Why did you choose a center over an in home daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have worked in two home daycares and in two childcare centers. I would never work at another home daycare or put my children in one. Yes, the parents may love them but once the doors close, and the parents are gone, it's completely different. Usually there isn't an extra set of hands or eyes. You really need an extra set of eyes. Providers say they don't do this (no tv watching or with holding food) but I witness it. They are lovely in front of parents and then horrible to the kids. Child care centers are a bit more secure to me. Extra eyes and hands. You may not have that one stable person in the classroom but you will have teachers that will get to know your child closely and care for them. Child care centers are more strict. It's VERY strict actually. A lot of things that we, as teachers, must do or must not do. It's annoying on a teachers end because it's chaotic, but it's worth it. I understand that not all home daycare centers are like this but I'm just saying, be careful.

Its odd because my best friend, who has been a teacher in FCPS, worked in center day cares (2 states) all throughout college and graduate school and expresses the exact opposite sentiments about home vs. center, the level of engagement- chaos, attention, etc. and has her children in a home.

I'm not saying your experience doesn't ring 100% true. Its just so frustrating because I am sure her experience rings 100% true as well. So what are parents to do?!

But has she actually worked at a home daycare?

[Anonymous]

We love the center our daughter attends. We looked at it and an in-home daycare, so not a huge sample size, but the reasons we chose the center included:

-More oversight/eyes on children
-Stringent licensing requirements
-NAEYC accreditation
-Professionalism of administrators

Really, we just got a better vibe from the center. It's not small, but the rooms are warm and happy. The teachers seem to enjoy their work and the kids have fun. The in-home center was fine, but we weren't thrilled with the idea of one provider caring for four (or more) children all by herself with no break and no one to help her. She was very nice and had plenty of certifications and training, but it just seemed like too much.

Over a year later, we're really glad with the choice we made. Our daughter is so happy to go to "school," and talks about her friends and teachers constantly. Couldn't be happier with the care she receives!