Input Please

Hi there,
I know this can be a hot topic so I will try not to offend anyone. I am a former preschool teacher and I honestly can say I didn't like it. I mean I LOOOVED working with the kids but in this state though you have to be cdrtified they aren't paid enough to care about their jobs. I think that of most teachers though. The ones who are there are either the ones who really truly care or who are looking for a quick buck. Anyway I'm sorry if I stepped on toes that's my opinion. What I'm getting at is I would rather have my kids in a home where I know they will be cared for and the numbers are smaller. I would really want to get to know the person and their family before I placed my children there for daycare but that would be the route I would go. Personally I would entrust my children with a family memember or friend more easily then a daycare center. I want to wish you good luck, I'm also wondering where in town you are located? I am not happy with where my children are at right now....

Ok - I may have a different perspective because I went to a home daycare as a child and then put my child into a home daycare, too.

The lady who cared for my daughter was GREAT!! I didn't want to put her into daycare - I didn't like the things my friends had told me about their experiences.

Someone at my husband's work mentioned a woman who watched her kid a few years previous. I called the lady and made an appointment to take my daughter and meet the woman. We went to her house on a Saturday and got the tour and then stayed and "visited" for an hour or so.

That is how we chose. I think the tax thing is not so much an issue as YOUR comfort level and that of your child. Our lady charged $20 a day and she provided the food unless we needed something special (formula/baby food). We had to pay in cash. So, we didn't claim the childcare - but that was not our concern.

Basically, I think the level of comfort is the most important. My daughter has been in school 2 years and she still wants to go see the sitter. They loved my daughter and she loved them. It was great!!

By all means I would want you certified with the appropriate authorities so that I could claim it on my taxes. Money is an issue for everyone, and everyone can always use a little help on their taxes! Either way, I believe the IRS would still consider it a business so you may as well get what you can for yourself out of it while doing what you love.

Hi Serena ~

There seems to be lots of requests for home daycare settings and nobody seems to have an answer for the people who request them. I looked for one for my son and didn't have much luck. I would be more likely to place my son in a place that is licensed with the state. As far as claiming the money on my taxes not such a big deal to me but my husband would insist on it. Hope this helps.

Good luck to you.

Hi Serena

Answer to you question is that I would rather pay a higher rate and claim it on my taxes.

are you still looking to do in-home childcare? i need childcare sometimes and am new to northern colorado. where are you located. please email me if interested ____@____.com thanks.

Having my daughter at an in home daycare myself I am pretty mixed when it comes to this. If the rate was substancially less that would be great, but I have to find out through experience that when it comes to daycare you really do get what you pay for. TThe nice thing about going to a certified daycare is the taxe break and the curriculm. Most of my friends that have their kids in an at home daycare just is a daycare and none of them absolutely love it and none of them have a preschool program. I LOVE where my daughter is at and she does a certified preschool program from September to June. Where she's at is actually cheaper than most places(probably because she is full to capacity and has a waiting list she charges better rates) and she provides all the food through a nutrition based program provided by the state for at home daycares. Although, if you are just taking care of close friends kids and interacting with them school wise and are a little bit cheaper it might be better for you that way. There is always so much of a liablity when you are watching other peoples children. I hope my experince helps you out.

Hi,
I stay home with my 2 girls, and do child care for one child. I am paid $30/day. My husband and I were concerned about the taxes thing as well. It worked out to be in our favor last year. When doing taxes you are able to write off soooooo many things for child care (look on-line on turbo tax). We were able to write off part of the house, groceries used for meals I provided, mileage, toys and equiptment (booster seat, bed...). I am crazy about keeping reciepts and hi-lighting the items used for child care and keeping track of my mileage. I spent more than I earned in child care and was able to wrote everything off! I am not state certified. Good luck with your decesion.
C.

Go certified. It makes you look much more professional to people that don't already know you. To tell the truth if I were looking at home daycare and you told me you were not certified, I would automatically cross you off my list. Good luck with everything!

Serena,

I personally would pay a lower rate. You would have to charge rates that actual day-care facilities charge in order for the tax credit to be of any advantage.That could make the difference in the number of children you care for.

no one can really tell you want is right only you can know that by what you feel.If it were me i would go the certified route just becasue i want that confort of knowing the state says they are qualified.Paying more is hard at times more so when money is tight but in the end it will be worth it.What it all boils down to is what you feel is better for you.Hey if you know the person and are comfortable with them then go that cheaper route.

I would only pay a cheaper rate with out the care giver being certified if it was my dear friend I have know my whole life,otherwise I would never leave my child to someone who is not certified. My kids go to Kinder Care because I looked at so many places home and other child care and they were the only one that provided what we wanted such as safe, structured, and regualated environment. Well good luck. I myself have considered child care but never really had a big enough place.

I am a single mom and I get help through DES which means that you would have to be certified. I have to pay a copay to the provider but that is fine with me. I think if you are just looking at taking friends and family that dont mind then you should do what you want, but being certified will get more people pushed in your direction.

You know I am a stay at home mom and thankful that I have never had to make this decision. If I had to find someone to watch my kiddos I would probably use a home placed setting as long as that person had references. Home daycares can be used as tax right offs too. I also work from home so if your open to other options I would be happy to share with you what I do. You can visit my website: www.AHomeCareer.com
Takes simply 25 minutes to listen to a presentation so see if what I do might work for you. Have a great day! C.

I was once in a similar situation and did childcare for a period to help with cash flow. I did not get certified and was still able to find children to watch. Personally, the certification and tax issues are both not of concern for me. For me, I want comfort. Currently I am thinking of finding a new care giver, I don't know that I will specifically seek out someone certified, just someone that makes me feel comfortable, makes my child happy and provides a loving, enriching environment. Good luck to you.