Seeking Your Opinion on In-home Child Care Verse Child Care Centers

Updated on October 11, 2008
T.S. asks from Burnsville, MN
12 answers

Hello all,
I am going to college(20 years later than expected) and I am writing a research paper on Child Care; In-Home verses Centers. I am looking to get your opions as to what you think about the child to provider ratios in both settings, how the children have developed in both settings and anything else that may come to your mind. One type of research I am including is personal inetviews and blogs so I thought I would see if any of you all would be willing to help me out and give me your opinions.

Thank you for your time!

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T.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

T.,

I have two children, ages 3 and 16 mos. They have been going to a in-home daycare that focuses on infants and toddlers. Their provider is wonderful.

I'd be happy to help you in any way. You can contact me if you'd like to do an interview.

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A.M.

answers from Appleton on

Hi T.,

I have a 15month old daughter that attends an in-home un-licensed daycare. She has attended since she was 12wks old. If you need some help please feel free to email me. I would be happy to help you in anyway that I can.

I have had a GREAT experience, and wouldn't change a thing!

Good Luck!

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H.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

T.: I have three children ages 9, 7 and 4. They have all been in daycare at one point or another. We visited home day cares when our middle child was born, and I was never comfortable with it, especially with someone I did not know personally. I was not comfortable leaving my children at someone else's house where I had no assurances about who might travel in and out of the home. While a home day care can seem more nurturing and "home" like, there simply is no oversight, as there is in a center. We found some decent centers that were very nurturing to babies but past age two, the workers were more relaxed about changing diapers and the like. We ending up taking our 2 1/2 year old out of the day care so we could potty train her (it took one week out of the center) and she then started Montessori school. I hope this helps your research

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D.J.

answers from Des Moines on

I have had my own childcare business for 3 years. I worked when my son and daughter were little, but chose to strike out on my own with my third. I always used home childcare because I felt I had more control over my kid's environment better that way. At a center, if they get moved to another room, its a different person. If someone gets fired, it's a different person. I wanted stablilty for my kids. I also wanted a more relaxed atmosphere. I didn't want them to be sterile and institutionalized. I wanted them to get dirty and play hard. I feel that having a multi-age group setting helps all the kids in many ways. The older children learn sympathy, empathy, and responsibility. The younger children pick up things like their ABC's at younger ages. They are able to mimic the 'big kids'. Some of my daycare children are the only kids in their families. Having a range of ages like I have, they feel like they have siblings.
I am very happy with the childcare providers that I have had in the past and am very proud to be one of them now. Good Luck on your paper.

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P.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

We HAD our son in home daycare at 6wks. That went fine for a while because it was my friend. She only did it for the summer. Well, after that we had the worst luck. We went through I believe 4 people after that. They all quit on us for some reason or another. Back to work, husband got laid off. It was the biggest pain in the butt. I wanted the smaller setting but it was too stressful knowing that we could not totally count on someone. He would get attached & then sorry, can't do it. So, he's been at a daycare center since he was 1 & we love it. He has tons of interactionswith other kids. I think his vocabulary & motor skills progressed faster then kids I know that either stay at home with just parents or go to a home where there aren't many children. Only down fall is the getting sick frequently. Otherwise I think we made the best decision. Brandon really seems to enjoy it. Loves the providers & the other children.
Email me if you'd like.

P.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I think the ratios for in home care are too high. If a provider has 6-8 kids at a time, how can they meet the needs of all of them? I started my daughter at an in-home daycare at 6 months, and ended up pulling her out 2 1/2 weeks later because the provider was not able to give her the attention she needed to adjust. She quit sleeping (15-20 minutes in a 10 hour day was the most) and would cry for 4-5 hours out of the day. I found a SAHM who could watch my daughter and give her lots of one on one attention, which she was not getting before. Now she naps between 3-5 hours total during the day and hardly cries at all. Probably more info than you might need, but explains my opinion. Good luck on your paper-great topic!

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C.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

My oldest (now 9) was in a home day care from 4months -3yrs. While the woman was loving and a wonderful care provider I chose to put her in a center/preschool at 3 years. She definitely had more chance at learning there.
Now my youngest (3years) has been home a year (adopted) and has been at a home day care. This woman is wonderful, she has been in business for 20 years, takes kids on field trips, does educational activities and gets the kids outside almost every day. I feel that she has the perfect balance of education and fun. My daughter's language has developed greatly in the past year, she is already starting to write her letters, can count and recite her ABC's. However I often find the kids playing dress-up, playing outside or playing with small manipulative toys when I drop off and pick up. The children are happy.
I loved the center/preschool my older daughter attended but found that they were now unaffordable to me when I looked into it for my youngest. Both types have their pros and cons - I can't say that one is better than the other. If you find a great home day care that fits your child's personality, needs and your wants in a care provider than that is great. If you find a great center that fits you child's personality, needs and your wants then that is a great fit as well.
I could go on and on - feel free to contact me if you like.
C.

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N.W.

answers from Davenport on

Where to begin! I have worked in the child care field for the past 14 yrs.! I started at a center in high school and worked there while I went to college for child development, after I completed my AA I cuoldn't go back to working in a center in the town I live in, they SUCK! So i started home daycre and have done that for 10yrs. now. I am currently back in school again myself for my BA in early childhood education so I have it all worked out to start student teaching when 6 of my seven kids start Kind.

Anyway, I think both settings have their pros and cons, but personally I happen to like home daycare better for younger children IF they are in the right setting. A parent needs to do their homework and find out what they should be looking for. Ratios vary from state to state, but in Iowa you can have different child/ caregiver rates depending on how you are licensed. I like that in home daycare your children can be together instead of separated by age. Being in a mixed age setting can help younger children develop differently than children in a group of everyone the same age. Young kids can see and get in on the action of the older children. Older children learn how to play and get along and be patient from being with the younger children. Some older children blossom into wondeful empathetic people due to being a helper of a younger child.

Also a GOOD home setting will offer everything a center can. I offer a better price, siblings are together, we do "preschool activities" such as learning centers, art time, calender, outdoor play, and field trips. They are exposed to and learn to count, their letters, writing, early reading skills. They are exposed to math and science everyday through our activities and walks. Plus home daycare has the opportunity for practical every day living such as setting the table, cooking/ baking, taking care of their environment in cleaning, folding towels for the kitchen, etc. They brush their teeth each day after lunch. And the kids & I have a HUGE bond. I am their "teacher" and their second "mother" which my families love for their kids. Many have grown up here from birth or toddlerhood until school with the same person instead of switching every year.

The cons of course are that a parent has to totally trust and rely on a single person and that could be bad if you don't find the right one which could be hard. You also are more likely to get an uneducated person in child development which research has proven the more education you have the better, but some of the greatest providers I know don't have a degree. If a person isn't truthful they could be bending the laws to work for them, they may not be registered, or follow guidelines.

Of course in a center bending the rules too because there it is all about the bottom line- money. they have to pay the staff which means keping rooms full and costs low. Your children's "teachers" may or may not have education(depends on the state and area you live) But in a center you do have the benefit of always having someone there. There MAY be someone checking on you to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, there may not.

As far as development goes, it would depend upon the center and home setting. It wouldn't matter which one a child is in if the quality is bad and they are not exposing kids to things and ebgaging them in activities and play.

Okay, I'll stop. You can contact me if you want anymore!:)

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T.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

my son goes to an in-home daycare and has since he was 7 weeks and he is now 14 months. we love in home care and he loves the in home daycare provider. we chose in home because it is way cheaper than a center and you get more one on one attention. he is learning a lot at his daycare and as he gets older i may put him in a preschool program but for now this is the best for my son. i personally dont know how people can afford a center. i tried calling a couple in my area and they wanted around 265 a week for a center versus 125 a week for inhome. i would be happy to answer any other questions you may have for your research also.

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K.C.

answers from Madison on

My first choice is preschool. I'm not sure if you consider "Preschool" the same as "Centers". He only attended two days a week, but learned soooo much and they potty trained him as well :)

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K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi T.,

I am also a single mom of a special needs child that is really vulnerable because she is non-verbal and cannot even tell me if something is happening to her.

This is going to sound crazy- because I now provide home care myself. But I actually chose a center for her. I just don't think your chances of finding someone trustworthy are very high. The whole idea is is very scary. I know that many people are lucky (such as the families I care for) and have wonderful experiences but I feel strongly the risk is higher.

Bad things can happen at centers as well but there are so many people there it is harder to conceal them.

Home care centers are MUCH cheaper and there is incentive to even go with a non-licensed stay at home mother- which can be even cheaper- but I wouldn't recommend it.

There is a site called Care.com that offers background check etc.. which helps too.

If you get any daycare assistance, I would go with a center. If you are on a budget, you may want to consider a home daycare with a Nanny cam. If all depends on what you can afford.

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A.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi T.,
What a great topic! I have experience with both in that I worked at a top-notch daycare center, and I now have a 16 month old who attends an in-home daycare center. So, the top-notch center that I worked at required that each of us have a 4 year degree in a child-development related field, we had to turn in lesson plans each week, and we had a variety of outside teachers (Spanish, music, etc.) come each week in addition to our teaching. That being said, I still chose to take my son to an in-home daycare center. Even w/ the best centers, the ratios are still bigger, and the kids just don't get the 1:1 personal time w/ a caregiver. Also, there are many many more behavior issues that are not quickly dealt with (hitting, biting, kicking, etc). But, if you do chose an in-home center, careful and detailed research is necessary. We chose an in home center that focuses on literacy, has a small ratio, and has planned activities each week. All in all, it's definitely a personal and go-with-you-gut feeling as to which to pick, but my preference is in-home.

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