Anyone work at a day care center?

Question

I have a 15 month old daughter and I live in a very small town that is about to open up a daycare in a few months. I am excited because I have been a stay at home mom with my little girl since she was born and I am wanting to start making an income again! The day care center owners said that they will have positions open and asked if I would like to work there. This seems like a great plan. I would still be with my daughter and be making a little money. I guess my questions are...do you enjoy working at a day care and how much would I make (average prices) working at the center if my child is also enrolled there. Any input would be great..thanks!

Answer 1

You have left out some very important info to get a true answer!

You said your Daughter is 15 mos.- has she had ANY other socialization with other children her age? This is a BIG thing to consider if she hasn't as she will now be competing with other children for your attention which depending on her personality may lead to a very rough experience for you as " Teacher" it is common for children to not want to share mommy and you may find your child hanging onto your leg- a good center owner would suggest that you not work in the same area as your child but then you have separation anxiety and your child may NOT be happy being without you- that in itself can cause some stress for you and your co-workers. you may want to try visiting/ volunteering  for a week to see how she reacts- assuming you make it past that hurdle and want to continue, you should be aware of the fact that even though we as Teachers provide a service that keeps most of America working ( without us who would watch the children? ) you need to know that we are also the most UNDERPAID profession and depending on your experience ( college units in E.C.E. or not ) you may be paid whatever your state's min. wage is- as far as a discount on your child's tuition, if this is the first center for the owners they most likely will not be able to offer that until the enrollment to staff ratio breaks even- in some states it requires 5 full time kids to pay for 1 qualified staff person-  working in  childcare can be the best job in the world if you focus on why you are there- for the kids- you won't get rich in money but memories will be priceless- be wary about privately owned centers- because the money comes from tuition it can be a rough ride in the early days- get everything in writting that they have offered or promised- make sure you know about your hours and ask if your hours will be cut based on the daily ratio ( Calif. is 1 fully qualified Teacher for 12 pre-k aged kids therefore if a Teacher and an Aide have 8 kids, guess who goes home first?) If you are thinking about this as a career, and you will be reqired to get college units you may want to ask if the owners will pay for your classes, fit the classes around your work hours, what would your rate of pay be after receiving units and who pays for fingerprinting and first aid- lastly, it is quite common in a privately owned center for employees to get too friendly with owners-especially if the owners work at their center- DON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE! Be professional and plesant - once that line is crossed you may find yourself running personal errands for owners and not being paid for your time- A lot to think about ! if you have any other questions, look up your state's local Department of Social Services and the can give you your state requirements for childcare workers- good luck!

Answer 2

I'm not sure how much money u would make u would have to ask people who asked u to work there. What working at a Daycare Center is you have to LOVE kids. I love and I really enjoied it when I did. You have all the screaming, crying, banging, fighting, saying no but it's all worth it when you see your kid having a good time, smiling, laughing, enjoying life. All it really depends on is you. Do you feel like you could do it? Do you enjoy being around kids, do you enjoy calming ones heart when it is crying, is it worth the 4 teethed smiles. I think it is so GOOD LUCK. I hope you have a wonderful time cause I know I did. GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

A tricky question.  You're going to be excited to get out there again, and have your daughter close by.  Don't let idiots (like the 1 somewhere up there) make you feel bad for wanting to have a life.  Daycare can be an awesome place.  As for what you would be payed.  I don't live in the states, I'm in Canada.  There are places that will pay $8.00, or $8.50, somewhere around there, to your more common $10.00-$12.00 an hour, but some better centres offer $18.00 up to $45.00 an HOUR even.  I have my E.C.E diploma and a B.A as well, and have worked at the s**+*ty payed ones, and the high paying ones.  It just matters if you agree with the centres policies and get along with the other teachers.  I prefer to have people who've gone to school and have professional experience work with me though, and parents appriciate that as well.

I enjoy it, but like I said, you may not agree with their policies (the director, etc) and it will be up to you if you can live with it, and impliment it with the children or if you can't do it.  I've been in that situation before, and I couldn't do it.  You shouldn't have to impliment things you don't agree with, and if there really are problems, there are places where you can report problems.

Good luck, and I hope it works out for you! :)  Your daughter will be FINE!  Do a bit of an intake with her, take a week, (have her start a week before you)  First day, stay with her for an hour and play, when you leave, she does too.  Second day, stay a bit, then leave her for a bit (not the whole day) 2-3 hours... Third day, drop her off, let her stay 1/2 the day.  By the fourth and fifth day, hopefully she will be comfortable to stay all day.  It's hard at first, because it's not their regular schedule, and they arn't used to it.

Again, good luck :)

Answer 4

I worked at a day care center, actually at the same time that my son was attending it. They probably won't let you work in the same room/area as your child.

They pay isn't great probably between $7-$10 per hour.

You have to have patience & like kids. It's not just playing with them all day; you have to change diapers (which isn't the same as changing your own childs; the smells can be awful).

I also assisted with feeding the kids, washing laundry, sanitizing the cribs & toys.

It was okay; the worst was probably the pay wasn't that great, but even though you won't be in the same room as your child it still comforting to be near him/her.

You'll probably have to get CPR certified & possibling other types of certifications especially if it will be a state funded daycare.

Answer 5

I've been working at a 3-5 yr old day care for 5 months now and tomorrow is my last day, but not because I don't wanna work there anymore.  I start student teaching 4th grade next week so I can't have a job and student teach at the same time.  I absolutely love working at the day care.  Sure, some days can be hectic when the kids just aren't listening, but you get so attached to them and they love you like a member of their own family.  Where else can I walk into a room and have 15 kids run up to me giving me a hug.  It makes you feel so good about what you're doing.  I only make $6.00 but I love what I do and wouldn't change it for the world.  Plus you'll feel good that your daughter is right with you in the same place if something ever happens and you know she's getting quality care.  I don't think you can go wrong working there.  Best of luck

Answer 6

More than ten hours of separation a week from mommy exacts a great toll on a child emotionally, physically, intellectually, and socially. Now, this is because a young child needs to be held, nursed until around age 3, needs to be responded to in the moment, needs to have the world explained to her, needs to be really really special to reliable, trustworthy mommy.

Now - how will you be meeting her needs, exactly, while you are caring for all these other people's kids?  How will you do your job while you are parenting your own child?  

My two sons recently performed in a play at a day care center.  What we saw was heartbreaking.  Little tiny babies being pulled away from books and toys that interested them to be forced into little groups to hear books that didn't necessarily.  A little girl wandering off and falling off the ladder to the water fountain (actually, she was drinking out of a sink.)  

The worst part was when I noticed, while my kids were performing, a stack of papers - reports for each child's parent telling them about the day.  The day care workers had already written that the kids liked the play so much!  Before it even happened.

Day care is a failed experiment and a very damaging and dangerous one.  You are not being realistic about how you will give your daughter what she needs from you - it's more than being in the same room - and give these other kids what you are paid to give them (which their parents - and apparently you - are not willing to give their own kids.)

This parenting stuff is serious business.  look around our country.  day care and divorce and irresponsible intercourse is destroying the ability of people to commit,  pull together, build communities - h**l, build families.  Because it is destroying the attachment and mental health of our children one by one.

Your solution strangely allows you to hurt kids from both directions.  I know it's because no one is thinking about what they are doing, but it's time to.

Answer 7

i is really fun working with the kids so as long as you like children i think it would be a great job for you.  the average salary is usually around $7 dollars an hour where i work but the income you earn is usually based on what daycare center you work at.  sometimes certain daycares even allow your child to attend there for free if you happen to work there.  but you have to remember different daycares are directed differently so nothing is exact.  i advise you to consult the director of the daycare and ask any questions you may have that way you are sure to have the right information that you need.

Answer 8

don,t do it i worked at one had to stop before i had my kids so i would not kill any of them