Picking right daycare - Im not happy with the current one i have

Lauren - posted on 06/17/2012

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Tanya, yes you have gotten some really good advice. The decision has to be yours because you are the only one that can tell how these places really are. You get a vibe as a mother so use your motherly instinct to choose the daycare for your child. I have a seven and a eight year old and I use my instinct as a mother and they have been in daycare since they were infants. If you feel the one the baby is at is no good than change them quickly before your worse fears come to the light. No matter the distance it is from your home feel comfortable about where your child is daily and who they spend time with when you are not there. I hope this helps.

Kim - posted on 06/16/2012

Tanya, everyone on here has given you some really good advice. However I get the feeling that you feel guilty about working and not having energy to teach your child things. Your child is only 2 years old. Just take a little time to enjoy it and play/have fun with the child. They are supposed to learn through play. When I was a kid my mom was a stay at home mom but she did not "sit and teach" us things. I played with my older sister and friends in the neighborhood when we were old enough. That doesn't mean my mom was not a good mom. She was very loving and just because she didn't have "structured" lessons doesn't mean we did not learn from her. She taught us plenty of things including the importance of safety and not talking to strangers etc as back in the 70's kids were allowed to roam the neighborhoods with their friends at much earlier ages. Neither my sister or I went to any sort of preschool whatsoever before entering kindergarten and we both did very well in school and were above average academically.

As far as your daycare goes. What exactly do you mean when you say "I know he is only 2 but if I am paying for daycare I feel I should be getting my money's worth"? It sounds like you have your child in a home daycare which rates are much cheaper than a center. And with a home daycare your child has the stability of the same adult caregiver every day. Unless you have a really awful provider she is probably giving each of those children lots of love and attention and usually more one on one time than a center as well as hopefully interacting, playing, reading, singing etc to the children. Not to mention all of the things she provides: books, toys, playground equipment, special food for children with allergies as well as other food. The best thing for you to do is to communicate with your provider. Ask her about a typical day. As someone mentioned earlier you are only seeing the children at drop off and pick up.

I have ran a licensed child care out of my home for almost 12 years and I love it but the hardest thing can be the parents, not the children. When I first started for several years I did not have a preschool program but I still did a lot with the children. We even used to walk to the firestation once a year for a tour. We also did fun things such as dance to music and have water days outside. Most days we would walk to the nearby park. My parents seemed just fine without the formal "sit and teach" incorporated and they all seemed happy with my care. For about the last 7 years I have incorporated a preschool curriculum which I purchase through funshineexpress.com. The kids learn just as much if not more than some centers. We do the whole works including colors, numbers shapes, Spanish, Sign Language, days & months of the year, weekly themes, writing practice and fun art projects related to the themes. Oh and there is a cd with music to go along with the curriculum. There is also a book list for each theme and I will try to get to the library and get them for the kids to look at themselves and I will read them as well. Anyway I used to order the stuff for kids 2 and up and I recently changed it to 3 and up. The reason is 2's can still learn at circle time and sing and dance and read with us, however 2's really struggle with cutting, writing etc where I felt I was completing most of their art projects for them because it was too much of a struggle for them or they had no interest in it at all. Most 2's don't even want to sit through it. I do however sometimes let them do random things like scribble on a piece of paper with a pencil or color a picture out of a coloring book. Some 2's get really excited about learning and others just want to be left alone so they can continue playing.

You have to decide if your daycare is right or not for you and your child. Not every daycare is right for every family and not every family is right for every daycare. Sometimes home daycares will not accept families because they are not a good fit. I almost had to do that once but thank god the woman never called back. Anyway before leaving your current daycare make sure you are really certain that you found a good one (some can be deceiving until you start). Oh and definitely go with one that is open late enough for you. Also be sure you are comfortable with pulling your child out of the current one. It sounds like you have your child in close to 50 hours so he/she may be really attached to her and really enjoy being with the other children and some 2's really struggle with that change. It can be very traumatizing for some kids. Also treat you provider with respect if you leave. Be honest but polite. For example tell her I appreciate all you do but I am looking for a little more structure for my child. It helps to let her know the reason because maybe other parents have left due to this and maybe she will decide to offer a better program in the future to parents. It's just good business, if you now the majority of parents want x then provide x if possible. Be certain she is not teaching informally though. She might just in a fun way talk with the kids and/or read and teach them things. Maybe the have been doing some already and your child just hasn't repeated it in front of you yet. When I started my preschool curriculum the children learned so much so quickly but a lot of them didn't repeat anything they learned in front of their parents for quite some time. Then all of a sudden parents were coming to me and telling me how much their child is learning because they were finally reciting it to their parents. Last thing if your provider requires a 2 week notice you should give that to her before starting new care. It is best to give it in writing and make a copy for yourself so you have proof. If you put a 2 week deposit down then you will probably have your last 2 weeks free if that's how your provider does it.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide and remember 2's wil be 2's.

P.S. Most of my parents don't physically see their children learning at my daycare. At drop off they play quietly until breakfast because they do not want to sit and learn that early and I like to wait until everyone has arrived and eaten before starting preschool. Also at pick up when the whether is nice we are outside playing. Kids actually need play for their bodies to develop.

Tanya - posted on 06/15/2012

I just worried more about academics because my daughter has autism, I work 40hrs so I dont have energy most times to sit and teach him things. the daycare I visited introduce colors, numbers social skills etc.. but the one he is in now I feel just does circle time for dancing, and play time where I dont see much introduction of numbers colors shapes etc.. I know he is only two but if I am paying for daycare I feel I should be getting my money worth..

Kiersten - posted on 06/11/2012

I wouldn't worry so much about academics. You see this stuff at drop off and pick up, there's a whole day that you're not seeing and I'm sure she's got some kind of structure. Ask her exactly what she does throughout the day. Although he's two at that age they learn through play and socialization. And kids get hurt unless it's because of another child or something that she can prevent there's not much you can do about that. I would, however, worry about the food part. When you have a child in your daycare with allergies you have to have strict feeding habits. I mean, is she letting them run around with food that your child is picking up and eating, if so that to me is not professional. I have a child with LOTS of food allergies and I know what a struggle it is. That would be how I would choose and not worry so much about "acedemics". They've got plenty of time for that, let him be a kid ;)

Michelle - posted on 06/10/2012

You don't need to push heavy academics at age 2. A little learning, as long as it is done in a fun play-based manner is fine, but if they're having school at age 2 that's a little early.

I would go with the one that makes the most sense for you. If getting there by 6pm is a struggle, pick the one open later - I've been in that struggle where one missed light, etc. and you're late, it is awful.

My daughter was in a home based daycare up to age 4 that we loved. And when she went to a more structured preK at 4 she was one of the first to turn the letters into her name, she knew all the basic colors, could count to 20, had all the basics from a mostly play-based daycare. So you can play and still learn they are not mutually exclusive.

Tori - posted on 06/09/2012

I teach Kindergarten, have worked in Headstart and Early Headstart for a total of 7 years experience working in Early Childhood. I have an Associates degree in child development and a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and am currently 9 hours short of my Masters in Educational Technology. I have 5 children. I am not an expert, but I do have enough experience and training to know what I am talking about.
S
Free play is the best way for the children to learn at this age. "play is, in fact, the most efficient, powerful, and productive way to learn the information young children need." Francis Wardle, Ph.D.

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlyc...

Please check out the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

http://www.naeyc.org/

there is a link there that will let you search for childcare in your area that is accredited through them. http://www.rightchoiceforkids.org/accred...

Sarah - posted on 06/08/2012

First you have to feel good about what day care you choose. It could be a very good day care, but just not the right fit for you and that is ok. As far as the two different day cares you are looking at it sounds like both are good.

As far as academics at age 2 I think it is a combo of both play and learning. I think you can go too far on either end of the "stick". At age 2 learning colors, shapes, counting, and saying the alphabet or letter sounds are things they should be doing. Often times learning at this age comes in the form of play. A 2 yr old is not going to sit still for a "lesson" on colors. A lesson in colors could be running to find all the red toys or saying you have a blue shirt on. Same as counting.....counting how many steps there are on the stairway as you go up or down can be a counting lesson. Same goes for physical play. Stretches can be fun, but not many 2 yr olds are going to do this for very long. But put up a playset with a slide and watch how fast they get going from slide to ladder and you have physical exercise. Or even just a game of tag or hide and go seek.

But at age 2 they should be able to follow directions (if given simple and short). They should be learning right from wrong and mannors.....not that they always choose right or use their mannors. At 2 yrs the big things I see for learning are the social skills......taking turns, sharing, personal space (funny how this one can be taken for granted, but when you have a 4 or 5 yr old that did not learn it how much further behind it can put him/her).

Michelle - posted on 06/06/2012

My son was in a daycare like that, they just let them run wild(it was a home daycare) so we got him into another daycare that turned out to be less money, but alot further, but so worth ti with in 3months he was talking more and acting more his age. My son has a disability also and struture is so much better for them, We don't make that much money for daycare but I would pay whatever if it would help, thats just me. Hope this helps good luck