Not Loving New Daycare - How bad for kids to move?

[Anonymous]

The daycare we loved for our son, that our daughter was suppose to join this September no longer had space because of new guidelines. My big things when looking at a daycare are food and outdoor time. Don’t really care for curriculum as much as I want my kid running around and playing. Old daycare they were outside for three hours per day on a beautiful playground. New daycare has no playground, kids are only outside for a chain gang walk around a parking lot. Didn’t realize I would hate it so much. Also realizing that the classroom is more set up like Kindergarten for my 3 year old with no play areas. Not really sure what my 18 month old does all day and communication with teachers is hard because not all speak fluent English.

However this is the 4th daycare for my three year old. (Started one at 18 months but then husband decided to leave job and become stay at home Dad one month later. Started morning preschool for him a year later. Husband grew a part time side hustle into full time business and 3 year old went to the daycare we loved full time in February but got taken out in March because of Covid.) He transitions with new people well and doesn’t appear to be an issue. 18 month old is in the middle of stranger danger and still crying at drop off. This daycare is her first time in a daycare as my husband had her full time and then my Mom watched her in February until Covid closure.

Is it wrong to put son in a fifth daycare setting and move daughter after only a couple weeks? It’s just not feeling right. May have the opportunity for a new daycare that would check my food and outdoor time boxes.

[Anonymous]

Better to move them and be in a better situation than keep them in a so so.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine, if you are confident the new daycare will be a place you want them to stay. Do they have a list of parents you can talk to as references?

[Anonymous]

If you list the current or new daycares we can help. Pre covid we had a kid at a center that had no playground. It was a major drawback that was balanced by other benefits. However we did not go back there post covid because there was so little outside time.

[Anonymous]

You will be happier and they will be happier & healthier at a daycare that values lots of outdoor play at this time.

[Anonymous]

How bad it it to stay?

[Anonymous]

Your three year old doesn’t remember the first care situations so don’t worry that somehow this is too big. Don’t let your 18 mo get used to a place if he is just going to have to leave and go through adjustment all over again.

[Anonymous]

Move. My child has been in the same daycare for 2 plus year. It is a daycare center that has a small playground learning though play & also has an awesome curriculum. That's the only one he ever attends, and my second child is going there next year.

To me, my priorities are safety, cleanliness, open communicaction, play based learning & teacher quality. There is a daycare in my area spend all the time outdoor in the mud, snow, rain, river, hiking, cpimbing, all about nature, and they don't kid when they taste paint or kiss a frog. That is too much for me to handle. So, you find whatever you like, and settle for it.

[Anonymous]

Move. The 3 year old is close enough to K that it really doesn’t matter, and getting your 18 mo old in a situation you like is huge. The way I see it, you’re going to move her now or later. Might as well do it now.

But don’t rush the move. Really make sure it’s the right fit. And be willing to wait for spots to open up in the right place if you have to (maybe even talk to the old place you liked about getting on their waitlist for both kids if that’s possible). No point in moving if you are going to be compromising on the next place too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your three year old doesn’t remember the first care situations so don’t worry that somehow this is too big. Don’t let your 18 mo get used to a place if he is just going to have to leave and go through adjustment all over again.

This. In your case, I'd move now. It's obviously bugging you. I stayed in a so so situation for way too long, overvaluing continuity of care. My kid does not even remember his infancy to toddlerhood nanny. He is 4 now, and he has no concept of this nanny person that cared for him. My older kid does not even remember the daycare place she used to go daily until age 2.5. I know that there can be impacts even if the kids don't remember, but switching care situations for the 5th time, while not ideal, is not something that will have long term effects.