Home Daycares...like them or not?

Question

Home Daycares...like them or not?

Answer 1

love them,I use to run and operate one for 10 years ,every time I hear of someone opening up one I get over excited ,to me it was very rewarding ,it did me a lot of good ,I just love kids the infants to 5 year olds were my favorite,I still have poems and a few books I won't get rid of ,I even have some of my kids projects they did

Answer 2

I like them. I am really fortunate to have found a really good home sitter that I couldn't be more grateful for. She is absolutely wonderful with my son. Can be hard to find, but I think better as other daycares can have too many children, and I want the most quality time spent with my son as possible.  She has the same ideas, etc., with childrearing as myself, and we work together with any issues that may arise with my son, regarding how we explain things, talk to him,etc. It has a much more personal feel, than being in a 'business' daycare.

Answer 3

I have seen wonderful home day care programs and others that are gim. Look for friendly, clean nurturing environments. Look to see that the workers greet each child by name and are interested in the child as an individual. In NY day care homes must be licensed if they care for more than 3 children and the caregivers must attend training sessions throughout the year. Ask the workers what courses they have taken. They should have a certificate proving they went.

Answer 4

i spent 13 years as a licensed home care provider and 12 as a center director.  i think there is quality in both situations.  a home based facility and a center based facility are only as good as the person who is in charge and the facility they run.  there are good and bad in both.  there are pros and cons to both.  a center always has staff to keep the facility open where as a home facility may have to close if the provider is ill or is on vacation.  a center has more people around to keep an eye on what's going on where as a home normally has only the one provider.

the key is to do your homework carefully and check everything out.  both can be a positive experience IF you are in the right place.

Answer 5

Not really, I guess it just depends on how much you know the person you are leaving them with...

Answer 6

There are several "ups and downs" of day care settings in the home.  It may be more convenient to pick up your child from a home, as where there are no waiting lines or other "hooplah" to go through.  

But, what type of person is running the day care?  What else are they involved in?  Can they devote their ENTIRE day to your child?

Answer 7

I can't say I like them...I prefer Childcare schools, basically for safety reasons. For instance, most of Childcare now have cameras throughout the whole school, 2 or more teachers in the room...and I believe that decreases the risk of child abuse...

Answer 8

msdnmo 's answer is very similar to mine.  I've worked in centers and I'm presently licensed for family child care.  Both are only as good as the person running it/staff.  

As a home-provider...I can't provide the programs/experiences as I would like...but my families always tell me that if I went "center" I wouldn't be able to offer what I do now.  So I guess it balances it out.  

Some "down-sides" from a home-provider's view

I wish I could offer "centers" but my child care is in main living area and that's not possible.  So I have to be a little more structured to see that they receive explorations in every area.

A center is always open whereas sometimes we as home-providers have to close for unseen circumstances (for example when I miscarried...I had to call them the next morning to say I was unable to care for the children...didn't give them much time to plan)...You have to be flexible for that and have other care ready in case your main caregiver can not care for your child.  It's just the way it is.

I wouldn't necessarily consider this a "down-side"...depends on your viewpoint:

As a home-provider...it is more of a "family" with the different age groups.  A center usually has one age group per age.  What do you want for your child?

On the plus side:

We tend to be able to allow more flexibility.  

It's definately much more personal.

I feel that there is more 1:1 in a home setting.

It's cheaper (unfortunately for us...but we have to consider that we don't have building costs).

Since we have such a small group all the time...I can do more in depth/messy projects.

Meals are often healthier...with more fresh fruits/vegetables (but that could be just me :-)) because we don't have as many children to buy for and we don't need to plan it way in the future.  

There are other pros and cons...but that should give you some to think about.  Something else to consider, beyond your own personal opinion of home daycares vs day care centers is that of the child...some children just can not handle day care centers because of the amount of children but others can not succeed in home child cares because of one reason or another.  So you need to see what "fits" for the child.

Answer 9

I don't really like them, I prefer a child day care school.

Answer 10

I would have to check the neighborhood and the person babysitting, I don't just leave my kid anywhere, but, they are not bad by anymeans

Answer 11

Not every daycare is perfect there are even bad facilities. It takes research about any childcare provider. there are question to ask things to look for and many random pop up visits.  if a daycare doesnt allow pop up visits even if your child is not enrolled, and they dont have a good reason. then they probably have something to hide.

Answer 12

i would prefer daycares at parks and stuff there could be things going on in the home un less you know the person personnally