In-Home Daycare vs. Center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP checking back. Wow, I didn't expect my thread to become so busy ... I can see that there are many opinions, and I respect that.

The option to tour is a good suggestion, though I have a feeling it will still be tough to figure it out. I don't have any personal recommendations to go by (e.g., a place used by a friend/family member), so reading up here from others is very helpful.

PP, or any other who does not mind to comment again, is age 3 the time to certainly transition to a daycare or preschool?

Do you have a local moms group you can join for recommendations? Or even ask here on DCUM with a burner email address?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks back, everyone. I am still wondering, for knowledge, are these in-home centers places where children stay until age 3, and then its the norm to send the child to preschool? Or, do some parents opt for daycare until it is time for Kindergarten? Sorry for all the questions.

I think this is pretty typical (sending to preschool at 3) but I have friends who kept their kids in the in home until 5, just like most people with nannies keep their kids with the nanny until kindergarden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I vastly prefer centers.

No TV or screen time, ever
More than 1 adult = safety and security/checks and balances
Center is usually open even when schools/govt are not
Socialization
More room to play/run around/experience a larger environment
Structured activities/daily report
Set learning goals, even from infancy; I truly believe my daughter is verbally advanced because of her daycare experience

It's fine that you prefer a center and your reasons are totally valid, but the bolded line above is complete bullshit - look around your kid's room and you will see children with varying verbal abilities and other skills. Just like how my 2 1/2 year old who has been in a home daycare (where she gets, gasp, screen time in the form of kids music!) since she was 4 months old speaks at a 3 1/2 year old's level (per her pediatrician and my MIL who is a speech pathologist at a major university. She also knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.

Before someone jumps all over me, yes, I forgot my closing parenthesis

NP. PP has the right to her beliefs about HER CHILD. The only "complete bullshit" here is your comment.

Do you REALLY think your kid is verbally advanced because of DAYCARE? COME ON!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Bright Horizons! Toured many centers and homes and knew right away that was our place.

On the contrary, we visited Bright Horizons Rosslyn and were so turned off by the fact that there was a one year old standing by the door crying the WHOLE TIME we were there and the Director totally blew her off saying "oh, she just started last week, she's been like that the whole time". I couldn't believe, that no one was even trying to bring her in.

That said, that was the ONLY center we visited that we didn't like. Others seemed wonderful but had long wait lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Bright Horizons! Toured many centers and homes and knew right away that was our place.

On the contrary, we visited Bright Horizons Rosslyn and were so turned off by the fact that there was a one year old standing by the door crying the WHOLE TIME we were there and the Director totally blew her off saying "oh, she just started last week, she's been like that the whole time". I couldn't believe, that no one was even trying to bring her in.

That said, that was the ONLY center we visited that we didn't like. Others seemed wonderful but had long wait lists.

Well, I've had no experiences with that one, but I love MY BH in Gambrills! It's not "contrary" to anything. You have your experience; I have mine, and they are different centers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I vastly prefer centers.

No TV or screen time, ever
More than 1 adult = safety and security/checks and balances
Center is usually open even when schools/govt are not
Socialization
More room to play/run around/experience a larger environment
Structured activities/daily report
Set learning goals, even from infancy; I truly believe my daughter is verbally advanced because of her daycare experience

It's fine that you prefer a center and your reasons are totally valid, but the bolded line above is complete bullshit - look around your kid's room and you will see children with varying verbal abilities and other skills. Just like how my 2 1/2 year old who has been in a home daycare (where she gets, gasp, screen time in the form of kids music!) since she was 4 months old speaks at a 3 1/2 year old's level (per her pediatrician and my MIL who is a speech pathologist at a major university. She also knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.

Before someone jumps all over me, yes, I forgot my closing parenthesis

NP. PP has the right to her beliefs about HER CHILD. The only "complete bullshit" here is your comment.

Do you REALLY think your kid is verbally advanced because of DAYCARE? COME ON!!!!!

NP. I feel the same way about our center. Don't care that you doubt it.

[Anonymous]

I feel like with a home daycare you really have to trust the provider since there are fewer checks and balances. We looked at both options and ended up in a center cause I just wasn't comfortable enough with any of the home providers. If I had a recommendation from someone I knew personally I might be more comfortable with a home daycare but otherwise it is just too scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep seeing "no TV" as a big recurring positive for center based care. Our in-home doesn't have a television, but even if it did, I'm not sure I'd mind if it was on occasionally. Are people really so rigid? Is there no TV at home as well? We have a 9 month old, so it may be different for older children.

It's not "rigid" to follow the AAP recommendation/many pediatrician's recommendation of no TV until 2. It's fine if you don't follow that, but it doesn't make me "rigid" that I do--it just means I'm following good advice!

I'm not sure your sensitivity is warranted. I'd define rigid as following any rule 100% of the time. There is no connotation associated with that. The AAP is softening their stance as wellhttp://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/06/461920593/kids-and-screen-time-a-peek-at-upcoming-guidance

We do the best we can with available expert guidance, but sometimes the experts aren't exactly sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep seeing "no TV" as a big recurring positive for center based care. Our in-home doesn't have a television, but even if it did, I'm not sure I'd mind if it was on occasionally. Are people really so rigid? Is there no TV at home as well? We have a 9 month old, so it may be different for older children.

It's not "rigid" to follow the AAP recommendation/many pediatrician's recommendation of no TV until 2. It's fine if you don't follow that, but it doesn't make me "rigid" that I do--it just means I'm following good advice!

I'm not sure your sensitivity is warranted. I'd define rigid as following any rule 100% of the time. There is no connotation associated with that. The AAP is softening their stance as wellhttp://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/06/461920593/kids-and-screen-time-a-peek-at-upcoming-guidance

We do the best we can with available expert guidance, but sometimes the experts aren't exactly sure.

Read your post again. It posed assumptions and was judge-y.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep seeing "no TV" as a big recurring positive for center based care. Our in-home doesn't have a television, but even if it did, I'm not sure I'd mind if it was on occasionally. Are people really so rigid? Is there no TV at home as well? We have a 9 month old, so it may be different for older children.

It's not "rigid" to follow the AAP recommendation/many pediatrician's recommendation of no TV until 2. It's fine if you don't follow that, but it doesn't make me "rigid" that I do--it just means I'm following good advice!

I'm not sure your sensitivity is warranted. I'd define rigid as following any rule 100% of the time. There is no connotation associated with that. The AAP is softening their stance as wellhttp://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/06/461920593/kids-and-screen-time-a-peek-at-upcoming-guidance

We do the best we can with available expert guidance, but sometimes the experts aren't exactly sure.

Read your post again. It posed assumptions and was judge-y.

Sorry, I should have defined myself as a new poster. I found nothing about the original post the was judge-y. I share her curiosity of whether people strictly adhere to that rule. And the reasoning bind that decision. Sorry to have offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I vastly prefer centers.

No TV or screen time, ever
More than 1 adult = safety and security/checks and balances
Center is usually open even when schools/govt are not
Socialization
More room to play/run around/experience a larger environment
Structured activities/daily report
Set learning goals, even from infancy; I truly believe my daughter is verbally advanced because of her daycare experience

It's fine that you prefer a center and your reasons are totally valid, but the bolded line above is complete bullshit - look around your kid's room and you will see children with varying verbal abilities and other skills. Just like how my 2 1/2 year old who has been in a home daycare (where she gets, gasp, screen time in the form of kids music!) since she was 4 months old speaks at a 3 1/2 year old's level (per her pediatrician and my MIL who is a speech pathologist at a major university. She also knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.

Before someone jumps all over me, yes, I forgot my closing parenthesis

NP. PP has the right to her beliefs about HER CHILD. The only "complete bullshit" here is your comment.

Do you REALLY think your kid is verbally advanced because of DAYCARE? COME ON!!!!!

NP. I feel the same way about our center. Don't care that you doubt it.

Another new poster and I absolutely believe that as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Bright Horizons! Toured many centers and homes and knew right away that was our place.

On the contrary, we visited Bright Horizons Rosslyn and were so turned off by the fact that there was a one year old standing by the door crying the WHOLE TIME we were there and the Director totally blew her off saying "oh, she just started last week, she's been like that the whole time". I couldn't believe, that no one was even trying to bring her in.

That said, that was the ONLY center we visited that we didn't like. Others seemed wonderful but had long wait lists.

Well, I've had no experiences with that one, but I love MY BH in Gambrills! It's not "contrary" to anything. You have your experience; I have mine, and they are different centers!

Yes exactly - you can't just say Bright Horizons is great -- there are so many different centers all of differing quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I vastly prefer centers.

No TV or screen time, ever
More than 1 adult = safety and security/checks and balances
Center is usually open even when schools/govt are not
Socialization
More room to play/run around/experience a larger environment
Structured activities/daily report
Set learning goals, even from infancy; I truly believe my daughter is verbally advanced because of her daycare experience

It's fine that you prefer a center and your reasons are totally valid, but the bolded line above is complete bullshit - look around your kid's room and you will see children with varying verbal abilities and other skills. Just like how my 2 1/2 year old who has been in a home daycare (where she gets, gasp, screen time in the form of kids music!) since she was 4 months old speaks at a 3 1/2 year old's level (per her pediatrician and my MIL who is a speech pathologist at a major university. She also knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.

Before someone jumps all over me, yes, I forgot my closing parenthesis

NP. PP has the right to her beliefs about HER CHILD. The only "complete bullshit" here is your comment.

Do you REALLY think your kid is verbally advanced because of DAYCARE? COME ON!!!!!

NP. I feel the same way about our center. Don't care that you doubt it.

Another new poster and I absolutely believe that as well.

I mean great for you and your kids. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a center and my infant daughter is at a home daycare. I definitely prefer the center. One day the home provider overslept and didn't answer the door. Plus the take home report has a lot of misspellings of simple words (poop) that I worry what she's teaching the toddlers.

Oh please -- half of the assistants in our daycare barely speak any English. Trust me, our daily sheets have TONS of spelling errors and I guarantee my kid isn't being taught proper grammar. But honestly, at 3 years old, does it really matter? I doubt your daycare provider is teaching anyone how to spell poop.

PP here. At my son's center, they speak English and send handwritten notes home everyday on what he did. No misspellings so far. And they are teaching him letters and words. He's three yrs old and comes home with his "homework". It could be a picture of a bee with B-E-E spelled out for him to trace and color. I'm not trying to make you feel bad, but yes at three years old, they should be trying to teach him something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks back, everyone. I am still wondering, for knowledge, are these in-home centers places where children stay until age 3, and then its the norm to send the child to preschool? Or, do some parents opt for daycare until it is time for Kindergarten? Sorry for all the questions.

I think you want to minimize the amount of transitions you do. For both you and child. It's awful touring and interviewing and getting references and hoping you picked a good one. Choose a center that has a preschool program and stay there until Kindergarten.