Thinking of switching to HOME day care

[Anonymous]

DC goes to a center day care. The staff turnover has been very stressful for both DC and us. There are various people taking care of the children throughout the day. Just as DC gets used to one provider, she leaves or transfers to another room. We're thinking of switching to a home day care setting instead. If you've switched from center day care to home setting, I'd love to get some feedback. We're thinking of the Infant Toddler Program in Northern VA.

[Anonymous]

We use Infant Toddler and we love them. Like any network, you'll probably want to interview multiple providers to find one that seems like a good fit for your family. We specifically went the in-home route because of the reason you mentioned - high staff turnover at the centers we looked at and our desire to have our child develop a strong bond with a single caregiver.

The only draw back with Infant Toddler is that by the time your child is 3, they will almost certainly be ready for more structured and formal teaching than is usually possible in an in-home setting with mixed ages. We plan to move our son to a preschool when he's 3, but our infant will stay with the in-home provider. Even though it will be a pain to deal with 2 separate drop offs and pick ups, it is worth it to us.

[Anonymous]

I am a provider in Fairfax, VA. I have been a provider for over 17 years. I do a preschool curriculum every day with my toddlers. They are learning and doing activities all day long, so I disagree that an in-home provider can't do this for a child. They certainly can and I include this in my tuition.
Infant Toddler is great, but there are also many great in-home providers out there who are not in that network.

[Anonymous]

I'm 9:32. I didn't say that all in-home providers are unable to teach preschool. I said centers that are able to group children together by age are more likely to be able to do more structured, formal teaching than some in home providers are able to do when they have mixed ages. For example, my provider currently has 2 infants under 6 months. They are time sucks. While she does do some preschool curriculum with the 2 year olds, I certainly don't expect her to do this at the expense of the infants (one of which is mine).

[Anonymous]

Oh I know you weren't saying that. I was just adding in another prospective. I am fortunate to have an assistant so I am able to have mixed ages and still do curriculum, etc. But I also do curriculum for the infants, there is a plan every day of activities for them as well 0 months on up.

[Anonymous]

Ugh I meant to say perspective . . . lol sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a provider in Fairfax, VA. I have been a provider for over 17 years. I do a preschool curriculum every day with my toddlers. They are learning and doing activities all day long, so I disagree that an in-home provider can't do this for a child. They certainly can and I include this in my tuition.
Infant Toddler is great, but there are also many great in-home providers out there who are not in that network.

I agree with this. I am in an area that is saturated with childcare providers, yet not one is on the infant/toddler program.

I myself have a permit through Fairfax County Office for Children, am CPR and First Aid certified, and a participant on the USDA food program. I am not far from the metro, and am right off the beltway at Telegraph road south. You dont mention where you are looking but if you are in my area and are interested, I do have space available

You can email me at [e-mail]

I also work with the kids as well, and we get outside everyday, weather permitting of course.