Oftentimes families, especially single parents are just too busy to research and find the right daycare. As a parent I have seen many people posting in forums that they need child-care "that same night". My intent in this topic is to provide resources to families to give a better idea of where to go and what the options for child-care are, as well as talk about a personal experience that I've had with a provider.

First, what is your preference: center based or home-based? Centers usually provide curriculums, developmentally appropriate toys and activities and expose your children to a variety of social experiences with children from across your city or town. At a center the teachers are usually (but not always) degreed in Child Education or a related field with a director who supervises the teachers in each age-group. Home-based care is usually a mom that stays home, and may or may not be a certified teacher, but in my experience they usually are driven to create schedules, curriculums, and developmentally appropriate acitivities for the children. Home-based is a more intimate environment where someone literally "opens their home" to take care of your child/children. The social aspect of the home-based daycare could be more or less depending on the caretaker and their efforts.

Pros of a center: More than likely accredited (please check with center); provides meals and developmentally appropriate care (always check); safe environment where you usually have to sign paperwork and check your child in and out everyday; structure.

Cons of a center: Depending on the teacher to child ratio could be too many children in the environment for that particular teacher (although state has standards); teachers might be complacent if they have no help or cannot structure the environment (see director); can be more illness passed around (it happens).

Pros of a home-based; more attention; just like home with the right person; friendships more stable due to a provider being more relaxed in their home environment and some of the children may be their own.

Cons of a home-based daycare: provider is not a certified teacher and may know little about develpoment; watch for the television and how it is used; provider may not be licensed and therefore safety and personal issues could be a problem.

Also, there are centers that are totally play-based curriculum where the children are divided into play-groups, or the center might be child-centered or achievement oriented--so please take time in finding the definitions of what these are and if they work for your family.

So with all these choices for care-- what is the solution in finding a daycare that is reasonable in rates, but provides a fun, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment for your children? I have an opinion for this: simply make a list of your expectations and see how your child fits into the situation. "YMCA" is always a good option for the undecided because they are usually accredited and have a sound curriculum, but this may not be true to every local "YMCA", so you have to find out.

Lastly, I share a lasting experience that I had with two separate daycare providers: One was a center, one a home. In the center I noticed changes in my child's behaviors after three weeks of attendance like social withdrawal and my child cried excessively everytime we left to go to daycare. Parents--if this happens talk to a director--its not a normal thing. It could have been the other children but at the time my child was two and talking about not liking the teacher. The second experience I had was when I noticed signs of neglect in a provider: First it was piles of dishes (she claimed a broken washer at first), food not picked up off the chairs (once again--she claimed a busy day) and children that looked a bit dirty. I figured it was because they were so focused on playing and having fun that it didnt matter, but then I noticed 4-5 televisions were on all the time and that the children were always "napping". I then later heard from an outside source (not sure how credible) that this provider was taking the children shopping with her and leaving them in the car for over 15 minutes. Needless to say my child was there only a week and gone--no explanations!

I hope this has been informative and in the future I hope to post specific information about daycares like rates and what the environment is like--I will go there for you!

Sincerely,

Jenevieve.