If you like your daycare despite the negatives, what are the negatives?

[Anonymous]

I wish they'd go outside no matter the weather or how wet the playground is. I'd happily provide extra back up clothes, or shoes, or whatever is needed. They are ok on getting them out, but I feel we have way too many days that it's sunny but the playground is wet from previous rain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved our daycare until DD got to age 3.5. She didn't need to nap anymore and if she did she was awake until 10pm. She only went 3 days a week so on the off days we didn't do a nap and she was asleep by 7.30. Tried talking to the daycare and they said she didn't have to actually sleep but she had to lay down and it was for 2 hours. They said she could look at books, but she couldn't read so that didn't last more than about 10 mins and then she would fall asleep.
This ended up being the reason we pulled her out of daycare when we did. We adjusted our work scheduled and found a sitter for the afternoons.
Aside from that we loved everything else.

In VA, it is the law that full day programs have to have nap/rest time for kids under the age of 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish they'd go outside no matter the weather or how wet the playground is. I'd happily provide extra back up clothes, or shoes, or whatever is needed. They are ok on getting them out, but I feel we have way too many days that it's sunny but the playground is wet from previous rain.

Similar complaint. My biggest complaint now that my kid is 3 is lack of outside time in the winter or after precipitation. Our in-home daycare has a wonderful outdoor play space but they just don't use it enough during the colder months. My kid is bouncing off the walls in the evening and it's not always feasible to take him to another playground after pick-up.

Communication can be an occasional problem as well, although we've kind of gotten used to needing to prod if we need information.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, the only negative that I can come up with for my DS's daycare (he's 4) is the tight parking. It's a real pain, especially in the evening when I am rushing. But otherwise, love everything else.

A close friend was telling me about a negative at her daycare today - for every sickness (no matter what - a cold all the way to more serious), the center requires a note from the doctor before returning to school. I thought most centers would rely on parent trust - for example, 24 hours after being fever free or starting on antibiotics. But this center requires doctor note, which is onerous and expensive.

[Anonymous]

Commute! Great day care and reasonable price. Located near my husbands previous job but not now. We are leaving DD for now since we are both job hunting. No point in changing until we are settled and if all goes well my new job will be nearby. But right now the commute is horrible. Great teachers and great space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been frustrated that my daycare seems to be closing/delaying more than it used to. But when that's the first complaint you think of, that's pretty good.

Wonders in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the only negative that I can come up with for my DS's daycare (he's 4) is the tight parking. It's a real pain, especially in the evening when I am rushing. But otherwise, love everything else.

A close friend was telling me about a negative at her daycare today - for every sickness (no matter what - a cold all the way to more serious), the center requires a note from the doctor before returning to school. I thought most centers would rely on parent trust - for example, 24 hours after being fever free or starting on antibiotics. But this center requires doctor note, which is onerous and expensive.

I actually like the idea of a doctor’s note. I don’t trust some parents to not try to bring their child back too soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the only negative that I can come up with for my DS's daycare (he's 4) is the tight parking. It's a real pain, especially in the evening when I am rushing. But otherwise, love everything else.

A close friend was telling me about a negative at her daycare today - for every sickness (no matter what - a cold all the way to more serious), the center requires a note from the doctor before returning to school. I thought most centers would rely on parent trust - for example, 24 hours after being fever free or starting on antibiotics. But this center requires doctor note, which is onerous and expensive.

I actually like the idea of a doctor’s note. I don’t trust some parents to not try to bring their child back too soon.

Aompretns need to take more time off and spend a copay to get a note? My pcp will see a child same day for a sick visit to evaluate and prescribe anything. Seriously doubt they'll see a healthy kid at a moments notice to give me a note.

[Anonymous]

We love our daycare (the BCC Shoe), but parking for drop-off and, especially, pick-up is terrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love our daycare (the BCC Shoe), but parking for drop-off and, especially, pick-up is terrible

I'm a PP at EW Shoe with the same complaint; I had hoped you all had a better parking situation!

It's such a minimal complaint in the grand scheme of things, though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love our daycare but the negative is definitely the price.

Price is the biggest negative at ours too. Also, as my kid approaches K, the lack of any sort of focus on reading and writing is starting to trouble me ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love our daycare but the negative is definitely the price.

Price is the biggest negative at ours too. Also, as my kid approaches K, the lack of any sort of focus on reading and writing is starting to trouble me ...

Why? Do you want your kid to be bored in kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love our daycare but the negative is definitely the price.

Price is the biggest negative at ours too. Also, as my kid approaches K, the lack of any sort of focus on reading and writing is starting to trouble me ...

Why? Do you want your kid to be bored in kindergarten?

Don't they typically start that well before Kindergarten? My DC daycare (which is not that academically focused or rigorous) has started working on letters with my 2 year old in "preparation" for starting PK3 next year. I mean it's not reading or writing per se but she is at least starting to recognize letters and be able to spell out words as she sees them. If they're starting that already at 2 yo, yeah I'd be a little concerned if somewhere else nothing at all was happening at 4 yo.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, not much of anything. If I had to pick something, I wish they emphasized reading more such that the kids would know their sight words by now (for 5yos heading to K in 2019).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love our daycare (the BCC Shoe), but parking for drop-off and, especially, pick-up is terrible

It hasn't gotten much worse in the last few months. I've been there for many years and it used to be pretty unusual to be unable to get a spot. There must be more tenants/guests of tenants using the spots, but it definitely has made things a little less convenient.