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Church Daycare vs. "Corporate" Daycare-opinions?
We have just started our daycare search and visited our first center today, which was recommended by a coworker and is affiliated with a Baptist Church. We are actually Catholic, but that shouldn't matter...some of the families who use the center are Jewish, some are non-believers..they do try to incorporate Christian values and have "chapel time" once a week. We are okay with all of that...the religion seems to be an undertone rather than in your face....
The workers there were SO sweet, you could tell the kids loved them, as they were coming in for the am they would run up and give hugs, which I loved to see. Everyone seemed very happy.
I don't really know how to explain what I am even asking...the center was smallish (they take 6 infants at a time) and their ratio is 3:1. I was just worried that it wasn't "corporate" enough. Maybe that it was too folksy? Too simple? We just started looking, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I don't want to chose somewhere because it's got a fancier package.
I hope this makes sense...if anyone has thoughts about the subject I would love them....thanks!
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Re: Church Daycare vs. "Corporate" Daycare-opinions?
If being there made you comfortable and happy than it is a good option! Personally, I don't think it is about size or complexity, it is about finding a place that you like with people that you trust.
The reason we chose a private center over a church center and a national chain center was because we felt the most comfortable in that particular atmosphere.
You definitely want to visit more places so you have something to compare it to, but it sounds like a great option from your description!
I think when you are looking for a child care provider it really is a gut feeling on what you are comfortable with whether it is a church-based center, a chain or an in-home provider. We never looked at a center for DS because we knew we wanted him in a home daycare for the first couple years and it worked out great for us. He is still there and DD is there now, too. I have recently started looking at centers for DS for some sort of pre-k program and it is a whole new world!
When I started looking I went on the Baby Center website and found a list of questions to ask that helped narrow down some choices. Also gave us ideas of questions to ask that we hadn't thought of.
I think recommendations from friends and other parents in your area is a big help. I also recommend checking your state's website on child care inspections (I'm in Ohio and it is on their Department of Job and Family Services website) and you'll see their inspections, which areas they failed in, what needs improved, etc. I did notice that the church-based places we looked at had more problems with their inspections than the more corporate or chain-based places, but none of their problems were bad enough to effect our decision.
I think once you visit more places you'll get that feeling about which ones are right for you and which ones aren't. Plus, you can always get on a couple different wait lists and switch centers later if you find that it isn't right for you.
I don't know if I really helped, but Good Luck!
We use a "corporate daycare" and have been looking at more folksy ones. I know exactly what you mean. I can give you what I think are the pros and cons: Corporate daycare pros: Have "performance standards" and oversight from a larger operation. Usually tend to be a little "spiffier," do everything as a matter of branding and operation, so things like diaper changes every 2 hours are on a schedule they keep track of and are accountable for. Usually fairly responsive and easy to reach (administration). Con's: can be very "by the book" when you need flexibility, not always as accountable as they should be given their "corporate structure"
What I see as the cons of the folksy approach - kind of loosey goosey with "the rules" but pro - more flexible sometimes tend to use worn equipment, don't seem as "clean" but that could just be perception. And I didn't see the one you're talking about. Good thing you are looking early and can compare/contrast. GL!
lol- you want your child to be somewhere corporate?
if you like it and it is highly recommended it sounds great.
my 2nd choice center is a church run center... smallish, too... I really liked it- but the place we are at now was better to me b/c of a few things it offered the other one did not... but i never though of one as being more 'corporate' vs. another.
We looked at both types of places for DS and went with the church daycare. It is much smaller, ratio is 1:4 in his room (6-18 months) and only goes to 8:1 as he gets older. We just felt really comfortable when we went in. Most of the teachers have been there 5 years or longer and they are all certified teachers. The corporate daycares that we looked at only required 1 certified teacher per room.
We are catholic and the daycare he goes to is affiliated with a Mennonite church. They go to chapel once a week and incoporate christian values into some of there teaching, but are not overly preachy about it. It is definitely a hard decision, but both DH and I know we made the right decision.
Good luck in your search.
i work in a "corporate" daycare, and the only reason i would prefer it is because if they are accredited through naeyc, they are more accountable for the general workings of the center. the naeyc ratio for infants is 1:4, and toddlers is 1:5.
corporate daycares also have more resources and more staff. for instance, if one of the workers at the church daycare isn't there, what happens?
also, corporate daycares frequently close less often for holidays and inclement weather. if you're someone who can't take christmas week off or stay home because of a little snow, corporate may be better for you. they probably have longer hours, too. my center is open from 7 am to 630 pm and provides breakfast, lunch, and snack.
just some things to think about :-)
I chose DD's school based on gut feel and the warmth of the teachers. I only looked at schools that had clean records for inspections (this is online in most states), so gut feel was my deciding factor. The church daycares that I toured tended to have staff that had been there for years while corporate ones seemed to have higher turnover.
Both kinds of daycare are subject to the same daycare licensing rules and inspections, and if the state regulations say change diapers every 2 hours, then that should be happening in both kinds of centers.
I teach preschool at a Reggio school (kind of like Montessori). I would say it is a mix between corporate and a "church" (although it is not religious). We are?accredited?by NACYE but have smaller ratios, and because it is Reggio- we treat each child as an equal not just a number.?
?The pros for a "folksy" school, in my?opinion-- smaller ratios, more personalized treatment (diaper changes medicine, snack, lunch, nap), teachers are there for a reason not just an "easy" paycheck
Cons- less standard hours (our school has a 2 week Xmas break and Spring break, as well as many other odd days off), more lax (in a bad way- as far as cleanliness and office duty).
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