how many family events they hold each year - this gives families a chance to network and swap stories and bounce things off each other. I've found the worst reputationed places held very few family events and it showed - many families were miserable and were trying to find something else. Hope this helps.

[youretooloud]

I suggest putting both home and large centers on your list to check out, then go with your gut.

Honestly though, it sounds like you are already sold on a large center, so start with those.

Are the kids happy? Look in other classrooms too, don't only look at your child's age group, you might love the infant room, but hate the toddler room.

What are the kids eating? Is it something your child might eat? Will they allow you to pack your child's lunch if she doesn't like what they serve?

When do they move up to the next class? Do they move as a group? Or on their birthday? (moving on the birthday is hard on them... moving with friends is easier)

What kind of teacher turnover do they have? Are the teachers happy? If the teachers are unhappy, the kids will be too.

[daycare]

I think that there is somewhere for everyone. I dont frown on centers or in-home. While both offer care for children, they both have their advatages and disadvantages; just like everything else in life.

[MommyofThree]

Center based all the way. Originally, I would have said home based until preschool age, then center for group preschool class. After reading the posts by providers on this site, I've changed my mind to center based - I encourage you to read posts on the provider site. In almost all conflict situations, it seems the in home providers advised to terminate or add a new rule to their handbook. If these same issues came up at a center, the child would have never been terminated and rules would not have been changed - the center would have worked with the child and family through those normal stages children go through. Only in extreme circumstances do centers recommend termination. The only way I'd do in home anymore is if it were a relative of mine. That being said, all centers are not created equally either. First, I'd go with recommendations of your close friends or co workers who use centers. Then I'd look to see what their violations are. Then I'd request a tour and interview and handbook to get the details. And remember, scrap your visual first impression of the building and grounds. Picture perfect facilites can be worse than run down buildings - really find out where the director's and teacher's priorities are - children education and teacher pay or facilities and appearances. Rarely do you find a good combo of both in a center based environment - if you do, then I think you've found the "unicorn" of daycares! Looking back, I would also see how many family events they hold each year - this gives families a chance to network and swap stories and bounce things off each other. I've found the worst reputationed places held very few family events and it showed - many families were miserable and were trying to find something else. Hope this helps.

Thank you. I decided on a center. Now this may sound weird but I ama in- home daycare provider. But would still go with a center only because everyone is not a motherly person nor are they in it for the children. I see many in-home providers take on more kids then they can handle. Im guilty of that. Even though I have six its very stressful. Would I ever hurt a child NO!, but I just think its to much for one personto take care of six children. Now some may ask why I dont lower my numbers if I think its stressfull? Well I am like their mommy. I love them so uch and cant imagine not watching them. Its deff not for the money over here. . I charge very little. I am going to college now at night so in two years I am getting a full time job but Would love to star putting my youngest in a center part time because he is with me 24 7 and is very attached!

[jen]

Thank you. I decided on a center. Now this may sound weird but I ama in- home daycare provider. But would still go with a center only because everyone is not a motherly person nor are they in it for the children. I see many in-home providers take on more kids then they can handle. Im guilty of that. Even though I have six its very stressful. Would I ever hurt a child NO!, but I just think its to much for one personto take care of six children. Now some may ask why I dont lower my numbers if I think its stressfull? Well I am like their mommy. I love them so uch and cant imagine not watching them. Its deff not for the money over here. . I charge very little. I am going to college now at night so in two years I am getting a full time job but Would love to star putting my youngest in a center part time because he is with me 24 7 and is very attached!

Hi I am going back to work and have three children and would like to know how to chose a daycare. I am thinking a center only because you hear alot more bad things at in-home ones. Not all in homes are bad but this is my childrens first time so really need imput on both sides. I f you sent you child to both which one did you like more and why. I graduate soon and will have a job very shortly and my baby is one and he has yet a voice to speek up if he is being hurt. thanks

I'm so confused...you are going back to work NOW or in TWO years? You want to put three kids in care or just 1? You just want to provide some separation, or you need daycare so that you can go back to work?

If you are just looking for separation, why don't you consider preschool...it's much less expensive than part time center based care. How about an evening program through your local ECFE? Would that be 6 kids plus your 3?

[melissathay28]

I'm so confused...you are going back to work NOW or in TWO years? You want to put three kids in care or just 1? You just want to provide some separation, or you need daycare so that you can go back to work?

If you are just looking for separation, why don't you consider preschool...it's much less expensive than part time center based care. How about an evening program through your local ECFE? Would that be 6 kids plus your 3?

I want to go back full time in two years, but truley want to get a part time job right now and get out of the daycare scean only because I want my home back. I love the ones I do take care of and dont know how to say I want to g back to work. If anyone has ever been in this situation please share.


I would love to put all three in dc because my oldest is only 7. my 4 year old is in half day pre k but my one year old I would like to put him in half day dc just because he is so attached to e and though it might help. Pre school for a one year old? Is that possible? If so I wouldnt mind doing that ut I doubt thereis pre for my one year old.

[youretooloud]

Pre school for a one year old? Is that possible? If so I wouldnt mind doing that ut I doubt thereis pre for my one year old.

I've never heard of actual preschool for a one year old. But, If you can afford it, I'd look into 1/2 day Montessori or another play based program.

Also, Mom's day out can be very good if you find the right program. Especially if it's the same kids and teachers all the time. I don't even know where to tell you to look for a Mom's day out program, but I've heard a lot about them.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Best of both worlds here...but we are uncommon

My husband and I (and a part-timer) operate a SMALL but fully licensed center. We have very low ratios, close personal attention, and take a milti-age approach. We have no staff turnover and the parents love our approach. Unfortunately, deserved or not, some home daycares are fly-by-night and simply not as trusted as licensed centers that have stricter state oversight, better trained and monitored staff and accepted curriculums.

[AnythingsPossible]

The children that I have gotten from daycare centers have all started with me around 12 months, and have been switched due to issues of biting and persistent diaper rashes. Not saying that all centers don't provide the level of care necessary for littles, but in my experience that is what I have encountered.
The other thing with centers is consistency of care provider. There is a previous post on this.
There are also issues with home providers, do they let the kids watch tv all day, take care of their things and not worry about the kids.
As with anything, you have to do your research. Make phone calls, ask for references, check with licensing to see if they have any negatives on their inspections. If you are considering a center, ask about the employment longevity of their employees, how often are they replacing people. Visit at different times of the day. If you are considering a home, ask how long they have been in business, why they started and what they like and don't like about doing home daycare. Some providers don't do tours during daycare hours, some do. You could drive by at different times and scope them out. I once drove by a home provider who had two toddlers playing in the front yard unsupervised. Not cool.
If you go with a home provider, I think it is very important that you mesh well with the provider. It is a much more intimate care situation then a center, in my opinion.

[cheerfuldom]

OP, if you are concerned about the ratio, it is very unlikely that you are going to find a center with a 6 to 1 ratio (like you have) or less. Since your youngest is 1 years old and no longer an infant, he or she will most likely have more like a 10 to 1 ratio at a decent center, 15 or 20 to 1 at an overcrowded center. Really do your homework. Some centers combine classes AFTER drop off time is up so just because your child starts in a lower ratioed class does not mean that is what will be provided all day. Likewise, just because there are numerous staff there in the morning, does not mean that they will all be there all day. Just because a teacher has been hired at a center, does not mean that they are cut out to take care of children all day either. I completely understand your concerns and your goals of returning to work so I hope you find the best spot for your kids. I wouldn't rule out other home daycares. Just because you are struggling with your 6 at this moment does not mean that there are not other providers out there that are not more capable (not meaning to offend, I do agree that we all have our limits and am just saying that there are some providers that are better equipped to care for more)

[cheerfuldom]

Oh and just wanted to add to the unregistered poster....just because a center may be more likely to hesitate in terming a family does not make this a better situation! With a larger group and more of a drive to make their overhead, centers are infamous for keeping bullies, biters, hiters, etc. WAAYY too long at the expense of the gentler kids. They sometimes keep special needs kids in the regular classrooms with untrained teachers who have no skills to deal with the outbursts or violence that can come with special needs kids. And the regular kids are the ones that are going to be put aside while the few disruptive ones (that are kept for monetary reasons) receive 90% of the attention and resources.

[Meeko]

Oh and just wanted to add to the unregistered poster....just because a center may be more likely to hesitate in terming a family does not make this a better situation! With a larger group and more of a drive to make their overhead, centers are infamous for keeping bullies, biters, hiters, etc. WAAYY too long at the expense of the gentler kids. They sometimes keep special needs kids in the regular classrooms with untrained teachers who have no skills to deal with the outbursts or violence that can come with special needs kids. And the regular kids are the ones that are going to be put aside while the few disruptive ones (that are kept for monetary reasons) receive 90% of the attention and resources.

Well said. Don't think for a second that centers keep kids because they care about the parents. They have to keep up numbers. I have worked in 2 large centers over the years. Good as centers go....but something in common with each one...... there was a constant push to keep as full as humanly possible...to keep the money flow coming.

I had a boy in my class who was a holy terror. He was always hurting the other children. Hit me, kicked me...his mother couldn't have cared less.

They should have got rid of him, but it was more important to get his mothers check than to ensure the safety of the rest of the kids. If a parent got angry because this child hit their kid, the management would make sympathic noises...say that we were working on it and then it was back to business.

As an in-home provider to 16 children, I do not hesitate to term families who do not mesh with our day care "family". I want happy and SAFE kids and that is not accomplished by taking just anybody off the street into our facility.

[Unregistered]

Ratios are not always better at home daycares. My husband and I recently decided to move our infant from a home daycare to a center primarily due to ratio concerns. In Minnesota, where we live, most home daycares are licensed for 12 children. That is for one person, not with a helper. The center we are moving her to has a ratio of 4:1 in the infant room and 7:1 in the toddler room (16 months+).