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Which is better in your opinion Re: Daycare

TaraF.TaraF.
in Working Moms

Daycare #1.... Smaller class sizes (only 3 kids total), more expensive, older family run center

 OR

 Daycare #2...New & Larger center, more children in class but also more teachers, offers much more as far as curriculum and special stuff like music classes, etc.  Less expensive.

 

My DD is 18 months old and currently in full day daycare.  She is happy but we are considering moving her due to some issues and the increases in tuition.  Which daycare is more appealing to you and why?

 

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Re: Which is better in your opinion Re: Daycare

  • Temp159135562506975Temp159135562506975 member
    #2 sounds more like the center DS goes to- and we love it.  they get so many awesmoe experiences there that they would not get at a small center or in-home daycare.  I also like having more teachers per room- = more accountability.... if it's just one teacher with a few kids- there's nobody watching what that person does- and i have real trust issues - so i want more adults around.
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  • lucyredlucyred

    imageGoldie_Locks_5:
    #2 sounds more like the center DS goes to- and we love it.  they get so many awesmoe experiences there that they would not get at a small center or in-home daycare.  I also like having more teachers per room- = more accountability.... if it's just one teacher with a few kids- there's nobody watching what that person does- and i have real trust issues - so i want more adults around.

     Ditto!

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  • katydid2007katydid2007
    Is the teacher/student ratio at the larger one the same as the smaller one (3/1)?  If so, I'm kind of liking the way the larger one sounds. For the age that your DD is she would probably benefit from the better curriculum and music classes, etc.  I also tend to think that corporate run facilities tend to be more accountable than family run facilities (although we don't use daycare so I'm certainly no expert on this). Ultimately, I think you need to go with your gut on this one. Did you have a better feel at one over the other? 
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  • Maybride2Maybride2 member

    #2.

    At your DD's age, I think she'd get more benefit out of being around more children and having a better curriculum and special classes.

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  • MargieMomMargieMom
    #2 b/c of age.  I would have gone w/ #1 if DD were younger, but the cirriculum, cost and more kids will be great.  GL!
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  • Bella427Bella427 member
    I'd pick #2, unless your DD gets sick really easily and then having only 3 kids total might be worth the germs you'd avoid. 
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  • bstngrl578bstngrl578 member
    #2. I think being around more children is beneficial. They learn to interact, share and play and that goes a long way.
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  • Lotte134Lotte134

    imageMargieMom:
    #2 b/c of age.  I would have gone w/ #1 if DD were younger, but the cirriculum, cost and more kids will be great.  GL!

    This exactly.  We're in a small in-home daycare now, but plan to switch DS to a center in a 9-12 months for this very reason.

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  • jlw2505jlw2505 member
    #2 for so many reasons.  I am not a in-home daycare person for a few reasons and the reasons that #2 sound so much better to me are the fact that there are more teachers and more kids and more options to do and learn more things.  My girls are in a center and we love it.  My kids do so many fun things - they are having a 4th fo July parade this afternoon for the parents, grandparents, etc.  They do so many fun and special activities with the kids and the staff really now and love my kids.  They get special attention when needed since they have more staff, they can do more things.  My older DD is in the preschool room - she has computer time, story time, play time, they do a ton of fun and educational acitivities.  All the staff is college educated, most with education degrees or are currently in college.  They have a director at the center that focuses on the educational pieces.  I just love everything that they offer from the food to the staff to the programs.
    Jenni Mom to DD#1 - 6-16-06 DD#2 - 3-13-08 
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  • flyer23flyer23 member

    You said that #1 is a center too, right? It's not in-home? There are three kids per class, not three kids in the entire place?

    If so, then #1 sounds more like my DD's preschool, and #2 sounds more like our second-choice preschool. (Except in our case, DD's preschool was cheaper than the second choice.) Ultimately, I really just loved the family atmosphere at the preschool we picked. It's large enough that she gets plenty of interaction with other kids, but small enough that all the kids in the other classes already know her name (and she's only been there four weeks).

    Also, and perhaps most importantly, I felt like the curriculum was equally strong at both places but the preschool we chose just felt more "fun." Like they emphasized learning but also realized that hey, these kids are KIDS, they need to have fun. To me, that's the single most important thing.

    FWIW, DD's preschool is much more informal in the summer -- the curriculum is lighter, and they don't offer any of the special classes (dance, cooking) that they do during the school year. But even in just four weeks, she's learned a ton and most importantly, she loves going to school. I had to pick her up early today and she cried. What was she doing? Was she taking music classes? Was her teacher going over their college-prep curriculum? Nope, DD was just sitting on the floor reading books with her classmates. Having a blast.

    I hope that makes some kind of sense. If you're just looking at class sizes and curriculum, IMO, you're missing the important things...

    Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)

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