Bright Horizons is for-profit, publicly traded? Was anyone else aware of this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know you could just “sign up” to send your kid to a BH; I thought they were all affiliated with a particular employer or group of employers. My firm has a backup childcare benefit with them but I haven’t used it yet.

There are some BH centers that are affiliated with and give preference to certain employers or even certain buildings, but many (most?) others are centers where you can enroll regardless of who your employer is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with Bright Horizons over a nanny and another local center in Georgetown. I prefer the accountability of a center versus a nanny who is alone with your kid for most of the day, and I felt there was more thought, purpose, and clearer standards at BH than at the local center.

There were specific rules and policies for everything, because there is a big business and corporate offices behind every decision made.

That said, i think there are large variations between BH centers, and a lot of that depends on the staff-- and specifically the center's director. We liked our center's director, whose door was always open and we felt like listened to us. We also had some incredible teachers.

Also, read the WHC thread and realize that this for-profit chain is much more closely regulated than a religious institution, and be thankful for it.

Well there is a specific issue with religious institutions being exempt from licensing regulations, which is a problem.

It doesn't mean a BH center is safer or has more oversight than any other licensed center.

Yes, the comparison was made to a religious center, as an example of a "non-profit" daycare.

Unlicensed religious daycares are different from licensed nonprofit daycares

[Anonymous]

I am a licensed at home daycare and I am “for-profit”. I would say most daycares, center or at Home, are for-profit. Maybe church based daycares or co-ops are not for profit but those are the exception.

On the subject of bright horizons. Do bright horizons, specifically in DC have attached playground or do they all set up zones on the concrete outside of buildings for the kids to play in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a licensed at home daycare and I am “for-profit”. I would say most daycares, center or at Home, are for-profit. Maybe church based daycares or co-ops are not for profit but those are the exception.

On the subject of bright horizons. Do bright horizons, specifically in DC have attached playground or do they all set up zones on the concrete outside of buildings for the kids to play in?

In Montgomery County, MCCA and Wonders are two local nonprofit organizations that each run multiple programs. AFAIK they are not religiously affiliated and they are definitely licensed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a licensed at home daycare and I am “for-profit”. I would say most daycares, center or at Home, are for-profit. Maybe church based daycares or co-ops are not for profit but those are the exception.

On the subject of bright horizons. Do bright horizons, specifically in DC have attached playground or do they all set up zones on the concrete outside of buildings for the kids to play in?

In Montgomery County, MCCA and Wonders are two local nonprofit organizations that each run multiple programs. AFAIK they are not religiously affiliated and they are definitely licensed.

Good point. That’s why I tried to cover my bases with saying “most”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a licensed at home daycare and I am “for-profit”. I would say most daycares, center or at Home, are for-profit. Maybe church based daycares or co-ops are not for profit but those are the exception.

On the subject of bright horizons. Do bright horizons, specifically in DC have attached playground or do they all set up zones on the concrete outside of buildings for the kids to play in?

In Montgomery County, MCCA and Wonders are two local nonprofit organizations that each run multiple programs. AFAIK they are not religiously affiliated and they are definitely licensed.

Good point. That’s why I tried to cover my bases with saying “most”.

Most of the unlicensed church programs are part time preschools or aftercare for K-12 parochial schools.

[Anonymous]

RDCA (multiple locations), Rock Spring Children's Center, and Karasik are also nonprofit, licensed daycares and also frequently mentioned on these boards.

[Anonymous]

YMCA is another

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a licensed at home daycare and I am “for-profit”. I would say most daycares, center or at Home, are for-profit. Maybe church based daycares or co-ops are not for profit but those are the exception.

On the subject of bright horizons. Do bright horizons, specifically in DC have attached playground or do they all set up zones on the concrete outside of buildings for the kids to play in?

This depends on the space and differs between centers.