Switching from Home Daycare to a Facility

I do not know where you live, but you should look into The Primrose School. They have children of all ages and a wonderful age appropriate literacy program.

My personal opinion is that the love and nurturing that she is getting in a home daycare setting is so very important to her emotional well being that I would hesitate to remove her from that setting. Why can't you and your husband take up the teaching reins at night and on the weekends? Just make it a part of your time together as a family...exposing her to the things that you want her to learn and understand? You can just incorporate it into things that you all do together on a regular basis. Let her "help" you in the kitchen and use it as a time to teach her numbers, textures, etc. In her playtime at home talk about "above, below, beside, big, small," You are a teacher...this is all 2nd nature to you!!
I was lucky enough to be able to stay at home with my daughters until they were older...but I think that if I had them established in a loving, nurturing daycare I would want to leave them there as long as possible!!

Have you thought about talking to your current daycare provider and tell her about your concerns and if she could possibly start working with her more on the items you mentioned? Just a thought, it may work out for the best that way.

I have had our kids in facilities and home-based childcare. I think at this age, there's no real reason to make the move if your daughter is getting good care and she's happy. What she needs to learn at a young age is how to work well with other kids and get used to rules and routines. Honestly, that's mostly what you will get at a center until they're around three.

Our son has ADHD and his first preschool experience was a disaster, so we held off until he was four. Well, in that one year before kindergarten, he learned absolutely everything he needed to to thrive in kindergarten. He's exceeding academic standards now in 1st grade.

Our daughter is three and loves her home-based provider, so we've decided to wait until she's four to move her to preschool. My husband and I are both college-educated and big proponents of preschool, but we also recognize all that our daughter is gaining at the home-based provider, including one-on-one attention.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

I am also a teacher, and had the same concerns as you when my boys were younger. I think Nikki G. wrote an excellent answer, especially the part about waiting until your daughter is old enough to tell you if something is wrong. I moved my boys when they were each about 3 years old, and when I did, I moved them to a private school that happened to be for ages 3 through 5th grade. I was more comfortable with that than with some of the chains you mentioned. There may be some good branches of the chains as well. You just need to be sure to visit any preschool you are interested in to be sure you are completely comfortable with it. One thing I loved about the school was the extremely low turn-over rate of the teachers. Most of the same teachers are still there, and my boys are now 6 and 12. Good luck with your decision.

My girl is 14 months and has been in daycare since 9 weeks old! Hubby works out of town and I can't afford to quit (I work full-time). When we started looking for daycares I asked around at work and got a few suggestions. We liked one, and even put a deposit down for her spot (only $50). A few weeks later (about 2 weeks before I was to return to work) we got a call that the other daycare (that I LOVED and is only 1 mile from my work) had an opening! So, we forfeited our deposit at the other place and registered at this place. It is a fairly large daycare at a Methodist church (we are not Methodist). I have never regretted the decision.

In her infant class, they followed a schedule (made evenings and weekends so much more enjoyable) and did some art projects. They had story time, cuddle time, etc, and my girl learned to roll, sit, crawl, and walk right on schedule. Last month she was moved to the toddler room! The kids there are 1-2.5 years old. They still follow a schedule and have circle time, free play, outdoor play (weather permitting), art time, music time, and at least 2 field trips (the zoo and the aquarium--1 parent must attend)! They also have a curriculum to work on alphabet, colors, animals, shapes (in english & spanish)! It's only been a few weeks and already my girl has started saying new words, responding to songs (*twinkle* hands for "twinkle twinkle" and clapping hands for "patty cake"), making animal noises, and improving on her spoon and open-cup use! Amazing!

So, your home daycare may be equally wonderful, but I really do love our daycare. My suggestion is to ask around--see a mom with kid(s) in the grocery store, at a playgroup, shopping in the mall--ask anyone in your area with kids! If/when you start to look at daycares, ask a lot of questions (student-teacher ratios, schedule, curriculum, etc)!
Good luck!

I run an in home care and my children all learn in so many ways. They learn the basics in reading and writing and math. They learn about following instructions, picking up after themselves, and how to behave in a reasonable way. I have seen so many good providers put a lot of effort into their programs and their curriculums and then moan about how their parents just don't notice, don't seem to care and STILL pull their children out for the centers. I swear what we do all day is so taken for granted.

I just recently had a parents leave for a center and then come to me all excited to tell me her child was reading. NO KIDDING! I taught her to read. She didn't learn that in her la de da center.

Before you make the choice to remove her from a small group, where she will have more one on one attention and where she is exposed to far fewer germs every week, have a heart to heart with the provider. 14 months is far too early to even be thinking about her preschool years. I've been doing this for 23 years. I have had people bring 4 and a half year old children to me in June on many occasions and ask me if I could have them ready for school over the summer. Some of these children have not been exposed to ANYTHING before coming to me. They didn't know their colors, letters, manners, how to follow instructions etc. I was always able to help them be ready.

I hope you will make sure your provider does or does not have a plan for your child before you make a choice like this.

Suzi

It's ironic that you ask this question today...as we are moving our son out of a daycare center back to a home daycare. We moved our son at 18 months to a modified montessori school. We took him out of the home daycare for the same reason. We thought he was ready to start learning more and would benefit from the learning environment. It turns out that it was too much for him. We had some problems with his teacher (they went so far to ask if I had talked to my pediatrician to see if maybe he should be observed by a psychologist...they thought that he may have some social or emotion disorders). I talked to my Parents as Teachers parent educator (who we see once a month) and our pediatrician and both said that was rediculous, that he's a normal 2 year old and that we need to get him out of the school. They both agreed that the best place for a child is in a home setting until they are preschool age. I expressed some of my concerns about the home daycare (not providing a lot of opportunity for learning, going outside, etc) and he said that may mean you work on it at home in the evenings, or spend time outside in the evenings. Each child is different, so you'll have to make the decision for yourself, but I thought my peditrician out it into perspective for me. I would recommend you bring it up with them before you make your decision for your child. Good luck!
PLUS- they get sick a lot more in the centers (i was not prepared for this) and the cost is outrageous...we're currently paying $1200 a month at the school. When we move back to the in home daycare we will be paying $340 a week for both of our children (2-year old and newborn) and she provides diapers and formula when we need it!!!

Well, I really think you should stay home and raise your own child, but since you are not doing that, I think the at home daycare is a better bet. Children need love, nurturing, and attachment to a caregiver much more than they need early literacy. She is a sponge; she will learn that stuff whether someone is actively teaching her or not. The staff at daycare centers has a high turnover, and she will be upset when someone she really likes quits and someone else is there.

I would look for a quality Montessori pre-school. Our school, Clay-Platte Montessori ###-###-####) located on Waukomis Drive north of Riverside, starts children at 18 months to age 2. I started my daughter at Global Montessori Academy, located in Unity Temple on the Plaza, at age 2 and was very, very happy with their program. The focus in both schools is on the development of the whole child. As well, there are many literacy activities included. Often Montessori students start reading at 4 or 5. There is also a focus on peace activities and conflict resolution as well as exploring the world through science and social studies types of activities. There are also Montessori schools located in Johnson County. I strongly encourage you to visit one.

I will NEVER send my daughter to an in home daycare. I took her to a friend of mine 2 days a week and I noticed she was always on facebook, or I would pop in randomly and she would be working out while my daughter was just sitting on the floor watching tv, sitting in a boppy. Needless to say she didn't go there for very long. I also have a friend who's daughter "somehow" broke her leg at 8 months old!! I don't trust those places, they scare me to death not knowing what really goes on there. I know that there are obviously some in home daycares that are fabulous...but how do you REALLY know for sure? There are a lot more out there than Kindercare or LaPetite; ones that are more christian based is what I would look for and ones that have web cams. Good luck!

I worked as a lead teacher at La Petite for several years and have nothing but good things to say about it. I LOVED "My" kiddos and the curriculum was great. We had "themes" we had to stick with and a daily schedule but there was enough room for me to contribute and I felt like we had a very good balance of fun hand in hand with learning. I would say if you are planning on going to any new daycare that you schedule a walk through and observe and ask questions. Lots of luck to you
B.

Depending on where you are located I have a wonderful Home Care Provider that has the type of environment that you are looking for for your daughter, it is not all play time, they have a school room and learning stages for all ages. Both my son and daughter have gone their since they were born and now my son is being recommended for the JET accelerated program and his is only in kindergarten. I live in OFallon MO and if you want any other information you can email me at ____@____.com
Tks T.

Gina B pretty much said it all for me. I've worked at a La Petite and I can tell you that as hard as those ladies try, those kids do not get the nurturing they need at that age. Most of the time is spent in classroom management and very little actually goes to instruction. The germ issue is big too. I was constantly sick with a cold, and had pink eye 3 times during the 6 months I worked there! If your baby is attached to her current provider, that's a good sign and I would def. leave here there at least until preschool age.

I started out sending my child in a home daycare at 4 mths b/c that all I could find that was affordable and then switched him to a childcare/preschool at age three. I loved the home daycare for the most part because of the nurturing environment, it was in her living room not some class room. There was a couch just like at home, they ate a the kitchen table. She had lots of toys regular and educational, lots of books, she read to them several times per day, did field trips, took them for walks in the neighbourhood, finger painting, counting, alphabet etc.

Switched to childcare center at three so he could get a more structured environment to prepare him for Kindergarten. I was not impressed with this preschool, it was safe, they had a good student -teacher ratio, toys, did a couple field trips in the year he was there but big problem was they did not teach anything more than he got at the home based school (actually less). They just had a different teaching philosophy than I had in mind, so we agreed to disagree and I moved my child to somewhere else. Other parents liked it though. You might want to check to see if you are on the same page as the potential new childcare. Some of these places will charge you more but give you less. Shop around and take your time and make sure the move is right.

By the way I have heard good and bad about Kindercare.

My daughter was in home daycare from age 12-23 months. Although I liked the provider and know they did school time each day, I switched for other reasons, but also felt like a facility would provide more of a structured school-like setting that I liked. What I loved about home daycare was the family setting where I knew my daughter was cared for like a child of their own. I was sad that by moving her to a facility that she and her baby brother would not be around each other all day. I wondered how she'd do in one small room all day versus having the freedom of an entire house.

I am so happy that we switched!! Not only do I love the structure and curriculum that the facility provides, but I think that they love my kids just as much as I do. This is a chain faciility (local only) and I could not be happier. I've seen the owner of the entire chain in the baby room holding and loving on my son. I love the reports i get and also love that all the teachers are either working on or have their degrees in education.

Never do I have to worry anymore about some of the things I worried about daycare - how much tv is she being exposed to? Is the gate locked to the basement/upstairs/bathroom, etc, is she being left alone in a room with other kids but no provider. I do not think you should wait until she is three...I think you should switch her now. Just for the simple fact that she's not being exposed to as much educational stuff that you'd like her to be....you will be amazed at what she does and is learning at a center!

I have over 10 years in Child Care with experience from everything from being the cook to being the owner.

I also worked in LaPetite and can honestly tell you that I am NOT a fan of the Montessori method. The children in the 3 yr. class were just starting to act wild but the 4 yr. old class were total heathens. The teachers would turn over every couple of months because they just couldn't take it. I was over the school age program as an assistant director and absolutly hated every day I had to go to work. The kids had no structure, they just wandered around after having circle time (which only lasted about 30 minutes to an hour) and didn't really do anything. They didn't learn while they were playing because they weren't playing. They tore up supplies and books, they colored on the walls, they climbed up the furniture and jumped off, they jumped around and yelled during nap time and kept the rest of the facility up. The Director thought this was all normal...how disturbing. Nearly every kid that had started Kindergarten that Fall were bringing home daily reports from school that they were unable to sit and do classwork, they were unable to concentrate, they were constantly getting in trouble at school.

I like structure, I think kids need structure and a schedule. I do know things come up and it's fun to deviate and be spontanious. Kids need consistancey.

So, my advice is, you are a teacher, you are able to work with your child also. I think putting your child in a 3 yr. old preschool program might be what you want. Then starting in Pre-K at 4. We used the 2 yr. Head Start program because that worked for us. I now wish we had went the Pre-K option instead of the 4yr. program at Head Start. The 3 yr. old class was so different and wonderful.

I think she's fine in an in-home daycare for a little while yet. Maybe consider it for 3 years +. Most pre-school programs/centers spend most of their time on non-academic skills anyway like taking turns, potty training, picking up after yourself, listening, music/movement....And PLAYING. What better skill is there for a kid to have? : ) Especially when the pre-school teachers sneak all sorts of colors, numbers, patterns, and letters into the play.

I have to say I am a not a fan of in-home daycare. I have 3 kids and the first two I had in in-home day care for all the reasons other moms have stated here. The lady I used was seemingly wonderful, she had a sparkling clean house and 27 years of experience and great references. She had a Christmas party every year for the kids and Santa would always show up. My kids loved her as well, they still talk about her. I moved to a day care center because my kids became school age and needed transportation. After pulling my kids from the in-home care, my daughter started telling me stories about getting spanked for having accidents at nap time, about getting her beloved stuffed animal thrown in the trash for punishment, and about being scared when the lady very roughly grabbed her by the shoulders one time and yelled at her in her face for fighting with her brother. I was horrified!! We had never discussed and I had never approved spanking. And the other stuff was just psycho. When I had my 3rd child, I took him to Kindercare because my 2nd was at Kindercare for a while as an infant, and going back 5 years later a lot of the same teachers were still there. That was a big plus for me. Also day care is more transparent, they give you reports on everything that is going on with your child, they have a higher authority to answer to. So no spanking or crazy discipline methods you've never heard of. And honestly, day care centers have to comply with strict state and local sanitation requirements, they have to wash their toys every night and sanitize changing tables after every diaper change and wash their hands and babies hands after changing even though they wear gloves. (At least in the state of Missouri). My kids honestly get sick less often than all my friends kids who stay home. Educationally day care centers have lesson plans they follow and all their teachers are educated in childcare and teaching. My kids love their teachers, they are very personal and caring and I can't say enough about them. Good luck - I hope some of this info helps!

My experience has with daycare facilities has only been to have my son there for a few hours a week for socializing and learning outside of my home (I'm a SAHM that bbsits a few children during the week in my home, my son is the oldest). I have tried a non-chain place and I HATED it, they seemed to cut corners everywhere they could and tell me whatever i wanted to hear. Not that every place is like this, but without certification hat did they have to lose, was my thought afterwards. I ended up LOVING Kindercare for him but it was very very expensive for the few hours a week I had him in it. He loved the program and learned a ton and they had a lot of after houurs social activities the whole family was invited to. I felt that b/c it was a "chain" provider it had standards it had to live up to. I've visited at least 10 facilities in my area just to have comparisons. I have a neighbor who swears his faciltiy is tops and its is not a chain provider. I'd say visit lots of places, take tours, drop in unannounced... you'll find a place you and your child love eventually.

Yup, I'm very familiar with this issue.
I have two daughters, one just turned 6 and one is turning 3 next week. My three-year-old is going to go through the transition to daycare tomorrow, actually. She has been in a home daycare until now. My 6-year-old went to a home daycare until she was 4.

The downside with home daycares is that when your sitter calls in, you're out of luck. The daycare never calls in sick. Also, like you mentioned, they just don't get the structure and curriculum in a home care setting like they would get in a daycare.

I'm definitely a fan of waiting until the child is old enough to tell you when something is wrong with them to put them in a daycare situation. However, only you know what your baby is ready to take on!!

Good luck!!

-N