Difference between daycare and babysitting?

Question

I was wondering what the difference is? I heard that on daycare you have to pay taxes..is that true? What are the pros and cons of each? Also do you charge per day or hour, and how much? Thanks!

Answer 1

Day care is regulated, babysitting is not. HOWEVER: most states have regulations about how many kids you can watch without getting a license and if you exceed that number you are liable to very large fines. Yes, you have to pay taxes but you are entitled to some really great deductions so it about averages out. Also, in most places, day care providers have had some basic training on how to care for kids safely.

Answer 2

daycare - babysitting - same thing - different names.... pretty much what that is is --  when you are younger and watch children - or in highschool -  you babysit---   once you make it your career choice ....thats when we change the name to:  Daycare..

as for taxes - yea' if you do daycare- you pay taxes - if you do daycare- you are state regulated -meaning  - you have to follow the rules of daycare..(cpr classes/daycare classes/house needs to be checked, forms need to be filled out by every family etc).

hope this helped.

Answer 3

Daycare is way more structured than babysitting.

I work in a daycare and we actually make out lesson plans and teach the students. They learn basic skills with out creepers teach waving and motions, toddlers uses of smaller motor skills individual finger use, numbers letters, so on. Its like school but for smaller children

Answer 4

They're basically the same thing except that babysitters usually only watch 1 or 2 children at a time. Daycare centers have 20-30 children to supervise.

There is, however, a huge difference between preschool and daycare. Most of the people on here have been responding that daycare is structured and there are learning activities, etc. That's preschool, not daycare.

Answer 5

I think you can claim daycare expenses and that have a tax i.d whereas it might be hard to prove the same for babysitting. Daycares are also checked by the state for specific standards whereas babysitters are not. Most daycares charge a daily rate but you sign a contract stating that you will pay x amount of dollars to hold their spot and whether the kids are there or not you have to pay that amount. For a private in home daycare my friends' godchildren are charged $880 a month for 9 month old twins in Alabama.

Answer 6

It seems that it's a difference in the level of care provided.

Babysitting is merely supervising children.

Daycare is supervising children, leading educational activities, providing enriching experiences, etc.

Answer 7

it depends on your state laws.  the rules and regulations allow you to have a certain amount of children without applying for a permit for day care.  supervising the minimum amount of children would be considered babysitting.  i think you're allowed to have up to 2 or 4 children in new york state without applying for a permit.  if you have more than the limit your state permits than you are running a day care without a permit which is illegal.

I believe you will pay taxes with a day care because you are considered a business.

It is much more convenient to have a daycare because they provide you with workshops and assistance from all aspects of child care from handwashing to administering medicine to children.  in new york, you are tested for lead in the paint, you need a valid form of egress, etc. it's a bit inconvenient but it's better to go through the process than have something unfortunate happen to a child.

I have not come across anything with pay besides paying $200 for a two year permit but i hope this helped. you will have to research you state's regulations on day care.

Answer 8

I disagree with Annie with babysitting you usually know who the person is and have some type of control over that and can give more specific orders. The child also recieves more one on one attention. Plus they continue with one person instead of having to adjust to new people regulary which is not healthy for a child.

Where as in day care you have no idea who is caring for your child; usually they have a high turn over rate; most can not even speak the english language; they do not get the attention they need because hteir are too many children competing for the same attention.

And if they learned so much more than why is it that every and I mean EVERY child I know that has been raised in child care speach is still very poor and kids that are raised at home or with an indiviual speak by far clearer, use proper grammer etc...point made.

And their are a lot of babysitters that enjoy teaching children.

Charging for a babysitter depends on the parent and their affordablity and what the regualar basis is that you will have them.

If I had a child all week 8-10 hours a day I would charge $120 a week.

If a child was with me only a once in a while for a day I would make a daily rate if not an hourly rate. Say $30 a day or $6 an hour.

Good luck