Would you switch a 2-year old from a day care center to a small home day care?
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Anonymous
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I have the opportunity to switch my 2-year old to a small home daycare center in my neighborhood. My 2-year old has been in a larger daycare environment since she was 6 months old so she is used to lots of kids, multiple teachers, etc. I hadn't really been planning on making a switch but a spot came open for her age in a home day care much closer to our house. The new place comes highly recommended, would cut down on our commute, and is $300/month cheaper. But I'm wondering how my daughter will handle the switch in environments, and whether it makes more sense to have her in a bigger class as she gets older and prepares for pre-k.
Guidance? Advice? |
Anonymous
| Having done both, but in the opposite order, I wouldn't do it. $300 a month is a lot, but the programming in a center is so much better- and I was in a highly sought after home daycare. The second my youngest was old enough, I made the move to a center. |
Anonymous
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I wouldn't, unless you plan on a private preschool/preK path. My kid was in a largish center (~18 kids in his class at 4-5) and I think it prepared him very well for K. I think a good center provides more interaction and language development.
That said, a loving environment -- large or small -- is most important. |
Anonymous
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Honestly, it sounds ideal, but for me it would come down to practicality.
If you work for the Fed. Gov't and you large center follows that schedule for closings, etc., I'd stick with that. If the small home-based follows the county school closings--I definitely would NOT put my kid there--b/c the schools close at a drop of a hat (at least in MoCo.) If they follow the same schedule, the small day care will be fine. There's no evidence that a large day care will better prepare your kid for kindergarten. |
Anonymous
| A 2 yr old doesn't need to be programmed all day so as long as you like the in home I would change. The location and the savings would be the difference. It is actually good for kids to spend time and learn from a range of ages rather than all same age peers - same age peers aren't always the best role models and if that is who they spend the majority of their time, that is who they are learning the most from. Kids adapt to kindergarten from a variety of child care arrangements. You won't be limiting or disadvantaging a 2 yr old by any way by having them in a smaller environment. so for me, savings and location win out and I prefer smaller, homier, more natural (less academic, structured, programmed) day environments. programmed/structured |
Anonymous
| Why not look at what matters most here: the individual caregivers. Do an entire morning observation at the center and then in the home. You'll know which place is better. |
Anonymous
| I agree it depends on the particular home daycare and the particular center. Does this home daycare have several kids close-ish to her age? My kid was very social at that age and I wouldn't want him to be in a daycare with only babies. |
Anonymous
We moved from an inhome to a center for this reason. If the inhome has mostly toddlers and preschool aged kids and age appropriate activities during the day, I might make the switch. If the inhome has mostly infants and babies, I wouldn't. |
Anonymous
| In home daycares have less oversight usually than daycare centers so I'd be hesitant to put my child in one honestly. |
Anonymous
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Thanks all, OP here. I visited the home day care and decided against switching. The other kids range in age quite a bit and I don't think my daughter would adjust well to not being with kids her age. I think if we had started in that type of center it would be fine, but having been with lots of kids in her age range for 1.5 years, I don't think it makes sense to switch her. Plus, the home center doesn't provide meals so we'd have to deal with that everyday, which would be inconvenient and would also cut into the cost savings.
I think we will stay put for now! |
Anonymous
Good choice. At 2+ kids should be in a center in a group with kids their own age. We started at a home daycare at 3 months a switched for a center at 2 years old. The center did not provide meals. |
Anonymous
I agree. We're at an in-home and plan to move to preschool when he turns 2. Most of the other kids also move at around the same age. It's great for 2 and under (especially since the other kids are around the same age), but I wouldn't start a child at 2 unless it's very different than our in-home. |
Anonymous
| I'd keep the larger center. Better for older kids (as opposed to infants). |