What does your Day Care do that sets them apart from other places?

[Anonymous]

What are some of the things you love about your day care? Is is an activity or event? An extra service? The way they relate to you kids? The other parents?

The other day my DH and I were talking of how we couldn't be happier with our DD day care. Then we began to wonder if others had as many positive things to say about their experiences.

[Anonymous]

A couple of things, not the least of which is that it is five minutes from my house, almost never closes for weather, watermain breaks, loss of electricity, etc. (they find other sites and move the kids), and has programs for kids ages 2-13 all year round so I can have all of my kids in one place for drop off and pick up. As far as the program, one of my favorite things is how they are so flexible and easy going about making sure rules get followed. I'm not expressing this well, so I'll give you examples. Rule is that you have to wear close toed shoes. My kids, one in particular, hates anything but flip flops. So we take her to school in flip flops and once she gets there, the teacher has her change. Rule is you have to wear regular clothes (no pajamas, princess dresses, superhero capes, etc.). But, it's ok to wear them and show the teacher, then take the costume off and store it in the cubby for the day. No meltdowns. No complaining from the kids. Everyone starts the day on a good note.

Another example is that my kids like their own breakfast and they like to take it with them and eat with their friends instead of eating what the school offers. No problem, that's fine. (This was a huge problem with a previous daycare provider we had). It's like they work hard to make the entire experience positive for the parents and the kids without compromising safety or programming. We have almost no staff turnover and the staff really are sweet with the kids. And, the programming is excellent.

[Anonymous]

Ours pays their teachers really well and provides great benefits which leads to less turn over and great stability for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours pays their teachers really well and provides great benefits which leads to less turn over and great stability for the kids.

Would you mind sharing the location?

[Anonymous]

Yes, if you have a great daycare, please name.

[Anonymous]

That they treat the kids like they are family, the caregivers have been the same in the 4 years that my kids have been there (and for the 8 or so years before that), kids get home-made food every day, they don't close for inclement weather, and they allow part-time. In-home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple of things, not the least of which is that it is five minutes from my house, almost never closes for weather, watermain breaks, loss of electricity, etc. (they find other sites and move the kids), and has programs for kids ages 2-13 all year round so I can have all of my kids in one place for drop off and pick up. As far as the program, one of my favorite things is how they are so flexible and easy going about making sure rules get followed. I'm not expressing this well, so I'll give you examples. Rule is that you have to wear close toed shoes. My kids, one in particular, hates anything but flip flops. So we take her to school in flip flops and once she gets there, the teacher has her change. Rule is you have to wear regular clothes (no pajamas, princess dresses, superhero capes, etc.). But, it's ok to wear them and show the teacher, then take the costume off and store it in the cubby for the day. No meltdowns. No complaining from the kids. Everyone starts the day on a good note.

Another example is that my kids like their own breakfast and they like to take it with them and eat with their friends instead of eating what the school offers. No problem, that's fine. (This was a huge problem with a previous daycare provider we had). It's like they work hard to make the entire experience positive for the parents and the kids without compromising safety or programming. We have almost no staff turnover and the staff really are sweet with the kids. And, the programming is excellent.

This sounds like a wonderful place. Could you please share the name?

[Anonymous]

It is close to our house and the teachers seem to genuinely like my son. It feeds him breakfast and a hot lunch every day, and he usually likes the food. There is minimal staff turnover. They have an outside play area, and music class and spanish lessons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours pays their teachers really well and provides great benefits which leads to less turn over and great stability for the kids.

Would you mind sharing the location?

US Kids downtown

[Anonymous]

Here are the things I like about our school:

-- Very low staff turnover because they treat and pay them well.
-- Offers PT options (2 and 3 days a week), which I took advantage of for 2 years.
-- Offers extracuricullar activities like soccer, karate, and dance so weekends are eaten up by these classes.
-- Has Spanish and music classes twice a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are the things I like about our school:

-- Very low staff turnover because they treat and pay them well.
-- Offers PT options (2 and 3 days a week), which I took advantage of for 2 years.
-- Offers extracuricullar activities like soccer, karate, and dance so weekends are eaten up by these classes.
-- Has Spanish and music classes twice a week.

Where is this place? Sounds like a dream come true!

[Anonymous]

Mine is an in-home, and the providers LOVE my babies. They seem genuinely happy to see them every morning, text and call for updates if one is ill or out. When my son needed a medical procedure they both seemed as worried as I was. The fact that my kids are in a loving, nurturing environment all day is a real relief for me. I made it on time to pick them up during this week's horrible traffic hell, but after it was all over I thought to myself that while I wouldn't have relished the idea of being without them for a night, I couldn't think of a better place for them to be other than safe with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the things I like about our school:

-- Very low staff turnover because they treat and pay them well.
-- Offers PT options (2 and 3 days a week), which I took advantage of for 2 years.
-- Offers extracuricullar activities like soccer, karate, and dance so weekends are eaten up by these classes.
-- Has Spanish and music classes twice a week.

Where is this place? Sounds like a dream come true!

St. James Children's School in Potomac.